Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-27
A STRANGE STORY
OF an Invalid WOman's Second
Sight.
OOrrespOndence Of the Courier-Journnl.l }

HARR0DsBURG, KY, May "a
About ten days ago the larger portion
of the business part ofthe little village
Of Salvisa was destroyed by fire, the
work evidently of midnight incendia-
ries. The facts have already been
published, however, in the Courier
Journal, but a most remarkable cir
cumstance in connection with the fire
has not. The story is going from
mouth, and is being discussed by the
people all over the country, and will
perhaps cause some concessions to
spiritualism. At any rate it has
created the greatest sensation of the
decade, and while the story may
sound somewhat ethereal, | will give
only such facts as can be substantial
ed by the sworn testimony of reliable
witnesses. Whether it be case of
second sight, clairyoyance, inspired
prophecy or what not, / will not pre-
tend to say, but leave others to theo-
rize as inclination may prompt them.
THE BURNT SQUARE.
consisted of five bulldogs, | believe.
The southern end of the row was
owned by DR.. Roach, a prominent
physician Of this county, who occu.
pied a portion of it for an office, and
the north end was an hotel building,
at which many traveller had lodged
and fed" with the genial and hospita-
ble landlord, Charlie Forston. In the
intermediate space between the hotel
and Roach's Office were three dry
goods stores.
Mrs. Charles Forston, the wife of
the hotel proprietor, had been i'll for
some time previous to the fire, and
suffered from some temporary aberra.
ton of mind, her mind occasionally
taking fight, leaving her for a space
in kind of somnambulistic or trance
state, during which time she would
repeatedly prophesy the burning of
the building in which she lived, and
would beg and plead with her hus-
band to move out, assuring him if he
did not, that his goods and chattels.
and perhaps the inmates Of the house,
would be burned up. In her moments
of consciousness she would also urge
upon her husband and friends who
occupied the same square to remove
their wares, saying that she knew and
lelt that the destruction OF the build
ing was inevitable. No attention was
paid to her imploring appeals, all
chinking that her utterances we're
timply those of diseased mind, and
consequently not entitled to any con
sideration.
These prophecies were made and
repeated frequently for several weeks
Ipribr to the burning, and there were a
few Observation-Disclosures people in
the neighborhood who could not free
their minds of vague dread that
something might happen sure enough.
Still nothing was done, and the occu
lpapts of the fated, doomed buildings
rest easy, and paid no attention to the
warnings of Mrs. Forston, which fact
greatly troubled her, and served to in.
crease her suffering. Three days be-
fore the fire she rallied and made a
more earnest request than ever for all
| to leaYe that square, and implored her
F husband fOF the last time to heed her
warning. He tried to assure her that
there was no danger, and that she was
delirious, and begged her to dismiss
the matter from her mind.
On the night Of the FIRE, past the
hour Of midnight, there were in the
! room with the sick womon Chas. Fors.
ton, her husband; Mrs. Vaughn. wife
Of the Methodist minister at Salyisa,
Mrs. Smith and Mrs. SutterGeld.
friends of the patient, who were sit
ting up with her. Mrs Forston sud
denly sprang up in her bed and ad
dressing her husband said: "Charles
, for heavens sake, go and stop those
two negroes from setting fire to the
store. can see them this minute in
the back 9f the store, next to Dr.
) Roach'S Office,
KINDLING A FIRE WITH COAL OIL
Go, 60, for mercy's sake and stor
them, or we'll all be burnt up. | car
see them plainly. They are two COD.
per- r-cOlored negroes, and the store is
burning-go, for the Lords sake.
go F"
As usual, the hearers thought she
"was out of her head" She might
have been There were several store,
intervening between the room where
she lay exhausted in her vain efforts
TO get her husband to move out, ar,
resi- the incepdaries, and save the
q building and the place where she 10.
, Gated the fire. However, it was but
o few minutes after her final appea
that the flames burst out at the very
e spot she had described, and the whole
block was destroyed, many Of the 90
tails OF the burning and removal o
the goods happening exactly as sh,
fortold that they would.
No further trace of the incendiarie,
has been discovered than the meetin,
4 of the two copper-colored negroes
galloping toward Harrodsburg, whil,
the fire was in progress, by gentle
man who vas returning to his home a
q Salvisa. The whole eolamunity is
,fI however, now Of one opsnioh-tha
: the fire was the work Of these tw,
. negroes, whose object WAS plG1Ier
d but who they are o. where they are n,
Is one even surmises, that | am aware Of
q Mrs, Forston has rapidly recovered
= and remembers with clearness all sh
T. said and felt about the fire, and saw
D she had no control over her utter
d ances; that what she foretold was b
no volition Of hers. She knew at tn
time what she was saying, hut copl
= not help Il; 4'hs words came not oil