The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-02-05
SPECTRAL VISITATIONS.
A Compact Kept-The Stings Of Con-
Science-A Promise Fulfilled.

One of the strangest cases of insanity
ever heard of in this portion of the
country, is enga ging the attention of a
well-known physician in Davenport just
now. We say insanity, because the doc
tor says the man is insame-a monom-
aniac-while the patient himself de-
clares that he is in his right mind; and
he talks sensible enough on every topic
brought to his notice, not excepting the
one which has alarmed his friends and
caused a physicians attention.
The person in question was soldier
and when the regiment was in camp
near Davenport he and a fellow soldier
of his company became warm friends,
although strangers before enlistment.
One day in May, 1868, we believe the
two were on picket near Pennington,
Miss, and they fell into conversation
about the state of the soul after death
a topic which engaged the minds of
soldiers of the late war frequently, as
most of our readers know. On this oc-
casion the two troopers talked earnestly
on the subject. One believed in the i'm
mortality of the soul, the other didn't;
but then and there each pledged the 9TH
er that should death come to him dur
ing the war he would visit the survivor,
if possible.
The next day battle was fought near
Pennington, and the party who believed
body now lies in national cemetery in
Mississippi.
That was nearly twelve years ago.
The surviving trooper was deeply griev-
ed over the loss of his friend, but he
continued in the service till the end of
the war, and was honorably discharged
when his regiment was mustered ont.
He turned to Iowa, engaged in business
presently, was married, and has family.
Some five weeks ago, his wife became
alarmed at his actions in the night. He
would wake her and ask her if she saw
anybody or heard any noise in the room;
and, of course, she had not In a few
days, finding that his wife was becom-
ing nervous over his nocturnal wakeful-
ness, he insisted upon occupying a room
alone-but on the third night thereafter
he came to his wife's bed at mid
night, threw himself into an easy chair,
and said he wonld sit, for he could not
sleep. Just before Christmas, while
with his wife on I'd street, the intention
being to purchase holiday goods, he ask
ed his companion if she could see
form before them, that had walked
few feet in their advance ever since they
left their gate? No-she could not.
On Christmas the wife went to the
family physician and acquainted him
with her fears concerning her husband,
and the doctor returned to her home
with her, and both demanded the rea-
son for his strange conduct; heretofore
he had refused to converse with his wife
on the subject.
Then the afflicted man told his COM
panion and physician the story of the
promise of his comrade to return to
him after death, made under the cir
that thoughts of the pledge of reappear-
ance came to him often during the few
months after his comrade was killed,
but he had long since dismissed it
from his mind. But in November last,
he was w3kened in the night, and saw
the form of his friend, distinctly, in his
room-not in uniform, but with a robe
for apparel, a face not very pale, and
hair of natural look and hue. The lips
moved as if the form would speak, but
he heard no words; the face smiled also,
as if the visitor was glad to see his
friend. Nearly a month elapsed before
the party spoke to his wife about it,
and then it was because he had become
so nervous that he could not help it.
Several times the form seemed to ac-
company HIM on the street, and it ap-
peared to him in his bed room plainly
every few nights. This was his plain
story, and we give it as it was given to
us, The patient knew tina, he had been
affected by the visitation; his sleep had
been broken, nervousness engendered,
and appetite much impaired. Weeks
have elapsed, and he is still patient
insane patient his relatives believe him
to be, though he talks as sensible on
every topic suggested except the one
that refers to the ghost, and he believes
his friend has come to him for some
good purpuse, which he can not define.
He attends to his business almost daily,
though, and none but his near relatives
know of his ailment. 1t is not unlike
ly that trip abroad may be advised for
the patient Davenport Gazette, JAN
uary 18th.
Hard and Soft Water.
There is a notion quite prevalent in
L Al l.