Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-04-19
Over the Falls.

Niagara is the sublmest spot on the con-
tiueut, but almost every year it becomes the
scene of some new horror that makes the
blood curde to read it. A few weeks since
it added a new chapter to the eyer-growing
volume of the woes of strong drink. Three
young men who had become intoxicated to
the point of stupidity, undertook to cross the
Niagara river about three miles above the
cataract. The owner Of the boats refused to
let one of them, but by some means they got
boat, and launched out for the Canadian
side. The little skff 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 see
ing the terrible danger gave a wild shrek
and leaped overheard to swim to the shore
The current was too strong for him. He
buffeted the fierce rapids for few moments
until his little strength gave way, and then
he was hurled along helplessly TO the verge,
and shot over the cataract,
His two Supplied companions lay asleep
on the bottom Of the boat, and never awoke
until their atfrighted spirits awoke in eter-
nifty Their frail boat eaped OFF the awful
cliff of water like bit of cork, and in an in
slant they We're engulied in the toaming
maelstrom beneath The next morning a
| single leg of one of the poor wretches was
picked 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 de
scribes a drunken man who " lieth asleep
upon the top of a mast" in the midst of the
sea. But it adds new horror to the pic
ture to lie in the sleep of drunken insensi-
bility on the foaming edge of Niagara.
This terrible tragedy at Niagara is but a
picture Of the cataract of ruin in which one
hundred thousand of our countrymen were
swept during the last twelve months. Com
missioner Wells reports that immense mum
Der as going down into the vortex of death
through intemperance lcihin one year. How
many fathers and mothers have stood on the
brink, and seen their sons whirl over into
the abyss, God only knoweth. But every
young man or woman who is playing with
the wine cup is venturing towards the rap
ids. The liquor-sellers furnish the boats
it is their trade to hire them for pleasure ex-
cursions. Every young man as he launches
into the habit OF drinking, laughs at the idea
of any danger, "Who's afraid, not l." In a
little while he is helpless in the bottom OF
the skiif, and shooting towards the brink of
perditon.
Sometimes poor slave of the bottle sees
his danger, and like that third man at Nj.
agara, jumps out of the boat. But it is too
late. lie has gone too far, and the disease OF
drunkenness has become incurable, His
will has become powerless. lie cannot con.
troll himself. The rapids of fatal habit are
too strong for his enfeebled resolution,
Now and then, one, by the help of divine
grace, reaches the shore. Temperance soci-
cites pick up few strong swimmers and
assist them with the rope of a total absti-
hence pledge.
But the vast majority Of habitual drinkers
go orer HE falls. Young man, the first glass
you take is a step into the boat The voy-
age may begin with song but it may end
in the shrek of q lost soul. And who can
estimate the value of a lost soul One soul
outwcighs the world Christian Women.