Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1900-04-03
Strange Gift Of a Little Girl In
Illinois.
Solves a Mystery and Assists in
Locating a Missing Wom-
ans Body.

ored body of young woman at the
foot OF Chestnut street Monday
morning the disappearance of Mrs.
Lucy Sommers was solved. But,
while this mystery was solved, an
other vas presented, which is puz-
cling the best minds Of Peoria, and
which the world in general will
discuss for many years to come.
This mystery finds partial express
ion in the questions, "What is the
power possessed by Grace Holmes,
enabling her to see events occur
ing miles away and in total dark
ness? How can this fragile girls
mind penetrate depths which no
mortal eye can fathom2'
Mrs. Lucy Sommers was the sis
ter of Mrs. r. b. Craig, of Peoria,
and came to this city from her home
in Lapel, Ind, to rest for few
weeks and try to recover from an
illness which had nearly cost her
life ITSELF. She was about IS years
old, an intelligent woman, devout
Christian. good mother to seven
small children, and an honest wife
to hard working husband. For a
time after her arrival in Peoria,
Mrs. Sommers seemed to gain in
strength, and her friends believed
that her health was becoming per-
manently better. She seemed to
enjoy life. She attended Christian
Science temple not many blocks
from the residence of her sister,
and made many friends. All went
well until the new years first day
had come and gone, Mrs. Sommers
health failed day by day. A fever
came upon her and her mind seemed
to take strange flights.
1t was on the night of Sunday,
January 9, that the demented
woman fed from her bed in the
little home at the foot of the bluff in
one of the city's most densely in
habited portions. She was clad
only in her nightdress and a red
flannel undervest, wearing neither
slippers nor stockings upon her
feet.
The child made the astounding
statement that, while lying in her
bed at home more than a mile away
on the night Of Mrs Sommer's
fight, she had seen the fever
stricken woman make her stealthy
escape from the house; had marked
her flight through lonely alleys and
deserted streets, and at last had
seen her plunge into the dark wat
ers, which closed over her and left
no trace
The child was supported in her
claims by her parents, who stated
that she had related all this to
them before the fact of Mrs. Som
mers' disappearance had been mem
toned in the daily papers, and at a
time when it was impossible for the
girl to have heard anything of the
case. The story gained further
credence from the little girls min
ute description of Mrs Sommers
appearance and the apparel she
wore at the time of her mysterious
disappearance, Mr. and Mrs.
Holmes claimed further that their
little daughter had given many evil
dences of second sight on previous
occasions and they were very urg-
ent in pressing her services in find
ing the body for the stricken family.
At first, however, her asst stance
was refused by the relatives of Mrs.
Sommers, and it was only after the
unexpected failure of the blood
hounds employed in tracing the
fugitive Ludb Tue SSdl NhSi > Hudlly
agreed to heed the words of the
child clairvoyant, and the dragging
of the river commenced.
1t was a dramatic scone when the
girl, who had been conveyed at her
request to a point on the river OPP
posite Fayette street, rose in her
seat and declared in her trembling
little voice: "She lies therel"
People by thousands crowded at
the rivers edge to watch, and pub
lie expectation ran high all during
the dragging, which was carried |
on for several days. and which con-
Quoted under the girls personal