The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-12-05
, Sea CAPTAIN, Mania for Drink.

There has been going the rounds Of
the newspapers the story Of periodical
drunkard who would get drunk every
sixty DAYS, and who, though offered
large sums of money, could not possibly
refrain for sixty-ive days. This has led
to the relation of another singular case,
that of Captain Sneden, who lives not fan
from Hartford, Conn, but whose vessel
sails from Portland. Hs ives never
able to spend single hour in Portland
without drinking, and after he had taken
the first glass was never sober until lie
again went TO sea. He had a noble wife
and three beautiful daughters, Of all OF
whom he was very proud, as well he
might be. From the moment that his
ship left port he never allowed glass
Of grug to pass his lips until he again
set foot in Portland. But the conyiyial
attractions and associations of that tenn
perance city were too much for the cap
tAin's powers of resist lnce, and eyentu-
ally he would be carried home in state
of drunken stupor, from which he would
awaken only to plunge into fresh dis
sipation, which would continue until 1t
was time for him to sail once more. AT
last, after debaurh OF unusual excess,
on going to sea he vowel 10 his family
that the next time he would come home
sober or he would not come at all. He
was gone eight months, and had been
totally abstinent the Whole time. Dur
ing all this time his thoughts were con-
tinually upon his family and the Joy of
meeting this time sober. As he neared
Portland his agitation became intense.
He had no idea that this time be should
drink, but became terribly anxious to
reach his family and convince their low
ing hearts thai his affection for them
was sufficient to overcome his appetite.
He landed, buttOned his overcoat to his
chin in his excess of resolution, reported
to the owners, walked deliberately to
the nearest rum.shop, and III two hours
was stupidity drunk again. An unseen,
inezplicable, yet irresistible power car
ried him, in spite of all his good resolu-
tons, to the fatal resorts. He went to
low hotel. aud buried himself from his
friends and did nothing but drink,
thoroughly determined not to go home
al all this trip. Bat love hunted him
out his wife got him home and straight
ened him out for another voyage. His
next two returns were bnt repettions of
the one described. His family were in
despair. His wife fell ill, and his oldest
daughter determined that the next time
love should not be defeated. When the
ship was nearly due she took lodgings
near the wharf, overlooking the harbor,
and the moment his vessel was sighted
she took sailbOat and went down the
harbor to meet him. Never was help
more needed. His struggles had effect
ed a mental and ply ,ical exhaustion,
rendering him completely helpless. He
embraced his noble daughter almost
Historically, but warned her that if she
did not watch him closely he should run
away from her. Bat love had keen eyes
as we'll as devotion. Sac finally landed
this great, strong captain, who had
braved scores OF storms, safely in his
home. The same method was pursued
in the succeeding returns, and once on
making the harbor in the early dawn,
he anchored until daylight discovered to
his daughter his presence. To this day,
this strong man, to whom the perils OF
wind and wave bring no fear, dares
not set foot on shore without that daugh.
ter's hand clasped tightly in his.