Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-12-15
Foresold His own Death.

MT. ana MTs. christopher y. DIN on', VI
this city, lost their youngest son, Christie
pher c. Brooks, aged II years and
months, by death from paralysis of the
heart, in Brooklyn, N. Y, Wednesday
afternoon, under peculiar circumstances.
The remains arrived in Baltimore Fricay
morning and the funeral took place III the
afternoon.
In his funeral discourse the Rev. w.
Courtenay gave an account OF rcnarNa-
bic and accurate premonition which the
young man had had of his death. The
Rev. G.. L. FELTON,, Who followed Mr..
Courtenay, said it was one of the eXcep-
tional phenomenal cases which point to Il
new and higher philosophy. He said that
such eases were like the moOnbeams which
came down to earth ON cloudy night
through the riffs in the clouds. Such cases
enlightened the minds of men and direct
cd their researches towards subject that
may yet be made to yield its teaching and
truths. He did not believe that the dead
were very far from the living, and thought
that in the future n new science might be
established on such phenomenal cases as
the one on which he was commenting.
The following account of the premoni-
ton referred TO was obtained from the pa
rents of the deceased: Mrs. Brooks was
travelling in Europe and had written her
son, who was employed in New York and
lived III Brooklyn, TO join her. lie re-
sponded, naming the time of his starting.
In the interim he WAS taken i'll, and on
the day Mrs. Brooks received his letter
she received Il cablcgram summoning her
home OH account OF his sickness. On her
arrival she found him able to go about,
and his physician had no fears az to his
perfect recovery. The youth stated, how
ever, that a former teacher ant friend OF
his, Mr.. Hall, who died about five months
ago, had appeared to him Ill vision and
told him he would die of heart trouble on
Wednesday, December D, ut O'Clock L.
NJ. Young Brooks had never had any
trouble with his heart, and his friends to
whom he made the statement were III no
way concerned about it. DR.. Nav, his
physician. laughed at it, and said he was
certain on the contrary he would set we'll.
The young man was, however, thoroughly
impressed with the belief that lie would
dio at the time indicated. a few days be-
fore that time lie sent flowers TO some
friends, with note saying: 81 shall
never again be able to express my appre-
citation Of your kindness" lie accom-
panied = lady friend TO an entertainment
tho afternoon of December /, spent the
evening in her company, and received
promise that if he wrote for her the next
afternoon she would come to say good-by.
His physician told the brother and mother
of the youth that he would divert his
mind from the subject by physical means,
and on Tuesday night put fly blister Oh
his neck.
Wednesday morning young Brooks rose
as usual, ate an unusually hearty break
fast, and to all appearances was good for
long life. The physician left him with
out trace OF uneasiness as TO his condl-
ton. The young man insisted that his
mother should not stay with him, telling
her at would kill you to see me die"
That lie might not take the matter too
much to heart she did not oppose him, but
To leave him, intending to re-
turn to him in the latter part OF the after
noon.
While taking lunch with the family as
usual ut two O'Clock he complained Of foe!-
ing faint, and asked to lie assisted TO his
room. After resting in the bed Il few mo-
ments he wrote to the young lady, and In
about twenty minutes she arrived. lie
died in the presence of the family 1T $40
o'clock. His physician and his mother
arrived but two or three moments later,
and were shocked to find his prediction
fulfilled. His father had returned to Bal
timore from visiting him some weeks ago.
On Wednesday at breakfast his father re-
marked it was the day which his son had
appointed to die, but with no thought that
the prophecy would be fulfilled, and was
astounded when intelligence of the death
arrived. lie Was young man Of strong
character, exceptionally good mind and
splendid Observation-Disclosures San.