Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-16
A Strange Story.

contributed 10 the Editors Drawer OF Ylrper's
AogdStfte for August by Mr.. George A. Hans
CON- OF Lowell Massachusetts:
me reading OF the Puzzle for Metaphysi.
o cams ID ,he June number OF your koihfy. re-
renee OF Ike nature which nautical experiences
-. tMehty years afforded. This is another OF
sine, AIerences which go TO prove the occa.
slOnal thnness OF the curtain which limits The
natural vision OF mortais. '0 WV
,si Ia iSos was In Suez In command OF the Brit
and s1Pea nai Neera belonging TO the Bombay
anu behgaI steamship Company-a compsny
oWnlLg Inc OF steamers born of the necessities
oil Tue manufacturing world when the supply OF
war OF the rebellion. The line was unaey the
management OF William F. Stearns now AZ
ceased, sen of the late Professor Stearas. or
Amherst Colfege--a man Who going TO India
penDileSs. developed qualities which enabled
hin 10 rise on the flood tide OF prosperity 10 a
colossal fortune and high social position. bu; as
II proved only TO see his riches float out on the
fet ediDg tide, and leave his family but poorly
provided for at his untimely death.
The NeeTa was lying In SueZ roads, the canal
being Iot yet open, awaiting passengers etc,
before sailing on her return voyage TO Bombay.
The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam
ship Carnatic was also about ready TO sail for
the same port, and only waiting mails and pas
sengers. IL happened that the passengers for
the two steamers came across the 1sthmus
together. and that two Old friends and school,
mates met, the one 10 Join the Neera, the other
the Carnatfc. a day was spent by the friends,
who Unexpectedly met on the Egyptian desert.
In recounting their experiences since they last
deal or bddtnage between them as to the com
paiatiVe merits OF the two steamers. and as T.
which should first land on the coral strand"
upon which these ..rrilinSr were 10 he IN
i'ated into their duties in the ''civil service"
TO which they had been newly appointed.
The Ca1Datic was the first TO be ready and
sailed from Suez In the morning: the Neera left
early IN the evening. some ten or twelve hours
AMER The mail steamer. The night was fine. and
at breakfast time we had passed Snaduan
Island. were out OF the Gulf OF Suey and into
deck, under double awnings of heavy canvas
The young gentleman who had left his friend
The day before seemed somewhat depressed In
spirits and curing breakfast said rather anxi-
night?"
stop: We have not stopped since leaving"
Not even to take soundings?"
NO; the engines have not been eased since
leaving port"
The young man seemed much surprised. and
Ihaily SAID tDat he had q most vivid and re-
markable dream during the night. and this he
pfoceeoeo TO relate IN substance as follows:
" In my dream 1t appeared TO me that the
steamer was stopped during the night and
mat went On deck 70 ascertain the cause |
saw boat pulling off from an island 10 inter-
| cept us. and lantern was waved TO arrest our
acentlCn. AS the boat came nearer saw my
| friend Morton standing in the stern. AS he
| came came up the gangway ladder said For Gods
sake, Morton. what brings you here?' I never
saw MN palmer, nor heard his voice more
distinctly than when he said, The Carnatic
lido otL u.k d Iock ana gone down; the paSSen-
| gers ana crew are on an island, close by, all
safe, ana we want your ship to take them on
| board dreamed that our shin stopped until
other boats came OF with the remainder OF the
| people and that we then proceeded"
| The narration OF the dream made profound
| impression upon the passengers, but the cap
| tain, as In duty bound. laughed ii Off. The
| young man proved Jolly sort of fellow but
was called 1.-The dreamer during the rest of
| the voyage.
ON arrival at Aden five days later. before our
| anchCr was down we were hailed by boat
| which haG been dispatched from the Penfnsular
and Oriental office. and asked If we had any
| news OF the Carnatic, that ship being a
| DAY overdue. We had no news TO give: but our
dreamer quietly remarked to me. "YoI may
| nnd mat there is more 10 my dream than you
supposed"
A Jew hours completed our coaling, and we
| were Of again for Bombay. On arrival at that
| port we heard the news OF the loss of the Car
matte, and the circumstances were just as mar
| rated TO US two weeks before. The ship struck
| on rock near Shaduan island, some ~ hours
after leaving Suez. The passengers and crew
| were landed on the island; the steamer SubSe-
| quently Slid off the rock and went down I'm deep
| water, During the night a steamers lights
were seen by the shipwrecked crew, and boat
| was sent out to intercept her. our dreamer's
friend Morton went In the first boat; the re-
ma1nder OF the people were subsequently taken
| on BOARD, and the rescuing steamer proceeded
on her voyage to Suez. Except that another
| steamer, not the Neera, rescued the party. the
dreamer told the story as we'll as It could be
| told to day.
| 1t seems PROBABLE that our dreamers vision
was shown him at the very moment the ship
| wrecked people were embark1ng upon the
| steamer which came to their aid and that the
| Neera was Lot ten miles from the scene at the
| time.
| perfection TO which the postal system OF the
| word has arrived, that the only letter address,
| ed tn the writer which ever failed to reach him
IN all bis twenty years wanderingS went down