The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1871-09-01

Marietta, Georgia, September l, 1871.
OVER THE FALLS


the continent, but almost every
year it becomes the scene of som,
new horror that makes the blooC
curdle to read it. A few week.
since, it added a new chapter to thu
ever.g growing volume Of strong drink
Three young men, who had become
intoxicated to the point Of perfec
stupidity, undertook to cross the
Niagart river about three miles
above the cataract. The owner Of
the boats refused to let one to them,
but by some means they got boat,
and launched out iof the Canadian
side.
The little skilf was soon caught in
the swift current of the rapids. a
strong and steady arm alone could
save it. the oarsman, whp was the
nearest sober of the wretched trio,
stood up in the boat, and seeing the
terrible danger, gave a wild shrek
and Ieaped over board to swim
ashore. The current was too strong
for him. He huffeted the fierce
rapids for a few moments until his
little strength gave way, and then he
was whirled along helpleSsly to the
verge, and shot over the cataract.
His two Supplied companions lay
asleep on the bottom of the boat,
and never awokc until their alright
ed spirit awokc in eternity. Their
frail boat leapcd off the awful cliff of
waters like q bit of cork, and in ain
instant they were engulfed in the
foaming mcalstorm beneath. The
next morning a single leg of one of
the poor wretches was picked up on
the Canadian shore, ahowing that
their bodies must have been dashed
to fragments in their descent among
the rocks below the cataract,
The Word Of God describes a
drunken man as cone who lieth'
(asleep) con the top of mast" in
the midst of the sea, But it adds a
new horror to the picture to lie
asleep OF drunken insensibilities on
the foaming edge ofNiagara. Prob
ably the wretchcd creatures in the
boat fancied themselves Gil q delight
fpi sail as they swept SO swiftly
through the waters. They awoke
from the enchanting slumber in tho
jaws Of death.
This terrible tragedy is but a pic
ture of ruin, over which one h""-
dred thouaan .,. u our countrymen
were swept during the last twelve
months. Commissioner Wells re-
ports that immense number as going
down into the vortex of "death
through intemperance" within one
year. How many fathers and moth
ers have stood on the bank and seen
their sons whirl over in the abyss,
God only knoweth.
But every young man or woman
who is playing with the wine cup is
venturing towards the rapids. The
liquor seller furnish the boats it is
their trade to "hirc" them for
"pleasure excursions" Every young
man, as he launches into the habit
of drinking, laughs at the idea of
any danger. "Who's afraid not
II" In little while he is helpless
on the bottom of the skiff, and shoot
ing towards the brink of perditien.
All the warning cries of pulpits, and
parental love cannot awaken him.
He is drugged with the dramseller's
dose of death. He will wake up
when he gets into cternity-not be-
fore.
Sometimes poor slave of the bot
tie sees his danger, and, like that
third man at Niagara, jumps cut of
the boat. But it is too late. He
has gone too far, and the disease of
drunkenness has become incurable.
His will has become powerless. He
cannot control himself. The rapids
of fatal habit are too strong for his
enfeobled resolution. Now and then
one, by the help of divine grace,
reaches the shore. Temperance
Societies pick up a few strong swim
mers, and assist them with the rope
of total abstinence pledge. But the
vast majority of habitual drinkers &c
over the Falls. Young man ! tho
first glass you take is a step into Tho
boat. The voyage may begin will
n sono-but it NAV end in the shriel