The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18
Authentic Ghost stories.

Richard A. Proctor In the Cosmopolitan.
1t is when we turn TO visions OF living
persons, or to thoughts and suggestions re-
lating TO living persons, at distance from
the person affected by the vision or inn
preston, that we find evidence most diff
cult to deal with, and the results not only
difficult to explain, but not altogether salts
factory for discussion, becauss the number
OF those who welcome the discussion of all
such matters with ridicule enormously ex-
ceeds the number OF the more sensible.
To illustrate the class Of cases in ques-
ton, will take few very 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
well known, may even be said to be in
some degree eminent-the Rev. James M.
Wilson, head master OF Clifton college,
England, and senior wrangler (that In, first
in the honor Of examination for mathe-
matics) in the year 1850. was ut st.
Johns college, Cambridge, when he was
there, taking my degree only one year
later. was captain Of the boat club 10
which he belonged, and have played in
the same games with him at football and
at cricket. He was a capital wicket-keepcr,
which, though not in itself proof that
he would not be liable to fanciiul notions,
will suffice 10 show every one who knows
what cricket Ia that he was jealous in open
air games, since nothing but constant prac.
tice will enable any one to keep wicket
successfully. The following narrative is in
his own words:
81 was at Cambridge, in full health
boating, football playing, and the like
and by no means subject TO hallucination,
or morbid fancies. One evening felt ex
tremely i'll; trembling, with no apparent
cause whatever, nor did II seem to be q
physical illness or chill Of any kind. | wa,
heightened. was totally unable 10 over
come il. remember sort OF struggl,
with myself, resolving that you'd 20 ON
with my mathematics; but IL was in vain
/ became convinced that was dying.
was in strange discomfort, but with nc
symptoms that can recall except menta
discomfort, and the conviction that
should die that night. Toward II o'clock
after some three hours Of this, got bette
and went upstairs and got 10 bel, and afie
a time 10 sleep, ana next morning wa
| quite well. In the next afternoon came |
letter to say that my twin brother had die,
4
quite clear OF the fact that l never ono
thought Of him, nor was his presence witt
me even dimly imagined"
Let this story, in which not only was M
apparition seen, but the presence OF IN,
relative who died at the time Of IN,
strange sensation Was not even imagined
be compared with the following, which !
one OF the best authenticated Of a class Q
l.
gion:
In September, 1857, Capt. W., OF IN
Sixth Dragon Guards, left England 10 join
his regiment in India, leaving his wife a
Cambridge. On the night between III
18th and 18th Of November, 1857, sh
dreamed that she saw her husband look
ing very Ill, and she thercupon woke II
great agitation. When she looked up sh
saw the same figure standing by her bed
side. He appeared in uniform and as
suffering intense pain. lie then gradual
faded from her view. At fist Mrs W
supposed she must still be asleep; but
rubbing her eyes and listening {
the breathing Of child bcsid
her. she convinced herself tha
what she had seen was no dream
In December, 1857, a Telegram
from the scat Of warappearcd In the morn
ing papers, stating that Capt. w. had bee
killed before Lucknow on the 18th Of No
vembcr. The family solicitor applied 70
further information as 10 the date Of CAPT
WIS death. which MrS w. felt sure mus
have taken place ON the 18th and not o
the 18th. But the date given In the Eel,
gram was confirmed NJ the war office. A
this time q singular circumstance came /
light. The solicitor CHANGED 90 mentio
the case 10 lady, friend Of his, who
according 10 his account, had a tcndcnc
TO sec visions Turning to her husban
she said:
THAT must have been the same appar
ton saw on the evening when we wcr
speaking about India"
They were able TO ok the date by mean
Of a receipt for an amount Paid that da,
a. the ifth Of November. The solicitc
on this applied to the war Office agair
saving that the friends OF Capt. w. wcr
persuaded there must be some mistak
about the date. The officials stated, how
ever, that there could be no mistak.
since the death was referred 20 in two dil
/ patches from Sir Colin Campbell, who, |
both cases. gave the date as the 18th. I
March, 1855, letter arrived from broths
officer, giving an account OF Capt w.
death. This officer, who was riding b,
side Capt w. when he was killed, state
that death occurred on the 18th Of Noveu
Der Finally, though whether on IN
strength OF this officers evidence, {
through faith In the apparition's truth |
time, the date was altered 10 the 18th.
II seems never 20 have occurred 10 an
one 10 consider the difference betwce
Indian and English time. II the time
Capt WIS death really conceded. as Mn
w. then and thereafter hrmly believed
with the time Of her dream, then, unlc,
she went 10 bed unusually early, he WI
killed on the 18th OF November, India
time. Suppose, for instance, she had h,
dream at 10 O'Clock on the night Of Novcn
Der 18th, then al that moment Il vi
twcnty-four minutes past . o'cloc
ON sthc morning Of November
al lucknow. Surprising II was late
~ tho account ssgVcsfs, then we ma
we'll suppupe that daylight had alrcad
broken on the morning OF the ibt
At Lucknow, al the hour when Ms. v
had her midnight dream at Cambridge an
. 1 = a.I a l.