The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-15
GHOSTS AND COLLINS.
How "a Sea Captain Informed His Family
OF His Death.

How "a Sea Captain Informed Ris Family
of His Death.
Boston Letter TO Minneapolis Tribune.l
Somewhere back in the ''sixties"-I think
just after the war-the family Of sea cap
Ia In, absent on u long cruise, lived in TIE
town l speak of. This family comprised a
wife and several daughters. / would give
names and places. were il not for making
public what was given me- Ia confidence. J
Well, one night, when the family had gone
TO bed, ore OF the daughters named Carrie,
had very impressive dream she started IN
her sleep and finally arose from her bed her
eyes open but fixed, her whole manner that
of o person who sees some dreadful vision.
She moved from chamber to chamber, aroas-
ing the different mem bers OF the family, aud
led them to the sitting room. a lamp was
lighted, and the little gathering clad In
night-1Iesses and shgwls, wonderin ely
obeyed the direct Ons OF the dreamer. She
called for sheet of paper, and pen and ink.
No writing paper could be found in the
house, but at last piece Of grocers wrap
ping paper was brought and the ssmnam-
bulist appeared satisfied. Taking the pen.
she began writing in a large. msscu
line hand. There was profound silence In
the little group, and feeling of terror and
dread settled upon mother and daughters.
None dared TO look over the shoulder OF the
writer, who at last, finishing gave a sigh of
Der. The mother, no longer able II restrain
her curiosity, yet fearing something dread.
iul. took up the brown sheet and began TO
read. "ChilGren," she exclaimed, lit Is your
fathers hsndwriting" 1t was dated at sea
the loneitu de and latitude being given. In
teEse language Il described the coming Of 4
hurricane, the horrors OF the tempest, aud
final losing of every hope. and tue sinking OF
the craft in the angry waters with oil on
board. AT er brief but pathetic message to
his family the drowned captain signed his
name in Characteristic fashion.
This was the manner 10 which Captain
F-s, Of the little town in Maine sent
word to his wife and daughters az home OF
the manner of his taking Off Was there
ever anything more dramatic? This is the
first time that this story known TO fully a
thousand people, has ever been put in print
1t was given me several years ago by an init
mate friend OF the family. Did that ship go
down? No one knows-all that is certain is
that she never came into any earthly port
This story would give the society for physi
cal research q month OF solid work. The
spirtnalists will see nothing wonderful in
IL Perhaps 1t IS only one OF the common
places OF the supernatural.
A gentleman Of Veracity told me- that for
three nights he dreamed tn at man with
full red ace approached him in his dreams
carrying q hammer which he held over hi,
head II mechanical manner. On the morn
ing after the last dream the gentleman wen
to his place of bushes as usual, on his wsJ
he passed a snop. The door was open, anC
there stood, with hammer uplifted, the mar
seen in the dream. The two men stopped
and looked at each other and said nothing
queer coincidence.
A Massachusetts State Senator man O
ultra skeptical views, went awhile ago Il
| visit noted spirituaiist who has puzzled ia,
| Gar in his winter palace The Senator Wa.
| asked 10 seat himself in large and verI
heavy armchair. While there seated be We
lifted by a force unknown to him so that hi
head nearly touched the ceiling He was no
yet cured of his skepticism, but he fully be
lieves that he was not the victim OF delu
sion