Apparitions; Dreams; Occultism -- Early works to 1900; Parapsychology -- Early works to 1900
May I also recount to you this vision from Moore’s Life of Byron? “Lord
Byron used sometimes to mention a strange story which the commander of
the packet, Captain Kidd, related to him on the passage. This officer
stated, that being asleep one night in his berth, he was awakened by the
pressure of something heavy on his limbs, and, there being a faint light
in the room, could see as he thought distinctly the figure of his
brother, who was at that time in the same service in the East Indies,
dressed in his uniform, and stretched across the bed. Concluding it to
be an illusion of the senses, he shut his eyes and made an effort to
sleep. But still the same pressure continued, and still as often as he
ventured to take another look, he saw the figure lying across him in the
same position. To add to the wonder, on pulling his hand forth to touch
this form, he found the uniform, in which it appeared to be dressed,
_dripping wet_. On the entrance of one of his brother officers, to whom
he called out in alarm, the apparition vanished; but in a few months
after, he received the startling intelligence, that on that night his
brother had been drowned in the Indian seas. Of the supernatural
character of this appearance Captain Kidd himself did not appear to have
the slightest doubt.”
From Dr. Pritchard, I quote this fragment:—“A maid-servant, who lived
in the house of an elderly lady, some years since deceased, had risen,
early on a winter’s morning, and was employed in washing by candle-light
the entry of the house; when she was greatly surprised at seeing her
mistress, who was then in a precarious state of health, coming down
stairs in her night dress. The passage being narrow, she rose up to let
her mistress pass, which the latter did with a hasty step, and walked
into the street, appearing, to the terrified imagination of the girl, to
pass through the door without opening it. The servant related the
circumstance to the son and daughter of the lady, as soon as they came
down stairs, who desired her to conceal it from their mother, and
anxiously waited for her appearance. The old lady entered the room,
while they were talking of the incident, but appeared languid and
unwell, and complained of having been disturbed by an alarming dream.
She had dreamed that a dog had pursued her from her chamber _down the
staircase, and along the entry, and that she was obliged to take refuge
in the streets_.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account