Played "Trust and Obey," Then Premonition of Death

1913

Youth Has Premonition of Death, but Declares Himself Ready

Kansas City, Mo. — Earl Orvis, twenty-one years old was drowned in the Missouri River while practicing for the ten-mile swimming event.

The family of young Orvis believe he had a premonition of death. Last night at his home he played the strains of "Trust and Obey" on his cornet.

Suddenly throwing the instrument aside, he turned to his mother and told her he was ready to do as the words of the song be played suggested.

Sunday morning the young man with his mother went to the Holy Catholic church, where Orvis confessed and received the blessing.

In the afternoon he went with a companion for his practice for the swimming contest. He swam several miles and was crossing the river to make a landing when he sank. Efforts to find the body were unavailing.

"Earl knew something was going to happen," sobbed his mother, when told of the drowning. "It was God's will. Earl trusted and obeyed."

—The Evening Tribune, Albert Lea, MN, Sept. 2, 1913, p. 6.