Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1883 — How Did It Happen? [ARTICLE]

How Did It Happen?

If truth were not stranger than fio' tion, the following incident might seem the most improbable of all improbabilities. Yet, it is true, every werd of it, and the “eye-witness” referred to is the father of the gentleman who sends us the singular narrative. “One Saturday night in 1872,1 was on a ferry-boat crossing from Brooklyn to New York. “The boat was crowded, and as soon as it was in the dock there was the usual struggle to see who oould get off first. As I was hurried on by those behind me, I saw, twisted about the coattail button of a man in front of me, a gold watch-chain, and dangling at the end of it a handsome gold watch. “Before I had time to call the man’s attention to it, the crowd separated us and I lost sight of him. “But the incident made a strong impression on me, and I wondered and puzzled as to how that watch got on that button. Several years after, business called me again to New York, where I met Mr. S , who took me home with him to dinner, and introduced me to his brother. “After the meal was over, the conversation turned upon the curious tricke which a noted psychologist was performing in the city. Immediately the incident of the watch occurred to me, and I was about to mention it, when my host said: “ ‘That reminds me of a remarkable thing which once happened to me, and which I have never been alile to explain. I was coming over from Brooklyn one night, in the winter of ’72, and my brother George here was on the same boat u ith me, though I didn’t know it. There was a great crowd and much pushing in getting off'the bo£ t. “ ‘When I reached home, and was about to throw off my coat, my wife exclaimed: “Why, what is that on yout coat-tail?” I took of the coat, and there, twisted around one of the buttons, was a watch-ohain with a gold watch at the end of it. You can imagine our surprise when wo recognized the watch as my brother George’s! When he came in, a little later, that evening, he did not know of his loss, and when told of it could hardly be convinced of the facts. Indeed, I have seen many good people who have smiled incredulously at the story. What do you think of it ?’ “ ‘Think of it!’ I answered, ‘why, I saw it at the time!’ and then I related to my astonished hearers what I had seen and wondered at so many years. “ ‘But what is your explanation of it ?’ I asked my host. “He shook his head. ‘Who knows? My own theory is that my brother find I passed on to the boat together. In the crush, I was crowded up against him and in some inexplicable way the chain was wound so firmly about the coat-button as to pull the watch from the pocket. But in what way, I have never been able to satisfy myself, It will always remain a mystery to me.’ “It has been a mystery to me, also, ever since.”— Youth's Companion.