The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-13

who had been converted at Pittsburgh,
and who would relate his experience.
MIR. WILSON'S STORY.
Mr.. Wilson, the next speaker, is man
Of medium height and slender build,
prematurely gray, with face that is al
ready creased with wrinkles, although
he does not appear to be over thirty. He
spoke intelligently, using good language,
and was listened to with close attention.
1t seemed strange, he said, that he should
present himself before such respectable
audience as u public speaker. 1t was
unnecessary, he thought, for him
to speak OF the evils Of intemper.
ance; all know and behold the evil, and
it rests with them TO remedy it. lie
would simply tell Of his experience-a
sad and bitter experience. lie began to
drink when mere boy, and while ut
school at 4 town on the Hudson, and had
been adrinking man ever since until
within a few weeks. "LooIi at me,p he
continued; lyon might say | am n.
man OF torty.eight yet, | am not IS"
He WAS dismissed from school, and went
into n store rs Il clerk where liquor
was sold. Night after night he went
home to his mother, drunk. It was
not hereditary with Mm-ncithcr his
father nor his mother ever drank. lie
drank so hard, although mere boy, that
his mother sent him away to his brother
in South Carolina, hoping that change
OF associates would save him. His
mother had prayed with him fervently,
and talked with him, but to no purpose.
lie believed that he hal hand in his
mothers death. For several months
after arriving at Beaufort, 8. c., he did
not drink, and finally obtained
good situation, but got TO drink.
ing again and lost ii. While intoxicated
he forged his brolher's.namc TO n check
for $5O,snnd was Obliged to leave. lie
had made numerous resolutions to alb.
stain, but soon fell back into his old hab-
its. He went to Baltimore, where he was
confined in an inebriate asylum for three
weeks, suffering from delirium tremens.
He spoke of his horrible suiEerings at
that time, and said that age had not sill
yered his almost youthful locks
1t was whisky. When he got out
he took another resolution never to
drink, but after obtaining a situation in
n hotel where there was n bar, again
commenced drinking. He was dis.
charged and travelled South, where he
picked cotton in Tennessee at GO cents
hundred pounds; picking SO pounds per
day and boarding himself. Went TO
Louisville, and being ont OF money
started on a tramp, walking twenty-five
miles the first day. He considered him.
self an outcast of society, common
tramp, on account Of whisky. He
had been tramp, and he knew
that Of the 100000 men tramp.
ing to-day, nine.tenlhs OF them are
tramping because whisky is ut the bot
tom OF ii. His companion on this tramp
was u talented young man OF respectable
parents, the son Of prominent -four
dealer in Richmond, Va. This young
man was frozen 10 death near Aurora,
Ind, where he babe him last farewell.
He (Wilson) had hidden farewell to many
other friends while ltamping, among
them young man from Wheeling,
whom he met in Indiana, and
whose father was well known to all
present, but whose name he would never
reveal. He then went 10 Pittsburgh, with
the full determination OF going on to Bal.
timore and, il he could not do better, com.
nit suicide. In Pittsburgh he signedthe
Murphy pledge; friends came to his as.
sistance and helped him along, and he
has since been engaged in his present
work.
SIGNING THE PLEDGE.
An invitation was extended by Mr..
Dunbar 10 all present to come forward
and sign the pledge, while the .congrega-
ton sang "lting the Bells of Heaven"
and Hold the Fort" During the sing.
ing Mr.. Dunbar and Mr.. A. NJ. Stringer,
also Murphy convert, walked back and
forth on the platform, clapping their
hands, shouting, and earnestly appealing
to all to come forward and sign the
pledge. There was some little hesitation
at first, but after one. or two had brayely
pushed their way to the front, and been
taken by the hand by Messrs. Dunbar
and S,ringer, the ice was broken, and
altogether abont fifteen gathered about
the tables and received the pledge.
srRNoER's EXPERIENCE.
Mr.A.M. Stringer next related his ex-
perience, which he said was not go sad as
Mr.. Wilson's. lie had been, he said, as
much Off gambler rs a drinker, but new.
er knew what it WA to gamble until he
commenced to drink. He resolved TO
quit drinking, but without success.
A young man from Wheeling
was his roommate for nearly three
months in New Orleans, and died Of de.
lirium tremens. lie had kept pace with
him all the time, and only survived be-
cause he had stronger constitution. He
(stringer) had left his home in Wheeling
and been waif on the ocean Of life ever
since. When he left New Orleans he
went to Chicago and married and did not