Friday, February 27, 2015

Hand Print For Freaky Friday...!

Many of us search actively for signs that a friend or loved one can send signs to us after they pass. This is such a story.

Pretty compelling article from Listverse, if you ask me. I have no reason to doubt it, considering the origin of the tale and the people involved.

Francis Leavy’s Handprint



Francis Leavy was a dedicated firefighter during the 1920s. He loved his job, and his peers loved him. He was a pleasant man, always ready with a smile and a helping hand. On April 18, 1924, Francis’s colleagues became aware of a change in his demeanor. Suddenly, he was an unsmiling, grunting guy washing a large window at the Chicago Fire Department, not looking at anyone or talking.

After a few minutes, Leavy suddenly announced that he had a strange feeling—a feeling that he might die that very day. At that very moment, the phone rang and broke the heavy atmosphere brought on by the fireman’s words. A fire was raging at a building quite a long way from the fire department, and no time was to be wasted.

In just a few minutes, Francis Leavy and his fellow firefighters were on the scene, assessing the situation and helping those trapped on the top floors. Everything seemed to be on track to rescue everyone from the building. Then, suddenly, the flames engulfed the lower part of the building, and the roof caved in. As soon as this happened, the walls came crashing down, pinning many people under the rubble—including Leavy. Leavy’s grim premonition came true. He lost his life that day trying to save others.

The very next day, trying to come to terms with the loss of Leavy, his colleagues sat at the firehouse thinking about the events of the previous day. Suddenly, they noticed something strange on one of the windows. It looked like a handprint smudged onto the glass. Eerily, it was the very same window that Francis Leavy was busy washing the day before.

The firemen cleaned the window again, but the print stubbornly refused to disappear. For many years, the handprint remained on the window in spite of chemicals used to try and remove it. The strange mystery remained unsolved, but came to an abrupt end when a newspaper boy threw a paper against the window in 1944, causing it to shatter into pieces.

I don't know about you, but I find this story both sad and joyful at the same time. Call me strange, but I do!

Coffee in the kitchen today!

6 comments:

Mamahen said...

Since it's three a.m. n VERY dark lol......this gave me the chills...but I have no doubt its true....and I agree with your opinion :))

linda m said...

That is too weird. It is sad that he died and had a premonition about his own death. But the handprint on the window is creepy. Still very cold here. Have a great weekend.

Chickenmom said...

`Years and years ago we lived right next to a cemetery back from the 1700's. Our dog would go near it at night. Ever. Lots of unexplained stories out there! I'll bring a batch of chocolate chip cookies for us to have with your great coffee!

HermitJim said...

Hey Mamahen...
So many of these stories are best read in the daylight. Kinda spooky at night!

Thanks for stopping in today!



Hey Linda M...
That's what I meant by making me sad and joyful at the same time.

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Phyllis...
Animals seem to sense when things are not quite right. If he ain't going, then I'm not going either!

Bring on those fresh cookies! Love 'em!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Dizzy-Dick said...

I wonder if the firemen had to have their fingerprints on file? Authorities have been using finger printing for over a hundred years. Too bad the glass got broken.

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
I don't know if they did or not. Seems like they might have saved the part that had some of the hand print on it.

Tanks for coming over today!