The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SUPERNATURAL STORY CONCERNING DEATH

MY GREAT-UNCLE, BERT SULLIVAN OF CLINTON, MICHIGAN, ENTERED THE
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR AT THE AGE OF 18. WHILE IN TENNESSEE,
HE CONTRACTED TYPHOID FEVER; AND THE PARISH PRIEST
FROM CLINTON, FATHER HEIDENRICH, WENT DOWN TO
KNOXVILLE TO VISIT HIM. BERT'S MOTHER, MRS.
JOHN SULLIVAN, AND HER FOUR DAUGHTERS DECIDED TO PRAY FOR THE YOUNG
SOLDIER. SHE WENT INTO THE BEDROOM TO PRAY, WHILE THE FOUR
DAUGHTERS REMAINED IN THE PARLOR. SUDDENLY SHE CAME RUNNING
OUT OF THE
ROOM WTH HER HANDS CLAPPED OVER HER EARS. "WHAT WAS THAT
HORRIBLE BOOM?" SHE CRIED. THE DAUGHTERS REPLIED THAT THEY HAD
HEARD ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WHEN FATHER HEIDENRICH RETURNED, HE
BROUGHT THE SAD NEWS THAT BERT HAD DIED--AT THE EXACT TIME THAT
HIS MOTHER HAD HEARD THE DEAFENING SOUND.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY IS WELL KNOWN BY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. MY MOTHER
TOLD IT TO ME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WYANDOTTE

Date learned: 10-00-1963