Henry More Smith: The Mysterious StrangerBates, Walter
History
Henry More Smith: The Mysterious Stranger
Bates, Walter
Criminals -- Canada -- Biography; Smith, Henry More, active 1812-1836
The gaoler was greatly astonished at this, knowing the whole affair to
be true just as he had stated, and had no recollection of ever having
mentioned the circumstance to any person. Perhaps all this may be
attempted to be explained away in some manner, or may be attributed
merely to his imagination, or the hazard of an opinion; but it would be
a coincidence not to be expected, and very unlikely to happen. Besides,
he often hit upon a development of facts, which could not be accounted
for, but upon the supposition of some mysterious knowledge of things
beyond the reach of common conception, as the following particulars will
fully testify:
The next morning, Aug. 13, he told me his own fortune out of his
tea-cup. After looking into the cup for some time, he kissed it, and
told the gaoler he was going away from this place, that he was going
over the water, and must have a box to put his family in; that he saw
three papers that were written and sent about him, and that one of them
was larger than the other two, and contained something for him that he
did not understand, but he would soon know.
The next morning, Aug. 14th, he looked in his cup again, and told the
gaoler that these papers were on their way coming, and would be here
this day at 4 o’clock, and he would soon know what they contained about
him. Accordingly I received papers from Fredericton, containing his
pardon, and two letters just as he had predicted!!
In addition to this, the following must be regarded as a very singular
and remarkable prediction, which, independently of some unknown
mysterious means, cannot be accounted for. Early in the morning he
remarked to the gaoler in his usual manner:
“This man over the way has a son who has gone to sea, and is at sea now;
but he will be here this night, and you shall see that I will affront
him.” Now mark the sequel. It so happened that a fresh breeze springing
up to the southward, with a strong flood tide, the vessel which
contained the young man was alongside in the dock in St. John, on the
same day about two o’clock. He was then and there informed that one of
his sisters lay dangerously ill at Kingston, and that Dr. Smith was just
going up to visit her. The young man hired a horse, and in company with
the doctor, arrived at his father’s about the time that we usually
visited the prisoner in the evening.
I called at Mr. Perkins’, and found that the doctor and young Perkins
had just arrived. The doctor said to me that he had heard much of my
extraordinary prisoner, and if I had no objection, he should be much
pleased to see him and his show, he had heard so much of his great
performance. Young Mr. Perkins said he would also like to see the show,
and all went with me into the gaol and found Smith lying on his bed, but
without appearing to take notice of any one present. Mr. Perkins, like
everyone else, was much astonished at the appearance of his show, as it
was exhibited on the wall, and had a great desire to see the
performance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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