The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-01-28
AUTHENTIC GHOST STORIES.
BY RICHARD A. PROCTOR.

at Q ulStSnCH ITOiu tnc klCESoH unSNtVA by the vision or impression, that we find evidence most difficult to deal with, and the results not only difficult to explain, but not altogether satis- factory for discussion, because the number of those who welcome the dis cussion of all such matters with ridi- culc enormously exceeds the number of the more sensible.
 To illustrate the class of cases in question, will take few very care fully 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 Nj. Wilson, head master of Clifton college, England, and senior wrangler Chat is, first in the honor examination for mathematical in the year 1859. | was at St. Johns eel- lege, Cambridge. when Inc WAS there, taking my degree only one year later. I was captain of the boat club to which he belonged, and have played in the same games with him at foot ball and at cricket. He was capital wicket keeper, which, though not in itself a proof that he would not be liable to fanciful notions, will suffice to show every one who knows what cricket is that he was jealous in open air games, since nothing but constant practice will enable any one to keep wicket successfully. The following narrative is in his own words;
 "I was at Cambridge, in full health, boating. foot ball playing, and the like, and by no means subject to hallu- cinations or morbid iancies. One even- ing felt extremely ill; trembling, with no apparent cause whatever, nor did it seem to be physical illness or chill of any kind. was frightened, was totally unable to overcome it. l remember a sort of struggle with my self. resolving that 'cOuld go on with my mathematics but it was in vain. I became convinced that l was dying. l was in a strange discomfort. but with no symptoms that l can recall except mental discomfort, and the conviction that should die that night. Towards eleven, after some three hours of this, got better and went mp stairs, and got to bed, and after a time to sleep, and next morn- ing was quite well, In the next after noon came a letter to say that my twin brother had died the evening be- fore in Lincolnshire. am quite clear of the fact that never once thought of him, nor was his presence with me even dimly imagined"
 Let this story, in which not only was no apparition seen, but the pres ence 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 becoming legion
 In September, 1857, Captain w. of the Sixth Dragoon Guards, left England to join his regiment in India | leaving his wife at Cambridge. On the night between the l4th and 10th of November, 1857, she dreamed that she saw her husband looking very i'll and she thereupon woke in great agi- tation. When she looked up she saw the same figure standing by the bed side. He appeared in uniform and as if suffering intense pain. He then gradually faded from her view. At first Mrs. w. supposed she must still be asleep; but rubbing her eyes and listening to the breathing of child beside her, she convinced herself that what she had seen was no dream. In December, 1857, a telegram from the seat of war appeared in the morning papers, stating that Captain w. had been killed before Lucknow on the ffteenM of November. The family solicitor applied for further informa- tion as to the date of Captain W. death, which Mrs. W. felt sure must have taken place on the fOurteenM and not on the ftteenM. But the date given in the telegram was con- firmed at the War office. At this time a sing ular circumstance came to light. The solicitor chanced to men, ton the case to lady, friend of his who, according to his account, had 6 tendency to see visions. Turning to her husband, she said:
 "That must have been the same ap- partition l saw on the evening when we were speaking about India"
 They were able to fix the date by means of receipt for an amount paid that day, as the fourteenh oi November. The solicitor on this ap- piled to the War office again, saying that the friends of Captain W. were persuaded there must be some mistak about the date. The officials stated however, that there could he no mis- take, since the death was referred to in two dispatches from Sir Colin Camp bell, who, in both cases, gave the date as the .fffeenM. In March, 1858, a