Northern Ohio journal. [volume] (Painesville, Ohio) 1872-1896, 1880-06-05

should reach the ears of the parents,
they were told under an injunction of
secrecy.
In the mean time I listened eagerly
to my sons daily bulletins from his
school-mate.
erred is coming soon.' "Mother
has his clothes all ready" "Father
says he may be here any day now"
s'The Sophia Walker is due this week"
1t was two weeks before the ship ar
rived in port; but was SO far GONZALES
cent that 1 was permitted to sit up,
wrapped in blankets, for an hour or
two each day.
On one of these occasions, while Mr..
Baker and the family were at dinner
the bell rang, and presently 1 heard my.
husband, in answer to the summons OF
the servant, hurry to the door.
1t was scarcely a minute before he
entered my chamber, pale and evident
ly trying to conceal his emotion. He
had an open letter in his hand, upon
which his eyes were fastened.
"You have Captain Codman's let
ter,'' I said.
Yes" he answered, " and in almost
the words you repeated to me-"
held out my hand for the sheet, and
my tears fell fast as I read the follow
ing lines, evidently written in great
haste:
Lev. Mr.. Baker:
MY DEAR SIR must beg you to perform
painful duty Poor Frederick was lost over
board in gale on the 10th. You must tell
his father. can not.
I.never had ANYTHING occur that has given me
SO much pain. He was everything that could
desire; and can truly say that never had oc-
casion to reprove him, and that his uniform
good conduct won the esteem and love OF us
all. There was this satisfaction-that not one
of US well prepared for death.
/ will detail the circumstances at more
leisure; but enough to say now, he was lost
from the fore-topsail yard in gale of wind,
can best administer consolation to his distressed
parents. Show them the sermon preached on
the Sabbath following his death, which accom-
panies this, and assure them of my heartfelt
sympathy.
Yours truly, j. GOODMAN.
March 25, 1916.
While my eyes glanced over the lines,
familiar as if penned by myself, Mr..
Baker was making hurried preparations
to go to Mr.. Stetson's.
"Young Hall brought it OUT he ex-
planned. "Captain Goldman wished me
to have the letter at once, lest the pa
rents should hear the sorrowful tidings
in an abrupt manner"
The sad scenes which followed are
too sacred to be even touched upon
here. Mr.. Baker did not return home
for hours, having offered to go to Cam
bridge and convey the sad intelligence
to Merriam Stetson, the second son,
who was member of Harvard College.
s'I am to go in to Boston to see Cap
tain Goldman in the morning. he said.
HMr. SLetson is anxious to see him,
and shall ask him to return with me-"
recalled the last scene on board the
Sophia Walker, and said: Il thought
he himself went in. 1t is the first thing
not exactly in accordance with my
vision"
1 called it vision, for was not asleep,
and therefore it could not be a dream.
The next morning when Mr.. Baker
called at Mr.. Stetsons house to take
any additional messages, he learned
that, impatient and restless, the sor-
rowing father had found it impossible
to wait and had taken the earliest con-
veyance into Boston, where scene oc-
Cured like what l had witnessed.
| There was no longer need of secrecy
in regard to my prescience or foresight,
if so it may be called, and it speedily
came to the parents ears. Persons of
intelligence of both sexes speculated
and puzzled over these remarkable
mental phenomena, unlike most record
ed by philosophers in the fact, already
stated, of the mind not only recogniz-
ing what was passing at the moment at
distance of hundreds of miles, but
going forward in advance of events and
foretelling them with minute accuracy.
| l make no effort to explain my mental
state, which am entirely unable to do;
but may be pardoned for quoting
from a philosopher of the present cen
tury, who, speaking of visions and
dreams, remarks: 1t is in vain to at
tempt an explanation of them. They
scarcely appear referable to any princi-
pie with which we are at present &C
quainted."
But to resume my narrative. [ find it
impossible at this distance of time to
recollect all the persons to whom these
operations of my mind were made known
before the letter of Captain Goldman
were DIR. Swan and two female friends,
who have since passed beyond the scenes
of earth. During his life my kind physi-
clan frequently urged me to publish an
account of these remarkable facts. NY
reasons for not doing so are suggested
in letter to Rev. Mr.. Stetson, which,
togetherwith the reply and the testimony
of other eye and ear witnesses, I sub
Join for the satisfaction of those who
may desire additional proof of the strict
accuracy of this narrative:
Rev. Caleb iSte'son:
DEAR Sniff any apology is necessary
for my addressing you this note trust it may
be found in the friendly relations which have
| long subsisted between your family and ours
and in our personal relations to the subject Of
this letter.
You will no doubt recollect the singular
mental phenomena which occurred during my
| severe illness some weeks before your sor
Frederick's death, and which at the time caused
considerable discussion in literary and scien
tif1c circles. By some conversant with the
facts have been urged to write an account
of them for philosophical inquiry, they being
considered in many respects more remarkable
instance of prescience or foresight than any
on record; but the fear of being classed with
visionaries and spiritualists has heretofore
prevented me.
Now, however, on fresh application to statt
the particulars in detail, have consented tt
do SO, and would consider it great persona
favor if you will carefully examine the accom-
|. panying statement, and SO far as memory will
enable you, add in a note to me, which ma,
be at liberty to publish, your corroborativt
testimony respecting it.
Mr.. Baker unites with me in very kinds re
CARDS to yourself and family.
With great esteem aud respect,
HARRIETTE w. BAKER.
DORCHESTER, feDruary 10, lo7U.
! Rev. Mr.. Stetson, having been sicl
for several weeks, requested his wife t.
answer for him. She writes:
| DEAR MRS. BAKER-We have read you
manuscript with the deepest interest. Yo,
have expressed clearly and correctly the who'll
{ subject, as it has laid hidden in our memories
and SO vividly, too, have you portrayed il
: that the sad event of by-gone years comes t
us with the freshness of yesterday.
Mr.. Stetson also wishes me to add that
, might be well for you to procure the testimon
of those who were informed of your wondrou
vision before the event transpired, as so man
} years have passed since that fatal storm c
March 10, 1916.
With our best wishes for yourself and hus
. band, most affectionately yours,
JULIA M. srErsoN
LEXINGTON, February 10, 1870.
Acting upon the suggestion containe
3 in the above note, have received tn
following communications from thos
i who have seen or heard this article il
manuscript. The first is from tn
' daughter of Rev. David Osgood, D. d.
a predecessor of Rev. Mr.. Stetson, an
: for long course of years pastor of tn
( First Church in Medford.
D DEAR Mr.. BAKER-In answer to your inqu
ries, 1 could state that have distinct reco
lection of hearing from you in your sick-chan