The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-11-14
A REAL DREAM.
A Presentiment Which Proved the
Means Of Saving Many IiVes-fhe
Rickety Railroad Bridge-A Castas-
trophe Narrowly Averted.

trophe Narrowly Averted.
Several wears ago l resided in wild,
mountainous and rather lonely region
of Virginia. There was railroad out
a few rods in front of door, and a sta
ton at considerable village aooue
mile to the west. The nearest station
to the east was about ten miles distant.
I moved to the place with my young
wife late in the autumn, and about the
first of the following March was at,
tackled with typhoid fever and was Ill
about q month. But, thanks to
strong constitution and the careful
nursing Of a loving gand Intelligent wife,
slowly recovered.
AS soon as I was strong enough 10
sit up and walk little ] told my vile
she had better take the cars and go
and visit her brother, who lived ABOUT
fifty miles east of us. She had been
taking care of me so faithfully through
INV illness, both by day and night, that
/ feared her health and strength would
fail her if she did not rest awhile. L
knew she had been very anxious to go,
and felt sure that her brother ana
his family would be very glad to see
her and would try to make her visit
pleasant one. She hesitated about
leaving me, fearing might need her
care but after waiting few days ana
seeing that I continued to regain my
health and strength, she decided 10
follow my advice. Accordingly one
pleasant morning about the middle OF
April, after doing everything she
could for my comfort and bidding me
to be careful about takingcold or walk
too far, she started, intending to be
gene fortnight.
One day exercised a little beyond
my strength and felt quite tired at
night and lay awake for long
time. At last I fell into an uneasy
slumber and dreamed very curious
and startling DEAN. I seemed to have
gone forward into the future couple
of DAYS, and instead of Wednesday,
the. .24th, it seemed in my dream to be
Friday, the Goth. 1t appeared in my
sleep that heavy rain had been falling
most of the day and all the day before,
but the evening was clear and pleasant
and not very dark, though the moon
was not shining. I seemed to be walk
ing along the railroad line toward the
east. I first passed through a wood
about half a mile wide; then for about
half mile through fields containing
q couple of farm houses, one inhabited
and the other deserted. =.
then entered another wood, and af-
ter walking about mile and half
I come to q stream greatly swollen by
, the rain, which had weakened the
railroad bridge so much that the pas
sing train, in attempting to cross, had
broken it down, and the bridge and
carriages completely wrecked, were ly-
ing on both sides of the stream, except
portions that were floating down.
Some of the passengers lay dead or dy-
ing among the ruins; some We're float
in the water, and few were cllnelng
to the trees and bushes on the bank.
It was fearful and heart-rendering
sight, too fearful for description, and
such as I trust I may never seein real
ity.
Z The next day, early in the morning,
it commenced raining and continued
to rain through the day and the follow
ing night. felt very lone and uneasy
ali day, which feeling was increased
by receiving a letter from my wife,
saving that she intended to come
home on Friday by the express train:
I retired late, feeling much worried
on account of my fearful dream. And
to add to this fear presentiment or
whatever you may call it, the dream
was repeated, and even more distinct
and vivid than the first time.
When I arose in the morning the
rain was still falling. This was Fri
day, and therefore, was the day on
which my wife was to start for home.
There were two passenger trains from
the east each day, one at 8 o'clock III
the forenoon and the other at 8 in the
evening. This last was the express
and the one on which my wife was
coming.
S Toward the middle of the afternoon
the rain ceased falling and the clouds
slowly cleared away. The dream had
made such an impression on my mind
that resolved to attempt to find the
stream 1 had seen so plainly in my
dreams, and if it appeared at all dam
gerous to attempt to stop the train be-
fore reaching it. Accordingly, soon
after the rain was over 1 got ready
and started. I had never before had
occasion to visit the station In that
direction, and, therefore, was entirely
unacouainted with this part of the
country. But found everything just
as it appeared IN my dream.
Immediately after starting l passed
through the wood 1 had seen in my
dream, aud then entered the open field
and found the two farm houses, one
Inhabited and the other deserted. In
fact, everything seemed as natural as
if I had really been this way before. |
walked slowly, and late in the after
noon I came to the stream, which
flowed rapidly and seemed-much swol-
len. But the bridge. instead of being
broked down and mingled with brok-
en- carriages and mangled passengers,
was still standing, and though it's tim
bers looked quite old and weather.
beaten there seem to be little danger
of its breaking down beneath the
weight of passing train. There was
heavy goods train due from the West
about 6 o'clock and I resolved to wait
at least until it came and if it passed
over safely there could be, l thought,
but little danger of accident to the
lighter passenger train.
In due time it came laundering
along, and passed safely over the brid-
pc. But though it might have been
owing to my excited imagination, it
seemed to me that tue bridge bent and
shook beneath the weight of the train
in a manner highly suggested of dan
ger. At all events [ resolved to wait
while longer and see if the stream,
which was still rising, would have
any apparent effect upon the bridge.