The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-12
AUTHENTIC GHOST STORIES.

Some Unaccountable Gases in Which Visions
of the Dead Have Appeared to Friends.
Richard A. Proctor, in January Cosmopolitan.
It is when turn to visions of living persons,
or to thoughts and suggestions relating to living
persons. at distance from the person affected
by the vision i'm preston, that we find evidence
most difficult TO deal with and the results not
only difficult to explain, but altogether salts
factory for discussion, because the number OF
those who welcome the discussion of such mat
tiers with ridicule enormously exceeds the num-
Der of the more sensible.
To illustrate the class of cases in question.
will take few carefully selected examples
from among hundreds that might be cited.
In the following case, we have the direct
evidence of the person affected. who is we'll
known, may even be said to be in some degree
eminent-the Rev. James III. Wilson, Head
Master of Clifton College. England, and
Senior Wrangler THAT is, first in the
honor examination for mathematics) in the
bridge. when he was there, taking my degree
only one year later l was captain of the boat
club to which he belonged. and have played In
the same games with him at football and at
cricket He was d capital wicket keeper,
which, thought not in itself proof that he
would not be liable to fanciful notions, will
cricket is that he was Jealous in open air games,
since nothing but constant practice will enable
any one keep wicket successfully. The
following narrative is in his own words:
Il was at Cambridge, IN full health, boating,
foot ball playing. and the like, and by no means
subject to Authorizations or morbid fances One
evening felt extremely ill; trem bling, with no
apparent cause whatever, nor did it seem to be
physical illness or chill of any kind. was
it. I remember sort of struggle with myself
resolving that would go with my mathe-
mates; but 1t was in vain. / be-
came convinced that was dy-
but with no symptoms that can recall except
mental disccmforr. and the conviction that
should die that night. Towards eleven, after
up stairs, and got to bed. and after time to
sleep. and next morning was quite well. In the
next afternoon came letter to say that my
twin brother had died the evening before
Lincolnshire. | am quite clear of the fact that
] never once thought OF him, nor was his pres
ence with me dimly imagined"
Let this story. in which not only was appa-
rtion seem but the presence of the relative
who died at the time of the strange sensation
was not even imagined. be compared with the
following, which is one of the best authenticated
of class of stories whose name is now becom-
ing legion:
Dragon Guards. left England to join his regi-
ment in India, leaving his wife at
Cambridge. On the night between the l4fh
that she her husband looking very ILL and
she thereupon awoke in great agitation. When
she looked ND she saw the same figure standing
by her bedside He appeared in uniform and
if suffering from intense pain. He then gradu-
ally faded from her view. At first Mrs w. sup
posed she must still be asleep; bat rubbing her
eyes and listening to the breathing OF child be-
side her, she convinced herself that what she had
seen was no dream. In December, 1857. q tele-
gram from the seat of war appeared in the morn
ing papers. stating that CAPTAIN w. had been
killed before Lucknow the 10Th OF Novem-
ber The family solicitor applied for further in
formation as to the date of Captain VS. DEATH
which Mrs. w. felr sure nust have taken place
on the 14th. aud not on the 18th But the date
given IN the telegram was confirmed at the war
Office. At this time a singular circumstance
came light. The solicitor CHANGED u mention
the case TO lady. friend OF his, who, Ac-
cording TO his account, had tendency TO sec
visions. Turning to her husband. she said:
THAT must have been the same apparitton
saw on the evening when speaking
about India
They able to fix the date by means Of
q receint for amount paid that day, as the
I4th of November. The solicitor ON this applied
to the War Once again. saying that the friends
of Captain w. were persuaded there must be
nome mistake about tho date The