In the early twentieth
century a lady living in west Cornwall received a
telegram announcing the death by drowning of a young
sailor to whom her daighter was engaged.
Wishing to break
the news as gently as possible, she went upstairs to
her daughter's room, but was greeted on the threshold
with the word: "I know what you've come to say.
My dear has been here already, and told me for
himself. He was half dressed, in his shirt and
trousers, with one bracer only over his shoulder. One
of his feet was bare, and on the other the boot was
unlaced."
Subsequent inquiry
confirmed that this description tallied exactly with
the appearance of the body when it was recovered from
the sea.
