The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-12-06
Tale OF a Portland shipm.s,er.

The Hartford Times contains the following
this port:
A sea captain who sailed from Portland, but
who lived about four miles from that city, on
stage line, was never able to spend a single
hour in Portland without drinking, and after
he had taken the first glass was never sober un-
til he again went TO sea. He had noble wife
and three beautiful daughters, of all of whom
he was very proud, as well he might be- To
this family, when sober, he was thoroughly
devoted, ana they repaid his fondness with an
extreme devotion. The captain was the soul of
honor at all times, and with the exception of
his drinking habits, he was in every way strict
ly upright, and especially capable as a ships
commander. From the moment that his ship
left port he never allowed glass of grog to
pass his lips until he again set foot in Port
land. But the convvial attractions and asso-
Citations OF that city were too much for the cap
tain's powers of resistance, and eventually he
would be carried home in state of drunken
stupor, from which he would awaken only to
plunge into fresh dissipation, which would
continue until it was time for him to sail once
more. 1t was terrible trial to his family and
a source of bitter modification to bis daugh-
tiers, that their fond-hearted father should be
the subject of such scandal among the gossip
ing neighbors. Every influence that love and
affection could prompt was thrown around him
to counterfeit his weakness. At last after
debauch OF unusual excess, on going to sea he
vowed to his family that the next time he
would come sober or he would not come at all.
He was gone eight months, and had been total
ly abstinent the whole time. During all this
time his thoughts were continually upon his
family and the joy of meeting them-this time
sober. As he neared Portland his agitation be-
came intense. He had now no idea that this
time he should drink, but became teri IDLY
anxious to reach his family and con-
vince their loving hearts that his affection
for them was sufficient to overcome his appe-
tite. He landed, buttOHed his oyercoat to his
chin 10 bis excess of resolution, reported to the
owners, walked deliberately to the nearest rum
shop, and IN two hours was stupidity drunk
again. An unseen, inexpl cable, yet irresisti-
BILE power carried him, in spite of all his good
resolutions, to the fatal resorts. He went to
low hotel and buried himself from his friends
and did nothing but drink, thoroughly deter
mined not to go home at all this trip. But love
hunted him out; his wife got him home and
Strengthened him out for another voyage. His
next two returns were but repetitions of the
Que described. His family were in despair.
His wife fell Ill, and his Oldest daughter deter
mined that the next time love should not be de-
feated. When his ship was nearly due she
took lodgings near the wharf, overlooking the
harbor, and the moment his vessel was sighted
she took sal-boat and went down the harbor
to meet him. Never was help more needed.
His struggles had effected mental and physi-
cal exhaustion rendering hm completely help
less. He embraced his noble daughter almost
Historically but warned her if she did not
watch him closely he would run away from her.
But love had keen eyes as we'll as devotion
She finally landed this great strong captain,
who had brayed scores of storms, safely In his
home. The same method was pursued in his
succeeding returns, and once on making the
harbor in the early dawn he anchored until day
light discovered to his daughter his presence
To this day, this strong man, to whom the per-
lis of wind and wave bring no fear, dares not
set foot on shore without that daughters hand
clasped tightly 10 his. When one is thoroughly
addicted to Incorporate habits, alcohol singly
is more powerful than the combined influences
OF love, ambition and desire for gain"