Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1871-09-02
OVER THE FALLS.

continent, but almost every year 1t be-
comes the scene of new horror that
makes the blood curdle to read 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
of the boates refused to let one to them,
but by some means they got boat, and
launched ont 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 1t.
The oarsman, who was the nearest So
Der of the wretched trio, stood up in the
boat, and seeing the terrible danger,
gave a wild shrek and leaped overheard
to swim ashore. The current was too
strong for him. He butfeted the fierce
rapids for 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 stupefed companions lay as
leep on the bottom of the boat, and new
er awoke until their affrighted spirits
awoke in eternity. Their trail boat
leaped off the awful cliff of waters like
a bit of cork, and in an instant they
were engulfed in the foaming maelstrom
beneath. The next morning single
leg of one of the poor wretches was
picked up on the Canadian shore, show
ing that their bodies must have been
dashed to fragments in their descent
among the rocks below the cataract.
The Word of God describes drunken
man as zone who lieth' (asleep) son 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 insensibil-
ity on the foaming edge of Niagara.
Probably the wretched creatures i'll the
boat fancied themselves on a delightful
sail as they swept so swiftly through the
waters. They awoke from the enchant-
ing slumber in the jaws of death.
This terrible tragedy at Niagara Is
but picture of the cataract of ruin,
over which one hundred thousand OF
our countrymen were swept during the
last twelve months Commissioner
Wells reports that immense number as
going down into the vortex OF death
through intemperance" wiihin one year.
How many fathers and mothers have
stood on the bank and seen their sons
whirled over into the abyss, God only
| knows.
But every young man or woman who
is playing with the winecup is ventur-
inc towards the rapids. The liquor
sellers furnish the boats; it is their trade
to ''hire" them for pleasure excursions.
Every Young man, as he launches into
the habit Of drinking, laughs at the idea
of any danger. "Whos afraid! not l..
In little while he is helpless on the
bottom of the skiff, and shooting to-
wards the brink of perditlon. All the
warning cries Of pulpits, and press, and
parental love cannot awaken him. He
is drugged with the dram-sellers dose
of death. He will wake up when ne
gets into eternity-not before.
Sometimes poor slave of the bottle
sees his danger, and, like that third man
at Niasara, jumps out of the boat. But
it is too late. He has gone too far, and
and the disease of drunkenness has be
come incurable. His will has become
powerless. He cannot control himself.
The rapids of fatal habit are too strong
for his enfeebled resolution. Now and
then one, by the help of the divine
grace, reaches the shore. Temperance
Societies pick up a few strong swim
mers. and assist them with the rope of
totle abstinence pledge But the vast
majority of habitual drinkers 60 orer fhe
fills. Young mani the first glass you
take is a step into the boat. The voy-
age NAV begin with a song-but it may
end in the shrek of LOST SOUL