Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-29
STRANGE BUT TRUE
A Story for Philosophers to
Study Over.
HAMLET TOLD A MYSTICAL TRUTH.

and Earth Than Are Dreamed of i'm
Our Philosophy - John Hiidebrand's
Remarkable Presentiment-He Knew
There Was Something wrong''-A
Blow the Breast from Unseen
Hand Marks Death I'm the Family.
NORWICH, Conn, July 80 Carl Rudolph
Hildebrand, son of John Hildebrand a Ger
man laborer of this city, went bathing
July % with other boys in Yantic cove,
opposite the "wash house." got beyond his
depth, and was drowned. The boys in
fright watched him struggling for "a mo-
ment but could do nothing to aid him. So
they hurriedly dressed themselves, and
taking the drowning boys clothing, ran
straight to Mrs. Hildebrand's house.
White with fear, they came into her pres
ence, and holding up the garments,
shouted: "Rodo is drownedp The body
of Carl was recovered later in the day.
The drowning occurred at $3.50 p. m.
The Fathers Presentiment.
John Hildebrand works on the farm of
Jacob Gottschalk, and on July % went to
work in the field as usual, Gottschalk's
son working with him. In an hour or so
John suddenly quit work and said to
young Gottschalk: Il feel mighty funny;
! don't know what's the matter with me.
go to the house" The man was trem-
bling as If in fear or with an ague attack,
yet he looked perfectly well. He went to
the house and said to Mrs. Gottschalk: 81
feel very funny; there is something
wrong"
You must be SICK" said the woman
kindly ''The heat has affected you, per-
haps and you had better stay in the house
and lie down"
Sure There Was Something Wrong.
mo, no, no." positively declared Hide
brand. 81 am not sick. l feel all right;
only feel funny. 1 never felt so before
in my life. l am well, though. But there's
something wrong. I'll go out to work
again" He went back to the field and re-
sumed his labor, but at intervals he
stopped, leaned on his farm implement,
trembled and appeared to be in deep
thought. Twice or three times he spoke
to young Gottschalk. II can't see what
this means. It's very funny feeling"
But in each instance he resolutely de-
clared that he never felt in better health
In his life. He worked vigorously, but he
trembled at times as if something mystic
rious was approaching or was at hand,
and so the day wore on, Hildebrand hav-
ing frequent occurrences of he trem bling
and strange feeling, while his body was
cold and his limbs clammy in spite of the
intense heat; still he insisted that he was
not in the least ILL.,
What Struck the Man?
As o'clock came Hildebrand's excite
ment visibly increased, and he shuddered.
But he worked. 1t was at just about half
past o'clock that the stout laborer sud-
denly stopped again, this time as if he
had been smitten with blow, and he
shook like poplar leaf IN the wind. Then
he Strengthened himself, and, still shak-
ing, he called to his companion, who was
at his side in a moment. The man was
| not dazed, but seemed to be in a singular
| mood of exaltation. He was facing to the
| north, toward Norwich, and gazing
sesrchingly into the air.
"Over yonder," he cried, pointing above
the green pillows of forest verdure, misty
| In the white glare of quivering heat.
-Strange" Then in a moment he NUT
tered, Something came to me from over
| yonder, over yonder, and it hit me here,
striking his left breast with his clenched
hand
A Problem for Philosophers
For several moments Hildebrand re-
| manned in his fixed posture, shivering;
then he suddenly recovered himself, and
after a few minutes resumed his work
| For the rest of the day he was IN ore COM
| posed, and at shutdown, the days work
done, he started for the house with his
| companion in about his usual manner. In
the meantime Gottschalk, who had been
| to Norwich. arrived at his home, and told
his wife that he had bad news for Hide
| brand. well, that is singular" inter
posed Mrs Gottschalk; "he has been feel
| ing strange all day-said he felt funny, and
couldn't account for it," and then, with
out waiting to hear Gottschalk's tale oi
| bad news she related all Hildebraud's
| experience of the day. At the end of the
story Gottschalk commented: well, here
is the meaning Of it sll-his boy was
drowned AT $3.50 this afternoon"
Had Anticipated His Addiction.
| The sad news was communicated to Hill
debrand Immediately, but the great shock
| of the affection had been felt in the after
| noon, and the man evinced little surprise
| He put on his dress clothes at once and
started fieetly for Norwich afoot. steadfast-
| ~ declining Mr.. Gottschalk's offer to car
| ry him by team. When he came to his
home on High street the body of his soI
had been carried therein and was laid out
in the little parlor.
The foregoing story is exactly true IL
every particular, whatever may be the
| plausible explanation of the incident.