I am reading a collection of columns Dick Cavett wrote for the New York Times which he has collected into a book. In one, published in February of 2007, he talks about a conversation he had with the actor Basil Rathbone that reminded me of something I had posted in this blog back on November 30, 2009. It was about the strange death of Sam Kinison. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2009/11/the-strange-death-of-sam-kinison.html Cavett told a similar story related to him by Rathbone. Rathbone was best known for his movie portrayal of Sherlock Holmes. He was born in 1892 in South Africa and had a long career on stage and in movies. He died in New York in 1967 at age 75 from a heart attack.

Cavett says Rathbone told him this story when he interviewed him in New York years ago. Rathbone told him a friend had visited him at his home in the Hollywood Hills. Both men were very interested in dogs and his friend had brought his two dogs with him for the visit. After talking about dogs and it got late following an evening of dinner and drinking, the friend said good night. He got into his car with the dogs and drove off. However, before the friend got very far, his car veered off the road. The friend and dogs were killed instantly.

Shortly after his friend left (and after the car accident) the Rathbone phone began ringing. It was the MGM night switchboard operator who apologized for the late call, but said there was a woman who was desperate to talk to him saying it was of urgent importance. Rathbone reluctantly agreed to take the call. The woman said she was calling from her home on the far side of Los Angeles and hoped he would know the meaning of a "message" she had received. She identified herself as a medium and clairvoyant. She said:

    "I have for you, sir, what we term ‘a calling of urgency.’ It came to me with such impact that, while I don’t know the meaning, I simply had to find you to pass it on as requested. Here it is in its entirety: ‘Traveling very fast. No time to say good-bye.’ And then: ‘There are no dogs here.’"

He said he was very shaken by this phone call. Cavett reported that years later when he again talked to Rathbone he reminded him of their earlier conversation and thought perhaps he had learned an explanation so he asked him how he felt about it now. Rathbone said "I am still shaken by it."

I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions.