The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1915-08-28

One of ii most extraordinary cases of
salvation from a drunkard's grave came
to light at Zion City a few days ago.
Theodore Dreyer, a convert through Zion
teaching, publicly told the story of how his
life was saved by black cat 1t was at
COvington, KY, and he had been as usual,
on drunken debauch. It was evening,
and he had decided to Make short cut
across the railroad traA to where his
aunt lived. The snow han been falling
for several hours, and lay Aep in many
places. Dreyer stumbled along until he
reached the railroad track, and in his
drunken stupor he tripped on the iron rail
and fell head long across the track. Be-
ing too drunk to help himself, he lay
there and soon fell asleep. How long he
slept, he did not know. The night grew
darker and the stars shone out, and the
deSpised and rejected man laid there, little
knowing in his unconscious state that
fast train now almost due, was approach
ing at some distance down the track. 1t
was a case Of sure death for Dreyer and
horrible death at that, but kind Prov
idence watched over the man. He had
praying mother and many a night before
she went to rest, she knelt down and asked
God to save her hayward son. Many a
night she lay there, tossing on her bed,
and thought Of the young man whom she
IL.
disgracing her by his conduct. Time and
again he had been thrown into prison.
Time and again he had come home and
begged admission but only to go away
again on another drunken spree Some
times in the morning his mother would
open the door and find her son lying on
the door mat He had strolled home dur
ing the night and had fallen asleep on the
door step. The scripture tells us that
angels watch over Gods people. Dreyer
was a servant of Satan, but God was
watching over him. In the meantime,
while the train came pounding on, Dreger
was awakened suddenly by strange feel
ing on his cheek. He also heard a strange
cry in his ear, and fearing that something
was amiss, he sat up and reaching out ne
discovered black cat ''Meow meow! -
came the pitiful cry of the animal as 1t
purred against him. Dreyer grabbed the
cat and taking it in his arms he got up and
said Coat, 1 will take you home lie
was fond of animals and at times would
bring home dog or cat, OF even goat, so
this time he decided to take the cat home.
He walked along the side OF the track stlll
half asleep and befuddled with alcohol that
had saturated his brain He had gone but
a few PAGES. when suddenly like flash
ont of the dark night there came a fast
train towards him, The big fier whizzed
bv and went pounding over the very rails
that he had been lying across few sec
onds before. He was saved from hor-
nble death by the animal that he carried
in his arms. The enormity Of the averted
oo+as+rophe slowly began to dawn upon
hin, cit was a most remarkable thing, -
cold brewer as he told the story in the
na.aVer room OIL OHl1OH Idp0IHdoI0' Ah0
fact of the matter was that that cat was
sant Of God to save my life. -
When he went to his aunt's house, she
said it was remarkable that cat should
have been instrumental in saving his life.
.sTheodore," she said, "God is going to
use YOU some day God surely sent that
cat You could have been killed right
there if God had taken His hands off OF
you"
And Theodore Dreyer had many other
wonderful escapes from violent death.
One night when he had been drinking IN
a saloon, he stepped outside and met a
man who was as drunk as himself. In
front of the saloon was drinking trough
and as the men stumbled along, both fell
into it. Dreyer fell head first, and the
other man on top of him. Both men were
nearly drowned, and began to yell, until
a saloonkeeper came out and rescued them,
Int cursed them both for dirtying up the
wafer. On another occasion, Dreyer tried
TO kill his father with a chair and war