Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-04-04
Rum Did It.

Mr. EDfroR->oufe years ago. in one
of the rural towns in Maine. two young
men. neighbors. left their fathers home
early in the evening TO make "calls."
They belonged 10 good families. and were
Young men Of general good habits. Not
returning home at proper bed time" as
they formerly had done, search Was made
for them. but they were not found.
The parents then called on rum-seller
who lived in the neighborhood, and was
Informed by him, that they left his house
about nine o'clock. with the intention Of
going home. The parents. joined by their
friends. resumed the scar Oh, but all 10 no
purpose. The next morning these young
men were found laying upon the snow.
little distance from the road. dead and fro
zen They were about forty rods from
their homes. | was called Oh 10 officiate
81 the funeral OF one Of the young men,
and assisted the Rev. Mr.. Orr. in the eXer-
cises at the other funeral.
The Sheriff ofthe County. MIR. Chad
bourne was present al the first funeral
service. and At his request, gave tenn
perance address In the evening. He re-
Quested the runselier TO be present. and
st the close Of the exercises, the sheriff
handed me pledge to read which he re-
quested the rumseller to sign. lie signed
il. from the fact that he dare not do other
wise He pledged himself TO abandon the
sale and use Of ia,oziedtiHg rIsks during his
natural life
He had confessed that he sold brandy TO
the Young men and that they were intoxi-
Gated when they lett his house
Oh. how these parents monrned the
loss of their sons. They were not known
as Incorporate young men. and death
under such circumstances, was too much
for their christian .faifA and fortRude. A
lew day. after this, young man apparent
Is about twenty-five years old, was found
BY the roadside in adjoining town. dead
and frozen. By his side was bottle con-
tanning a small amount Of gin. He was by
the side of main travelled road" and
half mile from any house. He was identi-
aed.
A few years amer this, late in the month
of October. a man was found III grove
near Kent's Hill. few rods from the road
He was so eaten BY birds and beasts. that
it was impossible to identity him. In one
coat pockes WAS an empty bottle. and in
another q bottle nearly full of some kind
of LIQUOR. The good samaritans gathered
ND his remains and gave them christian
hurial. Twas called on to preach dis
course upon the occasion. and the village
church was filled with the friends ofhumar
sufferers.
Afew Of the leading men in the Piao'
Including Gov. A. 7. Morrill,. made grea
efforts 70 ascertain who the man was, ane
where he belonged, but it is all . mystery
70 this day.
The murderers ofthese four men have
never had trial. and nerer eiN, TIL tht
..day in which God will Judge the world il
righteousness by that man whom he hati
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance
70 N, men ID that he hath raised him from
the deadn
n the history OF runs doings" in Maine
could be written In book not ONLY
would it be volume of monstroas size. bu
itwouid contain fscts. that would max
even the ruu-seller himself, weep OYER To
fruit of his own doipgs, aud create in hin
10 certain fearful looking for judgment an
fiery Indignation, which shall destroy tn
sdversariss."
Man. may have slain his thousands il
Maine, but Bum. its tens u tsoas ands.
Yours, &C.,
Arxspx.
March 27th, leS1.