Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-07
A STRANGE PRESENTIMENT.
A Singular Impulse Which Proved to BE
Forewarning of Death.

A Singular Impulse Which Proved to Be a
Forewarning of Death.
T. B. Garrison, of Fordland, Mo-, who
walked fifteen miles one night recently to
see his mother and found her dead in bed
at o clock next morning, tells a most re-
markable story of presentiment which led
the son to make the strange trip to the old
homestead alone and in the darkness
Young Garrison was born and raised
four miles east of Ozark, where his mother
died About three months ago, says a s.
Louis Globe correspondent, he moved to
Fordland. where he secured employment
as miller He had heard nothing from
his mother for some time, and could have
known nothing of her illness, for at the
time the young man left Fordland Friday
Mrs. Garrison was In her usual health at
home lacking carpet-rags. The woman
had been well all day Friday, and returned
home late in the evening from neighbor' s
house, where she had assisted in dressing
the body of an old friend for burial On
Friday night young Garrison went to
church at Fordland, accompanied by his
wife. The services closed at 10 o'clock,
and Garrison started home with his wife.
AS they left the church the young man said
a strange feeling took possession of him
that he must go at once to see his mother.
His wife naturally protested against this
strange impulse, and tried to dissuade her
husband from starting on so long a walk
at that hour of the night
Rogersville, station on the Gulf Rail
road, the next depot west of Fordland, is
eight miles east of Mrs. Garrison's place,
in Christian county, and a train would
reach that point about daylight the next
morning. but the young man would not
wait for the cars, but insisted on starting
at once on foot. So strong was Garrison s
impulse to go at once and see his mother
that he did not wait to get home. but find
ing company for his wife among the neigh
bors returning from church, he left her on
the road and started at 1920 o'clock
for Christian county, distance of fif-
teen miles. All the way from Ford
land to the old homestead young Garrison
says he felt the strange impulse hurrying
him on. He could not understand the
mysterious motive that guided his
footsteps back to the old home
stead but the eagerness to see his mother
never abated. It continued the one
absorbing thought from 10 o'clock till 3
the next morning, when the son reached
his mothers house. Knocking at the
door, he received from within no response,
and this increased young Garrison s
alarm, as his mother had always been very
easily awakened. Unable to get the door
oyen from within, the exited and trembl-
ing son cut the latch-string with his knife
and entered the dark room. He called his
mother, and still no response came. Then
lighting the lamp the young man went to
his MOTHER bed and found her lifeless
body lying wrapped with the covering
and a peaceful expression of the features
indicating that she had died without a
struggle. Mrs. Garrison had apparently
been dead but short time when her son
arrived
These are the bare facts OF the singular
occurrence, and they certainly constitute a
very intricate problem for psychological
study. Young Garrison is strong, healthy,
roburst man, having no nervous tenden-
cies of character that might account for
his strgnge conduct on the theory of a rare
coincidence.