Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

There are a few stories out there about clocks or watches that serve as omens of death.  This typical example was reported in the “Sioux City Journal,” November 25, 1884:

Washington D.C., Nov, 24.--Lieut. Greely since his return relates a number of curious incidents connected with the expedition during his two years residence in Arctic regions. The most singular one of all is that told to him by Mrs. DeLong, a few weeks since, which she vouched for as being true in every respect, According to her narrative, when Commander DeLong started on his cruise toward the north pole he gave to his wife to keep for him a valuable and highly prized watch. He also left with her a small nickel plated clock. He enjoined her to keep the watch wound up, adding jestingly that it was something difficult for a woman to do for two years.  She continued to perform the duty most carefully, but one day the watch suddenly stopped as also did the clock, and both on the same hour and minute.  Examination of the watch by a jeweler showed a broken main spring, but the clock was without injury. Nothing was thought of the occurrence at the time, though the anxiety of Mrs. DeLong had caused her to make a note in her diary of all the facts. The affair was almost forgotten as a trivial circumstance until the wife received the journal of her dead husband, in which he had noted on a certain date that his watch and the ship's chronometer had stopped; both at the same time, and by a comparison of days and circumstance, it was found that all of DeLong's timepieces, those in the Arctic as well as those at home, had been in perfect sympathy.  All had ceased to tick on the same day, at the same hour, and the same minute.

[Note:  Information about DeLong and his doomed expedition can be found here.]