Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-08-30
A PSYCHICAL MYSTERY
Strange Warnings of a Mothers
Sudden Death.


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-scientitic and
Bemi-religious associations, yet Incl
dents seemingly beyond human compre
hension occur every day, are recorded
by the papers and dismissed withou
second thought Sometimes particu
larly-striking episode attracts unusua
attention. Metaphysical quacks at
tempt to explain it, and forthwith the
intelligent part of the public ceases tc
interest itself in the phenomenon.
knowing this to be the case, l have
always felt a delicacy about giving to
the public detailed account of the ex.
traordinary case which came under my
obSerr alton several years ago and
whose truth | 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
persons, whom, for convenience sake, l
will call George Smith, was on his way
from Salt Lake City, U. T., to Omaha,
Neb He had left his home in a pretty
Chicago suburb early in September and
was working his wav eastward at the
time OF which L 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-
tcler retires in favor of Mr.. Smith:
THE SONS STORY.
On the evening of October IS, 1886,
was on an overland train on nv way
from Salt Lake City to Omaha l had
taken some large orders in the Mormon
capital and was in excellent spirits.
After supper two or three of my fellow
travellers proposed a game Of euche1,
In which took hand.
I'VE might have been playing two
hours or more when l felt-or rather
seemed to feel-the presence of friend.
looked around, but could not see any
one knew. asked my friends whether
they had seen any one approach me. As
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
winch had possessed me a few moments
before seemed to leave me. / took a
new interest in the games and won two
" three times in succession. l was con-
vefSlng with the gentleman occupying
Tue seat opposite mine and talking
rather boastfully of the change in my
luck when soft hand was laid on nv
shoulder and heard the voice Of nv
mother saying: George, want you
have never been superstitious, and
On that evening l was perhaps freer
from tancies 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
siue' her hand resting on my shoulder,
dropped my cards and became so awe
struck that speech failed me for some
minutes.
AT length I recovered from my stu
por' asked my companion what had
oecome OF the lady who had spoken to
ue' In reply they smiled. They had
selther seen nor heard any thing. l
Scame angry, but they vowed that
must be laboring under a hallucina-
ton.
upon reflection l was persuaded to
'sree with them. How could nv moth
o. from whom l had received a letter
Nus few days before which was dated
W ner suburban home near Chicago, be
m passenger on the overland train?
,"pat could have induced her to leave
uer family to make flying trip across
the continentp
Tue ioea seemed preposterous. Still,
|" make assurance doubly sure, walked
ough the train glancing at every fe.
ae passenger. Ny search was, Of
course, fruitless.
ny accident looked at my watch,
Se hands pointed to $40 / had
NV changed 1t to mountain time, con-
quehtly the mysterious apparition
uao SHOWN itself to me at O clock Chi
cago time.
"a. passed troubled night. The vision
s~u un .eo me, and sleep did not close my
~ es ior more than five or ten minutes
~ 'lme. The apparition did not ap-
pear again, however.
NJ que time we arrived at Omaha
to3. nrst task was a walk to the depot
e;lapn otice. AS my mother had
a.pyed the best of health at the time
0' my departure from home, addressed
.sfa sage to her notifying her of my
arrival at Omaha In two hours ]