The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-03-27
Rem arkabIe Ore am .

Nevertheless, my dear friends. l DO not
believe, and have made up my mind never
to believe-in ghosts.
Rem arkable Ore am.
Few there are Of the same time residents
Of the city OF New York who do not re-
member those days of public and private
agony, In October, 1854, when the Collins
steamship Arctic was OVERDUE and supposed
to be lost at sea. IL was a favorite line and
vessel, and on board were persons of the
highest social standing. Conse quently the
nsme OF the Arctic was on every lip, and
while the friends of those on board were op-
pressed with the most terrible apprehen-
sinus, the public mind generally was scarce
ly less excited.
The Collins vessels were so regular that
merchants timed the delivery Of the mails
almost 10 an honr, and when day after day
sped By, and neither the vessel nor any IT,
dines ot her came to hand, the gloom be-
c" me deeper Strange to relate one of the
mes, responding was Mr.. E X. Collins. the
manager of the line, and the person after
whom it was named. The crowds who
ancSed to the Cffice to question him, and
who ra'urally expected 70 see him full of
hope, found him pale, dispirited, and often
in tears. His wife and two children were
on hoarj, Lut ir was thonght that his S8nfi-
dence in the staunchness of the vesse4s, and
the amanship Of those in charge OF them,
wOuli make him treat me natter in tOral
ly different spirit in which he did. Much
surprise was expressed, tut the actual rea
son for his great depression was at that tine
known only to few of his relativ. ard
most intimate friends. 1t arose, in truth
from dean, which eft an impression be-
vnnd his power to overcome, and which in
the end UaS verified IN every particular.
IS h. Itr.n a,~l
meT6epfs were assembled in the private
"ffice the company on a Monday after
noon. tThe vessel was then some two days
overduf, having been expe ted on the pre-
vions Saturday evening. At this time MIR.
COlliDsJiyed at a magnificent residence la
Westchesttr county, and had remained In
town over Sunday, to receive his family on
the arrivalsOf the steamer. He spent sat-
urday right at the house of his brother, and
on Su day y'merLing came down to the table
10 breakfast looking Sd haggard that it at
tractei attention. When spoken to about 1t,
he frankly stated that he had passed a rest,s
less night, broken by dream that the Aree
tic was lost. The mater was laughed al
his brother, but when Monday morning
came without the vessel having teen repQfI.
ID, Mr.. Collins again spoke of his dream
During Monday he related II to several 9TH
ers, and ut the hour Of the assemblagetp
the private Office il was told over againte
with an injunction OF secrecy, however,
which prevented it from reaching the pub
lie. As one after another came inrO the Of
fee, they were painfully impressed with the
gloom which was pictured in the face of Mr..
Collins. A large man. OF erect stature, and
mar ked dignity o! manners, he did not look
like person who would give way to any
useless fears on any occasion. But he was
far more quiet than usual; he seemed to
shrink away from those in conversation,
and his face was of death-like paleness.
What is the matter with Collins ?" said
one and another, in whispers.
Remember his wife and children are on
boa rd the Arctic" said some one, in reply.
"Yes," responded another; "but there
Is no occsslon for alarm. The ship is a
s'aunch one. and within few hours at most
will. think, come calamity to her wharf.
"Never!" said deep. solemn voice.
All gave slight start at the tone and
words, and turned in the direction whence
they proceeded. The speaker was Mr.. Col.
lins himself.
Z" | am satisfied, gentlemen" he remark
I'd, in the same solemn manner, that the
Arctic has gone 10 the bottom"
"Impossible :" cried all.
Il am quite astOnished at the opinion"
said Mr.. James Brown, a prominent direc-
tor. mo one knows better than you do,
Mr.. Collins, the superior construction Ofthe
ships st our line, and the qualifications OF
The officer and crew in charge of the Arc
tc."
Any vessel NAV be lost" said Mr.. Col
Inns .!and while am satisfied that as d.
rec.ors en- publ C servants we have done all
has human being. could in the premises
still believe the Arctic 10 be 10 t. MAY q
I cod God have protected those on board !"
Here his voice failed him and his ewes
were sufflsed with tears. With his Thoughts
Ar out on the broad, dangerous ocean, he
had seen his wife and children among those
helpless ones. and for the moment be could
say no more.
The scene was affecting in the extreme
md perhaps never hal its equal in any
in the world. For same
line there was entire silence, and then Mr..
Brown remarked:
Mr.. Collins, you must have some good
reason for y"ur opinion"
"Nnne In the World returned Mr.. Col
ins. ''exccDt a dream"
GA dream! !" repeated one and another,
IN establishment.
All sneer, d, and some almost laughed
.luud.
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Collins, with
'igniry which was peculiarly impressive In
you no doubt regard
his as great weakness. Perhaps 1t Is
Dreams are generally regarded as foolish |
.hings. but have had one under such cir |
,umstances thar it has b come to me pre- |
ien'iment of evil to this ship, which no
, .wer on earth can remove"
Every man there listened with his ears |
vide open, and looked full In the face of
he Usually strong minded man, who spoke |
hesa words 80 seriously and impressively. |
Last Satur day night" con inued Mr..
Ter as perfectly before me as ever saw her.
{ WIS her graceful mo el, her spacious
lecks, and her noble officers and crew. l
aw all of this and more. I saw q hole In
Ter side; there was panic on her decks
,eople were running hither and thither, and
rying to be saved and, sirs, saw that no
lie ship 20 down.
"But all of this was dream" said Mr..
brown, after n moment.
81 believe it a, reality" replied Mr.. COL
Ins; "and again | say, may heaven have
those poor souls on board. How
yer, beg that neither my dream nor con-
lotions may reach the public"
Soon after the merchants wen ihfi : ~
raj ways Not one of them could shake of
he impression made by what had occurred.
ieanwhile the newspapers endeavOred to
ustain public confidence by all kinds of
lausible stories. Three days later, the firgt
f the survivors reached our shores with
he narrowing tale of the disaster by cOllis.
,n to the Arctic, and Of the loss of most of
hose on board. When all the facts became
newn, they were exact In every particular
With Mr.. Collins cream, and it may prop
rly be regarded as one Of the most striking
- A..