The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-09-05
A PSYCHICAL MYSTERY.
Strange Warnings of a Mothers
Sudden Death.

Strange w arn1ngS or a. MOth0rS
Sudden Death.
One may not be believer in any of
the forms of mysticism now presented
to the world by societies of psychical re-
search and similar semi-scientific 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 particu-
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, 1 have
always felt delicacy about giving to
the public detailed account of the ex.
traordinary case which came under my
observation several years ago and
whose truth 1 have no reason to doubt,
as the two persons most interested in it
enjoy the confidence of the entire COM
munity in which they live.
On the 18th of October one of these
PoioOio, W hOii, IOl convenience OdhCS
will call George Smith, was on his way
from Salt Lake City, U. T., to Omaha,
Neb. He had left his home in pretty
Chicago suburb early in September and
was working his way eastward at the
time of which 1 am writing. He had
enjoyed the best of health. Business
had been better than usual, and it is
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 Mr.. Smith:
THE SONS STORY.
On the evening of October Is, 1886, |
was on an overland train on my way
from Salt Lake City to Omaha. 1 had
taken some large orders in the Mormon
capital and was in excellent spirits.
After supper two or three of my fellow
travellers proposed game of eucher,
In which took a hand.
1--WE might have been playing two
hours or more when / felt-or rather
seemed to feel-the presence of friend.
l looked around, but could not see any
one knew. l asked my friends whether
they had seen any one approach me. AS
l had been losing game after game they
laughed uproariously and turned my
question into joke.
"A new hand was dealt and the play
progressed. The uncomfortable feeling
which had possessed me a few moments
before seemed to leave me- I took
new interest in the games and won two
or three times in succession. l was con-
verslng with the gentleman occupying
the seat opposite mine and talking
rather boastfully of the change in my
luck when soft hand was laid on my
shoulder and l heard the voice of my
mother saying: George, want you
Il have never been superstitious, and
on that evening l was perhaps freer
from fancies than at any other period of
my life. Still, when upon turning not
only heard the voice of my mother, but
actually saw her form standing by my
side, her hand resting on my shoulder, l
cropped my cards and became so awe
struck that speech failed me for some
minutes
AT length I recovered from my stu
por. l asked my companion what had
oecome of the lady who had spoken to
me. In reply they smiled. They had
neither seen nor heard any thing.
became angry, but they vowed that
must be laboring under hallucina-
ton.
Upon reflection I was persuaded to
fgree with them. How could my moth
er' from whom 1 had received letter
,out few days before which was dated
" her suburban home near Chicago, be
passenger on the overland train?
"rat could have induced her to leave
i,ef family to make flying trip across
the continent?
The idea seemed preposterous. Still,
'D make assurance doubly sure, 1 walked
.hfough the train glancing at every fe-
male passenger. My search was, of
sourSe, fruitless.
r by accident looked at my watch,
NhoSe hands pointed to 9:1Q ! had
not changed it to mountain time, con-
sequently the mysterious apparition
mad shown itself to me at O clock Chi
cago time.
i passed a troubled night The vision
haunted me, and sleep did not close my
eyes Tor more than five or ten minutes
a'a time. The apparition did not ap-
pear again, however.
In due time we arrived at Omaha
"y nrst task was walk to the depot
telegraph Office. AS my mother had
eaJoyed the best of health at the time
VI my departure from home, addressed
message to her notifying her OF my
Bale arrival at Omaha In two hours l