Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-22
A CLERGYMAN's DREAM
One That Strongly Impressed
Him u Short Time Before
His Violent Death.
St. Louis Christian Advocated

lu6I6 are SOm6 very remarkable
things in connection with the death of
the Rev. G. @. Showers, a local
preacher of Bloomington, Ind, who
was suddenly crushed beneath the
cars at Greencastle on the 10th ult.
He came up on the noon train of that
day from his home, en- route for In.
dianapolis, and thence to different
points in Ohio, in the interest of the
furniture factory Of his three sons. He
came to G~reencastle, and, having three
hours to wait, called on some of his old
friends, in better health than
usual. He was a hale, active, robust
man of 60 years. On returning to the
depot to take the train East he had to
cross the track just at the double
depot. He thought his train was
coming beyond the platform and was
walking with his hand to his face as a
shield from the snow storm. 1t proved
the down train for New Albany, and,
owing to the escaping steam from a
near engine, he did not hear the train,
and stepped on the train Immediately
in front Of the slowing engine. He
saw his danger and turned suddenly
with his back to the train, but, in his
bewilderment, had not time TO leap
before the iron guard struck him. He
was carried thirty-eight feet, caught
under the wheels and crushed to death.
He lived a few minutes, but never
spoke. But here is the remarkable
part Of this terrible affair:
On Saturday night, at his home,
he had a strange and impressive
dream, which awoke him. He told
his wife, and at early morn he went to
one of his sons related it to him. He
also told it in Brother w. L. Brown
ing,,s class at the church of which he
was a member. He dreamed that he
suddenly died, and a guide escorted
him among high mountains until they
came to a deep ravine and large cave,
into which a great throng Of wretched
people were entering AS each one
entered and was ordered to advance
he fell on his knees and begged for
mercy, but a deep and solemn voice
would say it is too late" too late"
too late" repeating it thrice to each.
His guide told him this wal the en-
trance to hell, and they who entered
were worldly church members, and
that the fault was largely owing to
the preachers, who preached more to
please than to save souls. The guide
told him that this was not his doom,
and that he would soon take him to
his heavenly home. He was so i'm
pressed with this strange, bright vision
that he spent all day Sabbath recon-
secIating himself to God. On Monday
he wa to start on his trip, and did SO.
One Of his sons was to go that same
day to Louisville on important and
urgent business, to be absent a day or
two. The father entreated him not
to leave, saying, "William, don't 20
to-day" why notP" said the son.
He said: do not leave home until you
hear from me-" At this the son prom
ised to remain, and did SO. About 5
o'clock that evening he received the
dispatch telling of his fathers
death. This is truly strange,
and by many would have
been regarded as superstition
before the accident, but surely not
afterward. The morning he left home
he told his wife he knew not where or
how soon he should fall, but for her
to be assured that he was ready. On
the train he spent most of his time
reading a beautiful Bible, which he
carried in his valise, and talked long
with an old friend, reading and ex-
pounding the third chapter of First
John to prove that one could live a
holy life without sin. His fayorite
theme was sanctifcation, and had
been for seven years. He preached
it, talked it and protested the expert
ence wherever he went. Many
thought he made his hobby" too
prominent, but surely it was a splen-
did hobby for such death.