Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-07-17
A PSYCHICAL MYSTERY
Strange Warnings of a Mothers
Sudden Death.

One may not be a believer in any of
the forms of mysticism now presented
TO the world by societies of psychical re-
search and similar semi-scientific and
ssemi-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, l have
always felt delicacy about giving to
the public detailed account of the ex-
traordinary case which came under nay
observation several years ago and
whose truth l have no reason to doubt.
as. the two persons most interested in it
enjoy the confidence of the entire COM
u;unity in which they live.
On the 18th of October one of these
persons, whom, for convenience sake,
will call George Smith, was on lis way
from Salt Lake City. u. T., to Omaha,
Neb. He had left his home in pretty
Chicago suburb early in September and
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 Xcitement. Hence
his story of the strange occurrence, out
lined in the following paragraphs, needs
L. i
icler retires in favor of Mr.. Smith:
THE SONS STORY.
On the evening of October is. 1886,
was on an overland train con my way
from Salt Lake City to Omaha. / 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 l took hand.
I'VE might have been playing two
hours or more when 1 felt-or rather
seemed to feel-the presence of friend
looked around. but could not see any
one | knew. l asked my friends whether
they had seen any one approach me. A:
l had been losing game after game the,
laughed uproariously and turned my
sques ton into joke.
new manu- was uellC anu Uuo pla1
progressed. The uncomfortable feelin.
which had possessed me 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
versing with the gentleman occupyin!
the seat opposite mine and talkin:
rather boastfulIy of the change in M
luck when soft hand was laid on m,
shoulder and eard the voice of m.
mother saying: George. l want you.
II have never been superstitious, an(
ON that evening ] was perhaps free
from fancies than at any other period o
my 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 1 recov cred from my stu
por. 1 asked. my companion what ha,
become of the lady who had spoken t
me. In reply they smiled. They ha
neither SEEM nor heard any thing.
became angry, but they vowed that
must be labOring under a hallucina
ton.
u pOH TclIcCllOu WAS pcTSudotu u
agree with them. How could my moth
'er, from whom / had received a lette
but few days before which was date
at her suburban home near Chicago, b
passenger on the overland train
What could have induced her to leav
her family to make flying trip acros
the continent?
The idea seemed preposterous. Still
ito make assurance doubly sure, 1 Wake
Through the train glancing at every fe
male passenger. My search was, Q
course, fruitless.
by accident looked at my watch
whose hands pointed to 9:1O. 1 ha
not changed it to mountain time, COZ
sequently the mysterious apparitio
had shown itself to me at O. clock Chi
cago time.
81 passed a troubled night. The visio
haunted me, and sleep did not close m
eyes for more than five or ten minute
at time. The apparition did not al
pear again, however.