Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-07

The Pathetic Story of a Man Brought
10 an Cnfimely Wreck by the Excess.
sive Use of Opiates.

From the Louisville Courier Journal
Il wish that | knew some way of breaking
myself OF taking Opiates. I would be willing to
90 10 tail-to do anything, IN short. 30 that |
could be placed in confinement until had a
chance to cure myself of this terrible habit.
never Will be able to do so, if am left to my
self
These words were addressed to a reporter
last evening by man giving his name as George.
Johnson. who acxnowleh Ied that hr was cor
trurd opium eater. His appearance was a
startling one His face had thu asppct of n hap-
rard corpse; his eyes were hollow and sunken
hut gitterrd with halt-man aca fire while a
ragged growth of short black beard and Icing
tangled hair added TO his Wrptchpd apnparance
HIS clothing was old and diiapidatpd. a ragged
coat was buttoncd up 10 his chin to hide a
Coarse. dirty shirt and a straw hat. with "A pair
"l hro@an shoes. completed q costume that
would answer equally well for d tramp or a foot
lrld Yet there was an air of refinement that
cung I" hun. with all his rags and his hands.
tA"u I'll soiled and hardened. were slender and
delicate.
Il am perfect slave to opium" he continued.
'and would hesitate at nothing to procure the
drug when the desire tor it is on me | will lie
or steal ! heard friend saw Once'-here he
paused and looked significantly at the reporter
that he would Kill a man. if necessary to yet
morphine and wouldn't blame him. | have
! fallen from respectable station down to what
lower Will get unless have help.
The amount of morphine | can take has not
/ suppose. ever been equailed. cne time took
80 grains and it did not injure me. think by
gradually increasing the dose could take twice
"a mu n without danger When | can't get
ennu IN morphine to do me any good | take
crude opium or chlOrOfOrm. | know YOU will
hardly believe me when say that i'm one night
used pound of chemicaied pure chIOrUfOrm bv
inhalation, vet it is 1. fact / have gone for
In fAIlP 10 cots h.
order To buy morphine or opium with the little
money had. am only O. but | began using
it when was hat y. At that time was dea-
con in Christian church; never drank swore
or gambled. ! was the owner of retail drug
store in Hickman. where i remained all through
the yellow fever epidemic. Out Of pOpuIat, ION
of 200 200 uied. among them eight doctors.
but came out of it healthier than ever When
the habit took firm hold on me commenced
going down hill. l lost nv prOperty-IUst nv
health. my friends and my se.f-respect. I be-
lieve the knowledge of it FASTENED nv fathers
death; it has beggared me. estranged the girl
10 whom was To be married. and 1t Will prove
my death. 1t hangs over me like the blacklist
of Nightmares: it has taken possession of my
every waking thought. and usurped every
dream Of night The horror of my situation has
benumbPd every faculty but that of dread and
every day grow more keeny alive to my awful
Condition. would part with anything. even
my mind. and be content to live the remainder
of my life in a maniacs cell, if could only be
cured.
My object in telling you this Is in the hope
thas its publication may open some avenue for
my reformation. | am willing to he locked up
in Jail if my friends will only prefer a charge
against me. will 90 to any place where can
be confined and receive medical attention
am not begging. and when ! an cured will
pledge myself to work for years to repay the
expenses my care will incur. | can never be
reformed W thout help: | have tried it too often
hOSD!tal
where would like to be placed. and as a last
resort | Will apply to Gen Taylor or Mayor
Jacob for permit TO be taken there. WHAT
ever is done | am conscious must be done
quickly. for l am breaking fast in mind and
body have Hsed here for years and old
friends whom 1 have known all my life pass
he without recognition. am SO broken and
chautrpl