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Show FORETOLD THEIR DEATHS. A Soothsayer' Warning to a Suicide and m Seaman Who Drowned. Seaman John Fascal has received a letter from Alitak, Alaska, giving an account ac-count of the suicide of Francis James, an able seaman who shipped on the Merom when Bhe left here about six months ago for the northern canneries-Francis canneries-Francis James killed himself by blowing bis brain3 out with a revolver. "Perhaps you remember," said Fascal, "that a yoting man named Lawrence fell overboard from the Merom when the bark was sailing through the Golden Gate. "Lawrence'6 death and the suicide of Francis James recalled to my mind a very strange coincidence a happening which occurred the night before the Merom sailed. Lawrence, this young fellow James and myself were taking a drink together in the Bowhead saloon; While we were standing at the bar an elderly man approached xxs and offered to tell our fortunes, provided we would furnish' him with a few Mimes with which to procure a nighf s lodging. . "We aareed to his ttroDosition. and he Btarted in by saying that Lawrence would die before the month wag out. 'You will meet with a very unexpected death, he declared. 'You will die by drowning, drown-ing, and your body will never be recovered. recov-ered. And as for you,' he continued; looking at James, 'I predict that you will never return to San Francisco.' You will meet with misfortune while Alaska and will become very despondent. despond-ent. I am not certain whether you will take your own life or will die in a fight to death with one of your shipmates, but it looks to me as if you are going to resort re-sort to self destruction.' "Yon may think-T amtellingyou what is not true," said Fascal, '.'but all this occurred as sure as I am talking to you. "Lawrence fell overboard, as you know, and here is a letter from Alaska saying that James committed suicide by shooting himself through the head. I have no further particulars, but surely it is a strange case, and I am anxious to hear what motive led to the latter taking his life." San Francisco Call. |
