The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-05-17
Tho Univoraity Contract.

x00 OUlv0tU1Cy OOnCE0CCs
The building committee Of Hamline uni
versity awarded the contract for reconstruct
ing tho main building to George Summers,
gasland steam fixtures; and Mr.. Summers
agreeing to pay 5000 for the material re-
naming in the walls and foundations. The
bid OfMr. Summers was about $500 lower
than any other received by the building
committee, and he agrees TO have the main
building completed by the middle of
November, and the work of reconstruction
will be commenced at once.
How Did 1t Happen?
If truth were not stranger that fiction,
the following incident might 1eem the
most i'm probable of all improbabiliues.
Yet it is true, every word of it,. and the
Eyewitness" referred to is the father
of the gentleman who sends US the singu.
lar narrative.
Zone Saturday night in 1872, was on
ferry-boat crossing from Brooklyn to
New York.
'The boat was crowded, and as soon
as it was in the dock there was the usual
struggleto see who could get off first.
As ] was hurried on BY those behind me,
saw, twisted about the coat-tail button
of a man in front of me-, gold watch
chain and dangling at the end of it
handsome gold watch.
Before had time to call the mans
attention to it, the crowd separated us
and lost sight of him.
"But the incident made a strong i'm.
preston on me, and I wondered and
puzzled as to how that watch pot on that
button. Several years after, business
called me again to New Yorh, where !
met Mr.. s., who took me home
with him to dinner, and introduced me
to his brother.
"After the meal was over, the CONVEX
eation turned upon the curious tricks
which noted psychologist was perform.
ing in the city. Immediately the Incl
dent of the watch occurred to me and I
was about to mention 1t, when my host
sAid,-
| "That reminds me of remarkable
thing which once happened to me, and
which have never been able to explain.
l was coming over from BROOKLYN one
night, in the winter of ~. and my
brother George here was on the same
boat with me, though didn't know it.
There was great crowd and much push
ing in getting off the boat.
"When J. reached home, and was
about to throw off my coat, my wife ex.
claimed, "Why, what is that on your
coat-tail?" took off the coat, and there,
twisted around one of the buttons, was q
watch-chain with a gold watch at the end
of it. You can imagine our surprise
when we recognized the watch
as my brother George'sl When
he came in, a little later. that even
ing, he did not know of his loss, and
when told of it could hardly be COZ.
WINGED of the facts. Indeed, ! have
seen many good people who have smiled
incredulously at the story. What do
you think Of it?'
''Think Of til" answered, why, saw
it at the timew and then J. related to my
astonished hearers what had seen and
| wondered at so many years.
But what is your explanation of it2''
I asked my host.
"tle shook his head. Who knows?
My own theory is that my brother and l
passed on to the boat together.
In the crush, was crowded up against
him and in some incx?ticable way the
chain was wound so firmly about the
contribution as to pull the watch from
my pocket. But in that way, l have
never been able to satisfy myself It
will always remain mystery to me-"
1T has been q mystery to me also
| oirooO