A PRESENTIMENT REALISED.

Kumara Times, Issue 456, 13 March 1878, Page 2

A PRESENTIMENT REALISED.

A .curious case of presentiment, ,ful-» filled is reported from America!' J When the United States steamer Huron was lying at Port-Royal, Lieutenant Authur K. Fletcher, her first officer/obtained tweDty-four hours leave of absence. He, did not return to time, and the vessel sailed without him. Some days afterwards, Lieutenant Fletcher reported himself to the senior officer at PortRoyal, ; Commodore Clitz, and stated to excuse his fault, that he was haunted by 3, presentiment of misfortune. Mysterious voices warned him that the Huron would be wrecked on her cruise, which had two more years to ruu. That this was no excuse invented pro re nata is shown by the efforts he had already made to get his appointment cancelled y not until all nope was lost did Lieutenant Fletcher desert in the manner stated. He was put under arrest and tried by court-martial last August, when this defence caused some amusement. Commodore Clitz, Commander Ryan, of the Huron, and other officers proved that Lieutenant Fletcher had confided to them his alarms, and the. papeis of the Navy Department Bhowed nis application for removal. He was convicted, we assume, and the: matter was forgotten until the Huron went down off Kitty Hawk, with the best part of her crew, but not with Lieutenant-Fletcher. Spiritualists are eagerly inquiriug into the case, and there seems to be an impression on the public mind that the defaulting officer has been justified in his conduct by the event., ? /' ' ,