Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-08-26
From the N. o. Delta Of the 11,s-
Death In the Bar-Room. n'

Death In the Darkroom.
Although we are getting pretty we'll orena,.a -.
1iew with philosophic, if not Indifferent &c 70
the many terrible scenes which that eranb;o eye,
matfst, Death. is momentarily producing en- u IA,
stage on which poor mimcs playing orr me sne
we must confess we witnessed an instance paf'i
day, which startled us. from propriety and
US abundance of food for sad reflection gave
At one o'clock, yesterday noon, a partv of +
entered the large and splendid bar-room Of b loar
Charles Hotel, for the purpose Of indup;nr o.
sweet. oblvious antidote." unpoetically and ~
carly known brandy punch There w vul-
only two bar keepers behind the counter and ere
six individuals indulging in the sober delights re
mere restorative, only served 10 show off the glo
Of the large octagon hall, which, but few sbO1a
weeks ago, was a scene of gayety and animation
seldom equalled and surpassed, with mora
painful force and melancholy. w
The four, unused to the hasty blinking vb;,
characterizes places of this kind, sat down to ba
guile the little leisure they had to spare with tb
delights of conversation No matter what tonic NV
started it resulted in the subject which now most
occupies the public mind-the prevailing pestilenco
One of the number, who has not only 9 suppea ~;
horrors, but dined and breakfasted upon the SAM
terrible food, told his experience of the last
twenty four hours. His heart, not scared but npry
ed, in charitYs cause to witness the most agonizin
stages of human suferings, told of his visits -
the Charity Hospital and to private domciles, how
he had seen the beautious budding womanbood &C
seventeen struggle with death.-how she who boi
been the pride and joy of her parents and brothprs
and sisters called upon them to surround her noncB
that she might depart this life with the kisses op
love upon her cheek. But alas father, mother
brother and sister had gone before her. and the
lovely flower had withered and died in the cold and
desolate atmosphere of Charity Asylum.
He told us, too, of an aged couple who have
lived in loving happiness for many many wears
who both were stricken down, but the husband 80
far recoved that, with proper care would soon he
| oil how nd thn
sent for the wife, whose was bad indeed to
take her to the Hospital. The intent was good but
the agent employed to carry it into effect was a
brute. He rudely entered the apartment where the
twain were lying, as they had lived, side by side
He insisted upon the removal OF the woman. She
begged not to be torn from her husband--she would
| not leave him. The brute insisted for such were
his orders The work was done. She was seized
with commissions and died upon the spot. The next
day, the poor husband was sent for He had moth
ing to live for, and submitted to what they would
He also was put into the cart, and rapidly driven
over rough unpaved streets. on his way to the Hos
pital. The Dutch driver, for we like to designate
him, about half way on his journey, stopped at a
grocery for over ten minutes to take dram. 1t
will surprise no one to hear that this poor man. in
fair way of recovery, was, at the Hospital gates
corpse.
| Our companion told us of graveyard sights
enough to light us fools of nature" and make
each particular hair to stand on end like uuis up-
| OIL tHe feuul poTcuplne" but TINS eternal biaZOn
must not be and although not forbid to tell the
secrets of the prisonhouse" decline to do it for hu-
manity's sake.
We were glad when the growing social warmth
changed the subject to happier complexion. We
were just entering upon the subject of literary
matter, started by exclamation of of our
number, and had for moment forgotten the mel
ancholy of previous DISCOURSE when the shutting
| of number of feet was heard in the hall, immed-
ately in the neighborhood of where sat Such a
stiffness since the echo of conversation had
pervaded the bar-roo that attention I'M
medately called in the direction of the sound. We
were only kept in suspense for few minutes. Four
men. bearing coffin upon their shoulders, entered
the room-the younger bar-keeper of the two was
in the act of mixing drink for some one present.
But his action instantly suspended, and he Stood
like statue, staring the sad procession It pass.
ed on His eyes followed to the door When it had
passed the portal, he put down the glass which be
had still in his appraised hand, and falling into a
chair exclaimed, Great God I'll leave this place
Tomorrow"
We will not attempt to describe the effect upon
US, or the reflections to which it gives rise. We
came, however. to one conclusion, that the whole
scene sad and fearful commentary upon the
place with which death had so unexpectedly APP
peared.