Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-09-30

WARNING TO THE INTEhPERATE.

We never have had the awful effects Of intern
perance so vivdlg impressed upon in the
case Of one Of its victims whose funeral we were
called upon 10 attend on last Sabbath. The de-
ceased had fallen prey 10 this evil IN early
life, and 10 consequence had parted from the
companion Of his bosom who was living IN one
Of the adjoining States. Some time since, when
tho Reformed Drunkards made effort in this
place he took the pledge, and some months
liz ed a sober life, but during the late .5eiec-
lions, in the excitement OF thei occasion,
and surrounded by open houses where the means
Of Intoxica;iOn were free for all, IN evil hour
he yielded to his old habit and became beasty
drunk. He committed TO prison by the nn.
thorties Of the city for some outrages which he
had perpetra,ed, where he remained for some
time. He had received a wound on one of his
cheeks in an ARRAY, which become infamed and
when physician was called in and required him
to cease drinking be positively refused to do So.
This ply sician left him and refused TO trea, his
case any longer unless he would give up his
bottle he then sent for another, who made the
same demand of him, with which he at first
promised a compliance, but when the DR.. re.
turned he found that he had been intoxicated
during his absence When the Dr.. approached
his bed side he found that he had bottle in his
bosom; he attempted to wrest il from him, bu, he
chung too il with demons grasp, and when
asked if he would rather die than give it up, be
auswered-..Yes, | would rather die and go 10
hell and be lost forever" The physicians, of
course, then censed 20 make any further efforts,
and the work of modification commenced
its raveges. A friend called and invited TO
accompany him, on q visit to him, and when
enterd the room, the most horrd spectacle that
had ever witnessed presented itself. The whole
Of his upper lip, his nose and check, together
with his eve-lids, and portion OF his oye>ball,
were entirely gone, and the bones were pfotru-
ding through tho rotten flesh. Piece after piece
Of the mortified flesh was dropping off he ox-
ered himself to drive off the swarms OF flies which
were buzZing around his head-When we spoke
to him he started up if he supposed demon
from the lower regions had come TO torment him
before his time, and said he had been praying for
mercy and hoped to obtain it, We pointed him
to the Savior and spoke Of the thief upon the
cross that had obtained mercy IN his dyIGg hour /;
he seemed TO listen for moment with intense
interest, but soon sunk again into torpor, and as
we enga ged in a hurried prayer for the room
was so offensive we could not remain longer)
he uttered few Calculations, and we left him.
Upon inquiry OF his sister, we learned that he had
drank a quart of whskey within the last twenty
four hours. and that II was impossible to prevent
his drunken companions from furnishing him
with II. He continued to drink until within
few hours of his death, and then he was found
crouched down under table in the room searching
for something, perhaps the bottle Oh! thought
We could all tho reformed drunkards in our
country but look upon that sad spectacle, they
would beware Of taking tho first step in return
ing to their old habits. And could the individl>
ais who furnished him wiit. the means of intoxica
ton but look upon the havoc they had made.
how would their conscience lash them with her
scorpion sting, ii they not dead TO every feel
ing of humanity and mercy. This is one Of the
fruits of the horsid system Of treating at elections
and should stand as beacon to politicians of
every party to eschew the practice in oil time 10
come.