Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-07-26
A PSYCHICAL MYSTERY.
Strange Warnings Of a Mothers
Sudden Death.

O4a| A.A ~ - = -+--'N 80 N+F -
the forms Of mysticism now presented
TO the world by societies Of psychical re-
search and similar semi-scientiic and
semi.religious associations, yet incl
dents seemingly beyond human compre-
hension occur every day, are recorded
by the papers and dismissed without
second thought. Sometimes a p]a-ticu-
larly-striking episode attracts unusual
attention. Metaphysical quacks at
tempt TO explain it; and forthwith the
intelligent part Of the public ceases to
Interest itself in the phenomenon.
Knowing this to be the case, | have
always felt delicacv about giving TO
the public detailed accoun. Of the e1-
traordinary case which anne under my
observation several years ago and
whose truth ! have no reason to doubt,
as the two persons most interested in i:
enjoy the confidence Of the entire com
munity in which they live.
On the 18th Of October one Of these
persons, whom, for convenience sake, l
will call George Smith, vas on his way
from Salt Lake City, L. T., 70 Omaha,
Neb. He mad let, his home in a pretty
Chicago suburb early in September and
was working his way eastward Al the
time Of which | an writing. He had
enjoyed the best Of health. Business
had been better than usual. and tits
safe TO say that on the evening Of the
day mentioned Mr.. Smith enjoyed per-
feet physical health and his mind was
free from worry and excitement. Hence
his story Of the strange occurrence, out
lined in the following paragraphs, needs
no further introduction, and the chron-
icler retires in favor Of M. Smith:
The SONS STORY
On the evening Of Octoter Is, 1888, l
was on an overland train on M way
from Salt Lake City 70 Omaha ! had
taken some large orders in the Mormon
capital and was in excellent spirits.
After supper " or three 0; ny fellow
travellers proposed q game Of eucher,
in which | took q hand.
I'VE nigh: have been playing two
hours or more when l telt-or rather
seemed 70 feel-tne presence Of a friend.
] looked around, but could not see any
n knew. asked NY friends whether
they had seen any I approach nj. As
/ had been losing game after game they
laughed uproariously and turned my
question into a joke.
"a new hand was dealt and the play
progressed. The uncomfortable feeling
high had possessed me a few moments
before Seemed to leave me. ! took a
new interest j. ( games and won two
or three times in succrsion. ! was con.
versing with the gentleman vU-pying
the seat opposite mine and talkin.
rather bossttully Of the change in nj
luck when a soft hand was laid on nj
shoulder and heard the voice of M
mother saying: George, ! want you
II have never been superstitious, anC
on tina. evening ! vas perhaps free.
from tancies than at any other period 0
ny life. Still, when upon turning | no
only heard the voice OF my mother, bu
actually saw her form standing By m,
side, her hand resting on my shoulder,
dropped my cards and became so awe
struck that speech failed me for som
minutes.
AT length / recovered from my stu
por. asked my companion what hai
become OF the lady who had spoken t
me. In reply they smiled. They ha'
neither seer nor heard any thing.
became angry, but they vowed that
must be laboring under a hallucina
tion.
Upon reflection / was persuaded I
agree with them. How could my motf
er, from whom | had received a lettt
but a few days before which was date
at her suburban home near Chicago,
passenger on the overland train
What could have induced her to leay
her family to make a flying trip aero:
the continent?
THE idea seemed preposterous. Still
TO make assurance doubly sure, wake
through the train glancing at every #
male passenger. Ny search was,
course, fruitless-
BY accident I looked at my watcl
whose hands pointed to 9:lo. ha
not changed it TO mountain time, col
s~equently the mysterious apparitic
had shown itself 70 me at 9 o'clock Oh
eago time.
al passed . troubled night The yisic
haunted me, and sleep did not close n
eyes for more than five or ten minut,
at = time. The apparition did not a
pear again, however.
In due time We arrived at Oman
Ny frst task was a walk TO the dep
telegraph once. As my mother hs
enjoyed the best Of health at the tin
Of my departure from home, ! address,
message to her notifying her Of n
safe arrival at Omaha In two hours
received : reply: Mother died at nil
last evening. Come home at once
'Died at nine! At the precise m
. sbea soc called 70 me in u
sleeping car Of the overland express.
"Kof . lev my fear. or VIII,
evev you uay call the sensation. seem
$3.50 more paiaful than the sorrow
~shr he lss = The best Of mother