The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-07-25
A Remarkables Dream,

New Nork may yetremembcr those days
of private and public agony, in October
1854, when tho Collins steamship Artic
was overdue aud supposed to be lost at
| sea- -
The Collins vessels were so regular
that merchants time the delivery of the
mails almost to anthour; aud when day
after day sped bysand neither the vessel
nor any tidings - her came to hand
the gloom bccausa deeper and deeper.
Strange to rela te5onc of tho most dcspoa
ding was Mr. Il afCollins the manager
ofthe line, and the person after whom
it was named. Fhe crowds who flockci
to the Office to question him, and who
naturally expected to see him, full of
hope, found him pale, disprited, and
often in tears. His wife and two chill
dren were on board; but it was thought
that his confidence in the staunchness
of his vessels, and the seamcnship Of
those i'll charge of them, would make
him treat the mltter in totally differ
ent spirit from what he did. Much
surprise was cx pressed; but the actual
reason for his arcat depression was at
that time known only to few of his
relatives aud most intimate friends. 1t
arose, in truth, from dream which eft
an Impression beyond his power to
overcome, and which in the end was
verified in every particular.
a number ofthe directors and vari
Gus merchants were assembled in the
private Office ofthe company on Mon
day afternoon. The vessel was then
some two days overdue, having been OK
pected on the previous Sturdy even
ing. At the time Collins livcl at a
magnificent residence in Westchester
county, and had remained in town over
Sunday, to receive his family on the ar
rival Of the s5$imcr, lie spent satur
day night at The house Of his brother,
and on Sunday morning c,mc down to
the breakfast table looking Sd hags,rd
that it attractc attention When sp ok
en- to about it, he franklin stated that
he had passed II restless night, broke II
by Il dream that the Arctic was lost
The matter WAS laughed at by the
brother; but when Moad.y morning
came without tho vessel h,vin, been
Ieported, Mr. Collins again spoke eff his
dream. During Monday he rclatel it
to several others, aud at the hour OF the
asscmblagc in tho private olli;o it wa
told over again an injunction Of
sccrcsy, however, which prevented it
from reaching the public. AS one
alter another came into the oil :e, tn .y
were painfully impressed with the ylo I'm
which was pictured in the face OF Mr.
Collins. a tine man, Of erect stature.
and marked dignity Of manners, lie did
not look like n person who wollu Civ.
way to any usolcss fears on any o.c,son
But he was lar more quiet than usual
he seemed t. shrink away from those ia
conversation, and his face WIS ola death
like paicncss.
What's tho matter with Collins
Remember his vile anu children arc
on board the Ariic, observed some one
in reply
Yes responded another, but there
is no occasion for alarm. The ship is a
.staunch one, and within fey hours at
most will, | think, com, galhn.ly to her
wharf
Never! said deep solemn voice.
All gave slight stalt at the tone anl
words, and turned in the direction
whence they proceeded. The speaker
was Mr. Collins himself.
Il am satisfied, gentleman he remark
cd in the same solemn mann,r, th It the
Artic has gone to tho bottom
Impossible?' cried all
Il am quite astonished at that opinion
said Mr. james Brown, a leading direc
tor.
No one knows better than you do Mr.
Collins, tho superior construction If
the ships Of our line, and the qualiGca
tions Of the chief officer and crew in
charge Of tho Artic.'