Mexico weekly ledger., 1888-10-18
DREAMS OF DEATH.
Many Cases Like George Masby's
Wonderful. But Surely
True.

True.
Elder J. w. Higbee hands the
LEDGER the interesting article
printed below, and, apropos of the
dream of George s. Mosby, an ac-
count of which has appeared in
these columns, it is especially read.
able:
1t is when we turn to visions of
living persons. or to thoughts and
suggestions relating to living per-
sons, at a distance from the person
affected by the vision or impres-
sion, that we find evidence most
difficult to deal with, and the re-
suits not only difficult to explain,
but not altogether satisfactory for
discussion : because the number of
those who welcome the discussion
of all such matters with ridicule
enormously exceeds the number of
the more sensible.
To illustrate the class of cases in
question, | will take a few very
carefully selected examples from
among hundreds that might be
cited.
In the following case, we have
direct evidence of the person af-
fected, who is well known, may
even be said to be in some degree
eminent--the Rev. James M. Will
son, Head Master of Clinton Col
lege, England, and Senior Wran-
gler Chat is, first in the honor ex-
animation for mathematics) in the
year 1859. l was at St. Johns
College, Cambridge, 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 foot ball and at cricket.
He was a capital wicket-keeper,
which, though not in itself a proof
that he would not be liable to fam
ciful 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:
| was at Cambridge, in full health,
boating, football playing, and the like,
| and by no means subject to ballucinations
or morbid fancies. One evening felt
| extremely i'll; trembling, with no appar-
| ent cause whatever, nor did it seem to be
| physical illness or chill of any kind.
| was frightened. was totally unable to
overcome it. remember sort of strug
gle with myself, resolving that l would
90 on with my mathematics; but it WAS
| in vain. 1 became convinced that l was
dying. I was in a strange discomfort,
but with no symptoms that l can recall
except mental discomfort, and the con-
| viction that should die that night. To-
| wards eleven, after three hours of this, |
| got better and went upstairs and got to
| bed and, after time, to sleep, and next
morning was quite well. In the next af
ternoon there came letter to say that
my twin brother had died the evening
| before in Lincolnshire. l 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
presence of the relative who died
at the time of the strange sensation
was not even imagined, be COM
pared with the following, which is
one of the best authenticated of a
class Of stories whose name is now
becoming legion:
In September, 1857, Captain W.,
of the Sixth Dragon Guards, left
England to join his regiment in
India, leaving his wife at Cam
bridge. On the night between the
14th and 18th of November, 1857,
she dreamed that she saw her hus-
band looking very i'll, and she
there-upon woke in great agitation.
When she looked up she saw the
same figure standing by her bed:
side. He appeared in uniform and
as if suffering intense pain. He
then gradually faded from hel
view. At first Mrs. w. supposed
she must still be asleep; but rub.
bing her eyes and listening to the
breathing of child beside her, she
convinced herself that what she
had seen was no dream. In De
cember, 1857. telegram from the
seat of war appeared in the morn
ing papers, stating that Captain
w. had been killed before Luck,
now on the fifteenth of November
The family solicitor applied fol
, further information as to the date
of Captain W.'s death, which Mrs
w. felt sure must have taken place
on the fourteenth, and not on the
fifteenth. But the date given il
, the telegram was confirmed at The
War Office. At this time singu
lar circumstance came to light
The solicitor chanced to mention
the case to a lady, friend of his
who, according to his account, ha'
tendency to see visions. Turn
, ing to her husband, she said
"That must have been the sam'
apparitien 1 saw on the evening
when We were speaking abou
India"
They were able to fix the date b,
means of receipt for an amour
paid that day, as the fourteenth O
November. The solicitor ON thi
: applied to the War Office again
saying that the friends of Captain
J W. were persuaded there must b
some mistake about the date. Tn
,, officials stated, however. that ther
could be no mistake, since the dat
was referred to in two dipatche
from Sir Colin Campbell, who il
both cases, gave the date as tn
fifteenth. In March, 1858, lette
arrived from brother officer, Civ
!, ing an account of Captain W.
1 death. This officer, who had beel
; riding beside Captain w. when h
was killed, stated that death ec
cured on the fourteenth of Novem
Der. Finally, though whether OF
9 the strength of this officers evi
dence, or though faith in the ap
partitions truth to time, the dat
was changed to the fourteenth.
1 Tt seems never tn have accured 1