Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-08-19
PRESEN TiMENTS OF DEATH.
A Curious Mental Condition as Yet Un-
explained.

students of the occult have as yet
been unable to explain that condition
of the human mind which produces
what are termed presentiments Of
DEATH" said specialist to Wash
ington Star reporter. That certain
persons have experienced this condi-
ton cannot now be denied. l know,
however, of but two authentic cases
which have come under my personal
knowledge in a practice Of medicine
Of over 40 years.
'While in Cumberland, Nd, a num-
Der of years ago, l new two men, both
employees on the railroad, one at Cum
berland and the other at Piedmont.
Both were quiet, steady-going men.
They were brothers-in-law, each hav-
ing married the sister of the other.
"One day the Cumberland man, who
was my patient came to me and stated
that he had dreamed the night before
that his brother-in-law had been killed
in a railroad accident So vivid was
the dream that he even described to
me the wounds and their location on
the body. He said that he was on his
way to Piedmont to persuade his
brother-inlaw, who was conductor,
not to take his train out that day, and
advised him to follow his impress
sion, for, while not a believer in pre-
monitions, the mans condition was
such that knew If he persuaded his
brother-in-law from going out 1t would
at least restore his normal condition.
"He proceeded to Piedmont and ac-
quainted his brother-in-law with his
dream The latter laughed at his fears
but finally consented to heed the warn
ing and my patient returned home be-
lieving that his mission had been ac-
complished. 1t appeared that the train
dispatcher, learning of the conductors
intention, sent for him and stated that
unless he took his train out, the road
being short-handed, he would be dis
missed. Rather than lose his place,
he boarded his train, and was killed
in collision four miles out of town.
Singular, though true it is, the dead
mans wounds were identical with
those his brother-in-law had seen on
his body in the dream.
"The second case was that of min
er at Homecoming, a few miles from
Cumberland. He, too, was patient
of mine. One evening, before going on
his shift in the mine, he talked with
me for over an hour about the many
fatal and other distressing accidents
he had seen in the mines. He talked
of nothing else, though it was the first
time he had ever broached the sub
ject to me, as he was hardy, fearless
miner. While | did not question him
was convinced that he had had pre-
nnonition Of death, but felt 1t unmanly
to speak to his physician about it.
probably believing that l would ridi-
cule him. His mind was in such a
condition, however, that it forced
speech on the subject Of death, and he
undoubtedly took that means of re-
lieving it, hoping to quiet his appre-
tensions.
"The significance of it lay in the
fact that that day was to be his last
on contract he had in the mine, and
no doubt in his heart he felt that he
ought not to go down the shaft. His
manly courage prevented his giving
way to his feelings.
''He was killed. 1t seems that just
as he was ready to start up the shaft,
having completed his work, he had
gone into an adjoining chamber for
shovel. AS he stopped over, reaching
for the shovel lot Of slate, which is
hard and sharp, fell from the roof,
striking him in the back and nearly
cutting him in twain. He lived long
enough to tell his comrades that but
for going back for the shovel he would
have escaped with his life.
Speaking about accidents, reminds
me of one of the many which l s.-ry
IN the mines that illustrate how hard
it is to kill some men, as it brings
up the ease with which other men
meet their death. A man will dislo-
cate his neck or break his back in
fall of three feet from a step ladder.
Others have the nine lives of the
proverbial cat.
| knew of q miner who missed his
footing on the narrow track inside of
n coal mine upon which the cars are
run, and six of the loaded cars passed
dlagonally across his body. The cars
were comparatively small, weighing
about two tons loaded. In order to
extricate him, his fellow miners found
it necessary to run one of the cars
back over his body. Strange to say,
the man lived. He afterward went
back to work in the mines, and so far
as | know, lived for many years. He
was alive when l left the region. 1t
was one of the most remarkable in
stances that ever came under my OBJ
seryation Of the tenacity of life under
conditions which ordinarily produce