Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-11
PRESENTIMENTS OF DEATH.
A Curious Mental Condition as Ye'
Unex plained.

students of the occult have as yet been
unable to explain that condition of the hui
man mind which produces what are termed
presentiments Of DEATH said a specialist
to Star reporter this morning. THAT GER
tain persons have experienced this condi-
ton cannot now be denied. 1 know, how
ever of but two authentic cases which
have come under my personal knowledge In
a practice of medicine of over forty years.
"While in Cumberland, Md, number Of
years ago, knew two men, both employees
on the railroad, one at Cumberland and
the other at Piedmont. Both were quiet,
steady-going men. They were brothers-in-
law, each having married the sister of the
other.
lone 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 rail-
road 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 per-
| suade his brother-in-law, who was a con-
ductor, not to take his train out that day.
advised him to follow his impression, for,
while not a believer in premOnitions, the
mans condition was such that knew if he
persuaded his brother-in-law from going
out it would at least restore his normal
condition.
He proceeded to Piedmont and acquaint-
ed his brother-in-law with his dream. The
latter laughed at his fears but finally con-
sented to heed the warning, and my patient
returned home believing that his mission
had been accomplished. 1t appeared that
the train dispatcher, learning Of the con-
ductor's intention sent for him and stated
that unless he took his train out. the road
. being shOrt-handed, he would be dismissed.
Rather than lose his place, he boarded his
train, and was killed in a collision four
miles out of town. Singular, though true
1t 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 miner at
Homecoming, a few miles from Cumberland.
He. too. was patient of mine. One even
ing, before going on his shift in the mine,
he talked with me for over an hour about
the many fatal and other distressing acct
dents he had seen in the mines He talked
of nothing else, though 1t was the first
time he had ever preached the subject to
me, as he was a hardy, fearless miner.
While l did not question him, l was con-
WINGED that he had had a premonition of
death, but felt it unmanly to speak to his
physician about it. probably believing that
l would ridicule him. His mind was in
such condition, however, that it forced
speech on the subject of death, and he I'M
doubleday took that means Of relieving it,
hoping to quiet his apprehensions.
1.-THE significance OF 1t lay in the fact
that that day was to be his last on a con-
tract he had in the mine, and no doubt In
his heart he felt that he ought not 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 a shovel. AS he
stooped over. reaching for the shovel, a 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