FORETOLD HER END.
MRS. AMANTHA HATCH SET THE
TIME OF HER DEATH.
HUSBAND RECEIVED WARNING.
BUT NOT THROUGH ANY AGEN-
CY OF MAN.
He Arrived From Peru, Kas., in Time
to Hear Her Last Words -- She
Came Here to Die at
Son's Home.
MRS. AMANTHA HATCH.
Who Predicted Her Own Death.
"Do you know, I am going to die tonight."
This startling statement was made by Mrs. Amantha Hatch while at the dinner table Wednesday at noon, to the rest of the family in the room. Her son, Dr. F. J. Hatch, was for the moment speechless. His mother was apparently in good health and she was only 58 years of age. Such a statement from her would have been laughed at had it not been for the tone and the manner in which she said it.
"Why, Mother," replied Dr. Hatch, "you must be joking. You couldn't make anyone believe that you were any nearer to death than I am. Let's not talk about it anymore."
And so the subject was dropped. After dinner, while the family were gathered in the library, Mrs. Hatch asked that she might see all of the family pictures which were in the house, saying,
"I want to see their faces for the last time. I told you all at the table that I am going to die tonight. Though you do not believe me, it is nevertheless true. I have known for a long time that I was going to die very soon, and something tells me that the time will be tonight.
SHE WAS NOT ILL.
"No I am not in any pain, nor do I feel particularly ill," she answered in reply to a question from her son. "I only wish that it were possible for me to see all of my family and friends before tomorrow, for I know that my life is over."
Her son, believing that this was only a passing fancy, got out all of the family photographs and gave them to his mother. She talked a while to each picture.
While she was doing this, a telegram was handed to Dr. Hatch. He opened it, and found that it was from his father, stating that he was coming on the next train from Peru, Kas., the home of Dr. Hatch's parents, to his wife. He said in his telegram that something was wrong with his wife. No word had been sent to him of his wife's remarks during the afternoon.
When her arrived in the city he told his sin, "I can not explain the impulse that brought me here. Something told me that Amantha was in trouble and that I would better get to her as soon as possible. Daughter tried to keep me at home, saying it was foolish for me to go, but I just had to, that was all there was to it."
SHE CAME HERE TO DIE.
When Dr. Hatch told his mother that her husband was coming, she seemed downcast and depressed over it, and was immediately taken quite ill. For a long time she was absolutely silent and seemed to be in a stupor. To her son's question as to the cause of her downheartedness, she replied in broken sentences:
"I did not want him to come. I left home and came up here to visit you so that there would be as little trouble about my dying as possible. I thought it would make things easier for those at home if I died away from them. I had planned this trip for some time, ever since the knowledge of my death came to me. Yes, I am sorry that he came. Something must have told him that I was going to die. No, I never talked of my death before him. He couldn't have known. I think I will go to bed now. Goodby my son. God bless you all."
She left the room and went upstairs where her daughter-in-law helped her to bed. At 6:30 her husband arrived and Dr. Hatch went into her room to tell her that he had come. He asked her if he should bring his father on upstairs.
ALONE WITH HER.
"No," she replied rather dreamily. "I am not ready for him yet."
But in a few minutes she called for him and the two were left alone.
Later in the night Mrs. Hatch became much worse and began to sink rapidly. For several hours she was unconscious, but after midnight she rallied again. She called each member of the household to her bedside, and had something to tell each of them. She asked to be remembered to all her friends, whom she called by name.
There was one name which she could not recall, and it seemed to worry her very much. She never lost consciousness again, but sank gradually into an eternal slumber; the slumber for which she had waited, and which she had prophesied.
"Never in all my life have I seen as eloquent a death," said her son last night. "She did not seem to die, but rather to gain new life even up to the last. With a kind word for everyone upon her lips she passed out of this life."
Mrs. Hatch was 58 years of age and had come to Kansas City on a visit to her son, Dr. F. J. Hatch, 1502 Troost avenue. He said last night that her death was caused from apoplexy and a solidifying of the arteries. She is survived by her husband and two children. The body will be taken to Pery, Kas., for burial, and will be accompanied by Dr. Hatch and his family.
