Washington telegraph., 1850-06-12
THE INEBRIATE'S DEATH.
FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF REPORTER.

FROM RECOLLECTIONS OF A REPORTER.
HefZ describes an oriental vale which
nature seems to have exhausted her skill
in rendering most exquisitely lovely
but its fruits, at first pleasant to the sense,
at length deprive the thoughtless partak-
er of reason. and eventually of life. The
poetical allegory but too often illustrates
the fearful curse attendant upon inebria-
ton. Nor can the glow of the wine-cup.
with its associations of mirth and hilarity,
avert the sad truth, that, sooner or later,
they who indulge in It's pleasures, must
die the death of the dogs they most des-
pise.
We have been led into these reflections
by the recollection of some incidents in
the life of one gifted with some of the
highest qualities of mind and body, but
whose energies were frittered away in
the indulgence of this paneful vice, until
a sudden stop was put to his career, by
the fatal archer.
"Branson," said a portly looking man,
replacing upoL the polished bar of one
of our fashionable hotels, a tumbler of
"Otard's best"
"Branson. why are these insects suffered
here? See. they cover the whole bar.
and that brandy is full of them. Faugh."
The individual addressed quickly pass
ed sponge over the polished marble,
and removed the glass, with the remark:
You will do better without any more
brandy, to night. sir
A scene which as usually happens
when a bar keeper refuses TO sell more
liquor, here occurred: but at length, with
curses both loud and beep, the ineoriate
withdrew.
The night was unusually severe even
for mid winter, and the non-arrival OF the
pilot Line" had detained us at our post,
much beyond our time, benumbed with
the cold: we had ourself sought tempo
rarv shelter and some refreshments in the
hotel, at the moment the incident above
related occurred.
We felt of course, the usual emotious of
pity for the wretched being who had been
the hero of the hour; and the scene soon
passed from our memory i'll the hurry of
preparing copy at that late hour, for the
mornings paper. This done, we again
prepared to encounter the war of elements
OH our homeward course.
The cold was intense. A heavy shower
of snow was falling, and the strong winds
catching masses of the frozen particles
upon their wings, dashed them with
binding force against the faces of such
unhappy weights as were compelled to
buffet their fury, and more than once were
we obliged to grope our way along the
deserted streets, literally in an agony of
tears.
During one of those lulls of the storm,
too brief to he beneficial, we found our
selves opposite the residence of the indi
yidual whose adventure in the bar-room
we have mentioned, and fancied we
could perceive light hurriedly pass one
of the upper windows, while cry like
the distant shrek of the reviving temp
est rose upon the air. Deeming it, how
ever, only renewal of the hurricane,
we passed on-but loud c-y of Help"
rose high and shrill above all other
sounds, and the swift splashing of uncer-
tain steps, was succeeded by fall, and
the mex. moment we were assisting the
wifesof the drunkard to her feet.
1t was as had been feared by the bar
keeper, Mr-had returned TO his home
under the fearful influence of that mania
WHICH ever follows libations to Bacchus;
and was then a raving madman.
Assistance was speedily obtained, and
the maniac secured; but, as the storm
was raging with increased fury, we en-
tered the house with the view of obtain
ing some degree of warmth before pro-
ceeding further; little anticipating the
scene we should witness.
We have seen man stricken at our
side by the red bolt of avenging heaven
have marked the despair impressed up
on the features of the suicide, and heard
with terror the death cry of those whom
accident has deprived of life-but never
had we imagined that the last great con-
tlct of humanity could oe attended with
such concentration of horrors as this.
A bright lamp shone full upon the
bloated and distorted countenance OF the
saterer.-Struggling in the grasp OF tour
strong men, he poured fourth torrent OF
blasphemy upon all around him-!oadlng
even the sacred name with imprecatlons
that drove back the frightening blood tor
rents to the chilling heart-while ever
and anon his shrek of agony was ans
wered by the bowling winds without, as
lhough chorus of the Intervals were
holding high revelry around the dwelling.