Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-09-22
Aliseellamy.
Over The Falls.

continent, but almost every year 1t be-
comes the scene of some new horror that
makes the blood curdle TO think OF 1t.
A few weeks since it added new chap
ter to the ever-growing volume of the
woes of strong drink, Three young men,
who had become intoxicated to the point
of perfect stupidity, undertook to cross
the Niagara river about three miles
above the cataract. The owner o. the
boats refused to let one of them, but, by
some means they got boat, and launch
ed out for the Canadian side.
The little skif was soon caught in the
swift current of the rapids. A strong
and steady arm alone could save It. The
oars.man, who was the nearest sober OF
the wretched trio, stood up in the boat,
and seeing the terrible danger, gave
wild shrek and leaped over board to
swim ashore. The current was too strong
for him. He buffeted the fierce rapids
49,
for a few moments until his little strength
gave way, and then he was whlrled
along helplessly to the verge, and shot
over the cataract.
His two stupefed companions lay
asleep on the bottom of the boat, and
never awoke until their affrighted spirits
awoke in eternity Their frail boat leap
ed off the awful cliff of waters like a
bit of cork, and in an instant they we're
engulfed in the foaming maelstrom be-
meath. The next morning single leg OF
one of the poor wretches was picaed up
on the Canadian shore, showing that
their bodies must have been dashed to
fragments in their descent among the
rocks below the cataract.
The Word of God describes drunk
en- man as zone who lieth Gas eep) on the
top of mast" in the midst of the sea.
But it adds new horror to the picture
to lie in the sleep of drunken insenslblll-
ty on the foaming edge of Niagara.
Probably the wretched creatures in the
boat fancied themselves on delightful
sail as they swept thro' the waters. They
awoke from the enchanting slumber IN
the jaws of death.
This terrible tragedy at Niagara is but
a picture of the cataract of ruin over
which one hundred thousand of our coun
trymen were swept during the last twelve
months. Commissioner Wells report
that immense number as going down in
to the vortex of "death through intern
perance" aUithin one gear. How man,
fathers and mothers have stood on tn
bank and seen their sons whirl over int
the abyss, God only knoweth.
But every young man or woman VIII
is playing with the wine-cup is venturln
towards the rapids. The liquorsellers flu
nish the boats it is their trade to "hire
them for pleasure excursions" Ever
young man, as he launches into the hal
it of drinking, laughs at the idea
danger.-"Who' afraid Not | p |
little while he is helpless on the DO
tom of the skiff, and shooting toward
the brink of perdition. All the war;
ing cries OF pulpits, and press, and p'
rental love cannot awaken him. lie
dy.uqqed with the dram-seller's dose {
death. He will wake up when he ge
into eternity-not before.
Sometimes poor slave of the bolt
sees his danger, and, like that third ma
at Niagara, jumps out of the boat. b
it is too late. He has gone too far, an
the disease of drunkenness has becon
incurable. His will has become powe
less. He cannot control himself. III
rapids of fatal habit are too strong fl
his enfeebled resolution. Now and the
one, by the help of the divine grac
reaches the shore. Temperance Soci
ties pick up few strong swimmers, al
assist them with the rope of total a
stinence pledge But the vast majori
of habitual drinkers go Ouer the fat
Young man! the first glass you take
step into the boat. The voyage m;
begin with song but it may end
the shrek of lost SOUL.