Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-08-21
FoRETELLS DEATHS COMING.
Ancient Clock Strikes Just Before
Some One in Family Passes Away.

Stored away in a dusty attic at the
home of DIR. w. 7. Porch, the Oldest
and most prominent physician of
Bakerville. in Humphreys County; is
an old fashioned Seth Thomas clock.
Dus covered and timeworn, this old
clock many years ago refused to
further record the fleeting hours, and
was stored away in the attic with
cast-off plumber. DR.. Porch is quite
aged. and has been married three
times and the old clock occupied Il
prominent position on the mantcl i'll
tho family room from the first day he
began keeping house until it was cast
away as being worthless.
Shortly after the death Of DIR.
Porch's first wife he was called to sec
a gentleman residing in the nciShbor-
hood who was quite sick. The
PATIENTS wife that night dreamed that
her husband died, and that she after
ward married the physician. She also
dreamed that she became the mother
of twin children, and at their birth she
died. Strange as it may seem, in after
years DR.. Porch and the lady were
married. They lived happily together
for some time, and finally twins We're
born to the union. but the mother
never lived to sec the children, death
resulting at their birth. DIR. Porch
states that he believes the dream had
more than anything else to do with the
death of his wife. But now to the
story of the old clock.
After Il lapse of some time DIR. Porch
was again married, and the old clock
occupied its accustomed place on the
mantcl as heretofore. To this last
union were born several children.
among them being Carrie. John Boy,
ana Porter Porch. One Sunday morn
ing long after the clock had been dis
cardcd and as DR.. Porch and his
daughter Carrie were preparing to at
tend Sunday school, ten plain and
distinct strokes rang out from the old
clock in the attic. But little attention
was paid to tho incident at the time,
and it was believed that Il mouse or
rat had become cntanglcd in the clock
wire and Cous"d it to strike. How
ever, is was noticeable that the ten
strokes We're as plain ana distinct as
If the clock had been running. Short
ly aft"rWard. Miss Carrie complained
of not feeling well. and stated that she
would not attend Suiiday-School. She
rapidly grew worse, and at exactly 10
o'clock lapSrd into Inconsistencies
ana died. Then ii was that the Strik-
ing of the old clock WAS recalled, but
Dr.. Porch il not Il SupcrStitiouS man.
and would not bciicv. that the clock
had anything tn do with the death of
hi. daughter.
Time wore Oh, ard the next oldest
child John Boy, was taken sick. For
a long While he ignored between life
and death and one night. as friends
ana members of the family sat around
the bedside. there rang out, clear AMI
distinct, from the old clock in tn" attic,
eight strokes. The puzzled look on the
faces of the members of the family
evidenced to tn" friends present that
they feared the worst, and recalled the
first warning If the oil timcpicc"
Next morning. ut s O'Clock. John BOY
passed into the great unknown. being
unconscious at tn" tiNr Of his death
In the c"lIr;" of a f"w years Porter.
the next oldest. PASSED away. He WAS
stricken with typhoid fever His life
WAS dcSpaircd of. and one night the
attnciimg physician who haI been
called in consultation with the Young
mans father. stated to the company
present that he did not believe the
patient would liv" until 6 o'clock the
Ecxt morning. and left the room. Soon
after his departure. seven strokes
p"Hlcd forth from the old clock. so
PLAZA that they Were heard all over the
house, and tn" fears of the family were
again aroused. So true had been its
warnings in tn" two deaths before
that TIL" parents and loved ones of the
young man prepared for the inevitable
And it came the next morning. The
patient had outlivcd the predictions of
the physicians one hour, ana passed
away at O'Clock, as forctold by the
OLD timcpi"cc.
Or. Porch docs not hesitate to dis
cuSS the strange actions Of tho Old
clock, but says he is unable to offer
any explanation. His word cannot be-
doubted, and that these happcnings
actually occurred is vouchpd for by
good ana reliable, people who were
present and heard the mysterious
strokes. There has not been Il death
in the immthiat" family since Porter
dlct several years ago, ana since then
tho old clock has remained silent DIR
Porch refuses to part with the old
relic, ANA says he will keep it until if
records the time Of his death. although
his wife has made many appeals to do
away With it, believing it to be an i'll
omen.
Perhaps rat or mouse in the strik-
ing wire caused the clock to act i'm tho
strange manner. but just why each one
should Iii" at the exact time forctolG
by tn" strokes Of tho old clock is UNI
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. American