River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-06-10
BRONSON'S DREAM.

by the MASSES TO have Just. as much
significance as a hundred years ago,
and Friday is considered the uulucky
day of the week the same as when sail
ors refused to leave port on that day.
There is, however, say what you will,
something in dreams, visions, warnings,
and the like which now and then start
les candid and intelligent minds.
A few years ago man named BrOn-
son, vino was an agent for big seed
house, was travelling through Tennessee
making collections for his house. He
had to visit many towns off the rail
roads, and in such cases he secured a
horse and buggy or rode horseback
One night after he had finished his bust.
ness in Chattanooga he made ready for
horseback trip of fifteen or twenty
miles the next day Upon retiring to
his room for the night he sat down to
smoke a cigar. He was neither over
tired nor sleepy, but after smoking
few minutes he had what he termed
vision. He was riding over the cOun-
try on horseback when at a juuction of
the roads be was Joined by a stranger.
He saw this man as plainly as one can
see another in broad daylight, noting
the color Of hair and eyes, and taking
particular notice of the fact that the
horse, which was gray il color, had
~" branded on its left shoulder.
The two rode along together for a
mile or more, ard then came to a spot
where tree had blown down and
fallen across the narrow highway.
They turned into the woods to pass
the spot, he in advance, when he saw
the stranger pull a pistol and fire at
his back. He felt the bullet tear into
him, reeled, and fell from his horse,
and was conscious when the assassin
robbed him and drew his body further
into the woods. He seemed to see all
this, and yet at the same time knew
that he was dead. His corpse was
rolled into a hollow and covered with
brush, and then the murderer went
away and left him alone In making
an effort to throw off the brush the
dead man came to life; that is, the
agent threw off the spell and awOke
himself. His cigar had gone out, and
as near as he could calculate he had
been unconscious, as you might call it,
for about fifteen minutes. He was
deeply agitated, and it was some time
before he could convince himself that
he had not suffered any injury. By
and by he went to bed and slept
soundlY, and next morning the remem-
brance of what had happened in his
vision had almost faded from his mind.
Luckily for Bronson, he made some
inquiries at the livery stable as he went
for his horse, and he was told that it
was lonely road. and that IL would DC
prudent to 90 armed. But for this he
would have left his revolver in his
trunk at the hotel. He set out on his
journey in good spirits. and found the
road so romantic. and met horsemen
going to town so often that ne reached
the junction of the roads without giving
a serious thought to his vision. Then
every circumstance was suddenly re-
called in the most vivid manner. He
was Joined bv stranger on grey
horse, and man and beast Tailed ex-
aetly with those in the vision. The
man did not, however, have the look
or bearing of an evil minded person.
Jolly mood, and he saluted Bronson as
frankly as an honest stranger would
have done He had no weapon in sight
and he soon explained that he was go
ing to the village to which Bronson
was bound on business connected with
the law.
The agent could not help but feel as
tonished and startled at the curious
coincidence. but the stranger was so
laxative and friendly that there was
no possible excuse to suspect him. In
deed as if to prove to his companion
that he meditated no evil. he kept a
little in advance for the next half hour.
Bronson's distrust had entirely
vanished when a turn in the road
brought an obstruction to view. There
was fallen rec across the highway
This proof that every point and cir
cumstance in the vison was being
unrolled before his eyes gave the agent
great shock. He was behind the
stranger, and he pulled his revolver
and dropped his hand beside the horse
to conceal it.
"Well, well,'' said the man as be
pulled up his horse. ''The tree must
have toppled over this morning. Wen
have to pass around it to the right.
Bronson was on the right. The
woods were clear of underbrush, and
naturally enough he should have been
the first to leave the road. But he
waited.
go ahead, friend, said the
stranger, and as if the words had been
addressed to the horse, the animal
which the agent bestrOde started up.
Brosnon was scarcely out of the road
before he turned in his saddle. The
stranger bad pistol in his right hand!
What followed could not be clearly re-
lated. Bronson slid from the saddle as
a bullet whizzed past him, and a second
later returned the fire. Three or four
shots were rapidly exchanged, and then
the wOuld-be murderer, uttering yell
to show that he had been hit, wheeled
his horse to gallop off. He had not
gone ten rods when the beast fell under
him. and he kicked his feet from the
stirrups and sprang into the woods and
was out of sight in a moment. The
horse had received a bullet in the
throat and was dead in a few minutes.
AS matter of course Bronson put
the case in the hands of the proper Of
fcials. but the horse could neither be
identified nor the man overhauled. 1t I
was agreed that be was an entire [
stranger in that locality, and that, /
while he did not know Bronson nor the /
business he was engaged in, he was 4
ready to commit a cold-blooded muir 1
der. and take Lis chances of finding a 4
fat wallet to repay him.