The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-07-24
The Besd COnlTinnIcaTe with she
Living.

It. is a strange unearthly story told
of L. K. Collins, who was the great
ocean steamship commander of his
time, that in the spring or early summer
of 1854, Mrs. Collins and her son and
daughter went abroad on continental
tour. For the beuefit Of her husband,
the wife kept brief diary, which was
transmitted to him in weekly INSTALL
ments, and by which he was enabled
to follow the movements of the party
from day to day. At that time clair
voyance was attracting considerable
attention In New York, and one even
ing, having nothing else to do, Capt.
Collins resolved to crafty his curiosity
concerning it. Accordingly he called
upon q lady medium, whom he had
never seen before, and asked for Infor-
mat on In regard to the present where
abouts of his fsmily-mentioning
neither name nor supposed locality.
The medium went into what Is termed
''the trance state" described the three
persons with sufficient accuracy, and
also the church they were then visiting.
Capt. Collins made q memorandum Of
the date, etc., and when the letter ar
rived covering that particular period of
the journey, found the clairvoyant COM
municatlon was quite correct. He
called once or twice afterward with
equally satisfactory results, and then
dropped the investigation which had
served to while away few dull hours.
1.-THE family, by previous arrange
ment, were To return on the Arctic.
The steamer being due in New York
Saturday night or early Sunday morn
ing, Capt. Collins, instead OF going
out to his country residence as usual,
remained oyer night at his brothers
house in the city. At the breakfast
table next morning he wore an anxious
look, and in answer TO an inquiry said
he had not rested veil, and finally con-
fessed that bad dreams in relation to
the Arctic had disturbed his slumbers.
He was laughed at, Of course, but the
dream had made such an impression
upon him that he could not entirely rid
himself of II. Sunday and Monday
passed and no news OF the absent yes
sci. The unexpected delay naturally
increased his anxiety, and he remem-
bersd the cIAirvoyant. He sought her
out, and at his request - but with
no preliminary examination - she
again went into "the trance
state" Her first exclamation was
that she could see nothing; that every
thing seemed enveloped in O cloud
Finally she was able 20 discover the
three persons, standing "a the deck Of
ship amid confusion, which iadicai-
ed trouble of some sort, with mist or
foy all around them. Her VISION re-
vealed no more, but this was enough
10 intensity the fears OF the husb snd
aud fsliitr. He returned TO the Office,
told his private secretary what bso
passed and resumed the weary wsici l.
ing and waiting. Next day-WedDes-
day, We think-at IL O'Clock. while the
dozen clerks were engaged m their va
rious duties, q we'll dressed stranger
rushed into the Office from Broad way
without nat and evidently in terrible
excitement. Throwing bis hands
sbove hIs head, he exclaimed, The
Arctic is lost of Cape Race only
so many giving the rumbef) saved,
and my brother is among the
lostlp he was immediately surround
ed by q crowd, but 10 response 70 all
questions simply repeated twice the
| words already spoken; then broke
/ away, rushed out into the street, and
disappeared. Not until twenty -four
houfs later was the first telegram re-
ceized conveying the intelIigeDce Of
the loss of the Arctic and the arrival Of
boat load o. the survivors on the
C.nadlau coAstl TIE stEa1geE's IDfoT-
nation Was verified. but how did ae
.et NJ A soon ss Capt. Coliips bad
partially recovered iron the ELECTS Of
the calamity which robbed min Of
wife, son and daughter. be offered =
large reward Tor the unknown persen-
age, and employed the zb0ls detective
force Of the city IN the search Bat al
| u Vsln- Eoshing has besn heard oi
him from that day iii this. The
myster1 i = mYslery sfiil.