An Extraordinary Vision.

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 37, 25 March 1875, Page 3

An Extraordinary Vision.

The Duke of Argyll sends to 'Good Words ' the narrative of an extraordinary vision seen about the middle of last century by two men named Bell, father and son, in the neighborhood of Inveraray. It is contained in a letter by Mr Bell, who was a writer in Inveraray in the beginning of the present century, and grandson of the elder of the two men who saw the vision. The letter was found recently by His Grace among the papers of the late Duke of Argyll. The .vision was about three o'clock on the afternoon of a clear, sunny day, in the month of June or July. The men who were subjects of the illusion were on their way from Gienshire to Glenaray, by way of Inveraray, and as Soon as they came to Garron Bridge, the writer says —

"And had turned towirds Inverary upon the high road, being then within view of a part of the old town of Inveraray, which has been since - demolished, the ground upon which' the new town presently stands, and of the whole line of road leading from it, to the above-mentioned bridge, they were very much surprised to behold a great number of men under arms, marching on foot towards them. At this time the foremost ranks were only advanced as far as, Eilmalieu. They were marching in regular order, and as closely as they could move, from the point of the . new town, near the quay, where Captain Gillie'; house now stands, along the shorCj and high road, and crossing the river ' of^Aray ; 'near' : the town at or about the spot. -where, the new bridge has since been built. Of the rear, there appeared to be no end. The ground upon which the new' town now stands was then surrounded by a park wall, and the road beyond it lay in a circular direction between that wall and the sea. From the nature of the ground, my father and grandfather could see no furtner than the wall; and, as the company was advancing in front, the rear as regularly succeeded, and. advanced from the, furthest =; verge of their view. This extraordinary sightj which was wholly unexpected, so much attracted their attention, that they stood a consider-" able time to observe itt They then walked slowly on, but stopped now and then, with their eyes constantly fixed upon the objects before them.. Meantime, the army continuing regularly to advance; they counted that it had fifteen or sixteerrpairs of. colours ; and they observed that the men nearest to them, were marching upon the ■road, six or seven abreast, or in each line, attended by a number of women and children, both above arid below ;the-> road, some of whom were carry ibgiin cans, ,'and other implements for cooking, which I ant toldis> customary upon a march. They were clothed [m* redX-but; as to this -particular circumstance, I do not recollect whether,, my grandfather mentioned it or not,; though jl know my father did— and the sun shone Iso bright,, .that the <■ gleapx , of their, arms, .consisting of mrißketsand'bayonets^ dazzled jtheir sight. Theyr alsorobseryed 1 betweefip Kilmalieu and the salmon draught an animal, resembling a deer r or ahorse, in.the 'middle of a crow&Urf soldiers* who were-(as jthey conjectured) stabbing or spurring it;; forward with their bayonets. t ' : ' - : J - ' i •■ '■ j "My father and grandfather were now jcome to the thorn-bush, between the Gariron Bridge and the gate of.the deer park, , and at the lame' time tbe van of the army had advanced very near to that gate, which you know is but a verjrshoTtndistance (I believe not about 150 or 200 yards) from the thorn-bush,^ and aSrthe roadSfprmi linto a right-angled corner at that gatefWdLthe front of the army being then directly opposite to them, they- -had, of course, a better opportunity of observing it minutely than they: had at fh-Btdoi}'e. r The.vangtrard/ they then observed, consisted of a party of 40 or •ftO'nlehi i preceded by and officer on foot ; at a little distance "behind them another om^feppe^fdpriaing upon a grey dragoon horse. He, was „ihe, only person,, they observed on hoVsehack^dLfr^m^bis appearance and station in the march, they considered him as "Ike commander-in-chief. . ..( v r t^ -r v r „ r -r «'He c hid bn^a haV 3 ahd a blue hussar cloak, with wide-open sleeve*alThnedi With red! J&lfowSmmW* jspurs ; the rest of his dress they jcauld not >M • My r( rathbr&itboeE^ch ip^i&ular; [notice of him, that he often declared he would have knowufferfc^SKSl^lif hevhad) ever seen him again. Behind this officer the^es^of^h«rM?my^M|eh«d all-in ope. b^;^l^sW^^e|fbnt by women and children, asl mentioned jwas high time to provide for his own security. • — — c ~- i " Upon this my father leaped instantly jover the dyke, he then wa^IS&MHt) jfor a little time ia the direction of the JGarron Bridge* imWbMm&%& about 'half- way, he turned up towards the clumps of trees in theJfl<%bDo'f&w r <Pof the Bridge, (believing that he was then out of the reach joft^mWtj^d attempted. But {when he arrived near the clumps, he looked baobtofobseivethemotwns jDfL.^hciiarmK) and whether any person attempted to follow him, but he found, to his utter astonishment, that they were all vanished. Not iT&frt&tlfeni iftfitft&btt^efilttiu His Grace states that his father, the late Duke of Argyll^ always-attributed the vision to mirage, but he remarke that it was a veiy extr-Or^inarJ'^sMiple of that ™.^miQ«tßv) UAI\AA\)i?:VX htfkm&K