Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 November 1877 — A Young Lady Struek Dumb—A Dream and its Fulfillment. [ARTICLE]

A Young Lady Struek Dumb—A Dream and its Fulfillment.

The case of Miss Agnes Eagan, the operative of a Fall River mill, spoken of in the Post of Friday last> is one of singular interest, and has created considerable comment among those familiar with the facts. That her dream should be impressed upon her mind with so mucli force, and afterward prove true, even to the slightest detail, is wonderful. The following are the facts of the case as near as can be learned: Miss Eagan is a young lady nineteen years of age, who lives with her mother and two sisters at the corner of Seventh and Bedford streets, Fall River, and has been employed for some time past in the Granite Mill in that city. She is of a very cheerful disposition, pleasant, genial and obliging; in fact, the light of her home and a favorite with all who .knew her. Her manner is refined and ladylike; in feature and form sjie is comely, and, for one in her condition, she is remarkably intelligent. But for the past six weeks she has appeared like one in a dream, sober, taciturn and melancholy, as if she had a foreboding of some coming misfortune. On Tuesday, the 6th inst., she appeared more cheerful than she had been for some time. ‘She retired at the usual hour, but on arising the next morning was very much depressed, and on being questioned as to the cause replied: “I had a fearful dream last night. I thought that I went to the mill and was talking with one of the girls, and while talking with her I was suddenly unable to make any noise and did not speak again, but was able to hear anything that was said.” Her friends laughed at her anti said she was foolish to let such a thing worry her, and endeavored to draw her mind from the subject, but in vain. She continued to talk about the matter while in the house, ant Lon arriving at the mill she told her associates about it, and they also endeavored to show her the folly of her fear, but to no purpose. About eleven o’clock one of her chums said to her: “ Agnes, are you going to the party to-morrow night?” She replied, “No, I think not; I do ” and she was dumb. Her dream vyas a dream no longer, but a stern reality. Not a sound could she make. The shock was preceded by a sharp tingling sensation in the throat, extending through the entire system. She made known her condition by means of writing, and a physician was at once summoned, who pronounced the attack a nervous one, and stated that with care she would recover; that many persons have lost their voices in the same manner, , and advised the use of the electric battery. But the young lady refused to subject herself to that mode of treatment, and stated that she was confident if they did she would also lose the sense of sight and hearing. Since the attack Miss Eagan has recovered her former cheerful disposition, and is apparently as happy and contented as. before her misfortune. She has resumed her duties at the mill, and her friends hope •that with care she will in time recover her speech She passes among them as of old, but her voice is hushed, and the power to articulate seems to have gone from her entirely.— Boston Post.