The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-06
THE PROPHECY CAME TRUE.
Several Strange and Startling Dreami
and What Followed Them.

| Tx SFtWE
Several Strange and Startling Dreams
and What Followed Them.
| Mr.. Fleet was third mate on the sailing
ship Persian Empire, which left Adelaide
for London in 1868. One of the crew,
Cleary by name, dreamed before starting
that on Christmas morning, as tie Persian
Empire was passing Cape Horn in heavy
gale, he was ordered with the rest of his
watch to secure boat hanging in davits
over the side. He and another got into the
boat when g fearful sea broke over the
ship, washing them both out of the boat
into the sea, where they were both drowned.
The dream made such an impression upon
him that he was most reluctant TO join the
ship, but he overcame his scruples and
sailed. On Christmas eve, when they were
nearing Cape Horn, Cleary had a repetition
of his dream, exact in all particulars. He
uttered terrible cry, and kept muttering,
81 know it will come true"
On Christmas day, exactly as he had
foreseen, Cleary and the rest of the watch
were ordered to secure boat hanging In
davits Cleary fatty refused. He said he
refused because he knew he would be
drowned; that all the circumstances of the
dream had come true up to that moment
and if he went into that boat he would die.
He was taken below to the captain and his
refusal to discharge duty was entered in the
log. Then the chief officer, Douglas, took
the pen to sign his name. Cleary suddenly
looked at him and exclaimed, 81 will go to
my duty, for now know the other man in
my dream" He told Douglas as they
went on deck of his dream. They got into
the boat, and when they were all making
tight heavy sea struck the vessel with
such force that the crew would have been
washed overheard had they not chung to
the mast. The boat was turned over and
Douglas and Cleary were flung into the
sea. They swan for little while and
then went down. 1t was just three months
after he had dreamed of it before leaving
Adelaide.
A great gust of wind seized the half
slackened maintopsail and sent it fiutter-
ing into fragments. At the same moment
the ship reeled nearly on her beam ends,
and above the bowling of the gale we
heard a sudden cry of despair. was hor-
rified to see an apprentice, j P,
sent whirling headlong from the masthead
into the sea. Even yet can see the look
of agony stamped on his upturned face
and can hear the very tones Of his heart
rending cry, ooh, Lucy! Lucyp' as he dis
appeared forever in the darkness below.
After the storm abated the captain made
o careful note of the exact time of the oc-
currence the position of the ship and the
other particulars He seemed struck at
my mention of the exclamation had over
heard falling from the poor fellows lips as
he clutched in vain at the yielding air.
"Ah," he said, that must have been his
sister, Lucy V, tolphom he was greatly
attached"
The rest of the voyage passed without
incident, and as soon as the ship arrived at
Liverpool l made my way to the train
which was to take mo to Manchester.
1 was walkip- idly along the platform
when saw the face If an old gentleman,
who, with a young lady on his arm, was
elbowing his way through the crowd. His
resemblance to our lost mate was so strik-
ing that l stood and looked at him. The
young lady's eyes happened suddenly to
meet mine. Instantly she gave violent
start, uttered low scream, and exclaim-
ing, ooh, there's the face of my dream!"
stared at me as if fascinated. Her COM
panion gently rallied her, and half led,
half carried her 70 the nearest waiting
room. AS he passed me he begged me to
come with them ard handed me his card.
When we were alone the old gentleman
explained that the eight of my face had re-
minded his daughter of a very peculiar
and unpleasant dream, to which she still
persisted in attaching Importance. He
said, cat the present moment, indeed, we
are on our way to discover if the owners of
my sons ship have received any news Of its
arrival"
/ said, 81 am an apprentice of the ship,
and have but lately left her lying in the
harbor."
"Then," the young lady cried, 81 must
be right. 1t must be true. twas that
mans face saw gazing at him as he fell
l saw Joe's ship IN the midst of fearful
storm, and him rlinging to the slippery
shrouds. A bright fash seemed to pass
before my eyes, and l saw him falling
backward into the sea- l saw your face in
the momentary g;eam, and woke perfect
ly terrified to hear the sound of my own
name-Oh, LucS! Lucyl-whispered in
my ears"
The expression of my face must have
conveyed but too well the meaning Of my
silence
my GodI" cried Mr.. -. "is it true,
them Is he deads"
I stammered: TOO true, sir. Yes, every
word of it! l was beside him at the mo-
ment, and even tried to save him"
On comparing notes we found that the |
dream took place the very day, and allow
ing for the difference in longitude. even
the very hour vi men the accident occurred
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