, 1884-08-13
JIM-JAM HORRORS.
Notes from the Terrible Experiences
of a Hard Drinker.
visions shst visifths victim During
Delirium-stages of the malady
-The XIII or Curs
Kennedy.


Remedy.
Denver Opinion.l
had been on an unusually protracted
jAmboree. For about three weeks I had
been industrionsly putting one drink on top
% another, but during odd hesting interval
Of partial sobriety thought Of Letting up
and swearing Off for a season. One night
while taking a hand at sell OUT with q
party Of congenial spirits a shadow pas ed
swiftly bofone my face, preceded by a
peculiarly dull sensation In that portion of
the Uranium which Is allotted by phrenolo-
costs b. the organ Of veueration- The numb
u.--s from this point spread gradually down
ward. Its progress was 70 alarmingly APP
parent n me that | hastily made my excuses
To the card party. babe them goodnight. and
rapainsd 10 my room, hoping that an applica-
lion OK cold water and a good nights rest
might bring relief.
Arrived ut my room. I saturated q towel
with ice cold water, enveloped my head with
it, turnol the light low ami retired. While
walking along the street my sight began to
10 ELECTED, and several times IA shadow
seemed to fit past me to tho right and left
and sometimes directly across my ~face-very
5milar 10 the flight OF a bat Now, while
wing On the bed this similar experience was
ofton repeated, the shadow seeming to pass
ween my vision and the ceiling, com
rletely obscuring It from view FOR the in
stant. / endeavored to compose myself 20
sleep, but the numbness increased. at last
1 arose and repaired to the nearest all-nisht
bar room, hoping, amid the cheerful,
OnviviAl company l was sure to lind
there, t. get rid Of the oppressive
Scnsations. | took n seat near a party who
were engaged In some game Of cards, and
endsavored TO divert myself by watching
their game. While doing so / imagined | saw
n monstrous rat scoot across the floor. The
sober second thought, demonstrated 10 me
the utter absurdity OF such an Idea. l was
now pretty well satisfied that / was in the
early stage OF @jlm-jams,7 and on the impulse
OF the moment realizing full the cause TO
which was attributable my deplorable con-
diton. | firmly resolved tina not another
drop Of liquor Of any description should pass
my lips as a beverage.
had now been without sleep for forty
sight hours, and while my reduced physical
condition u weighed only eighty-hve pounds
A. we'll as my mental disquietude. sadly
demanded rest, still l had not the slightest
inclination to sleep. The next day and night
passed In a similar way, and the fourth, fifth
and sixth AT the beginning Of the fifth day
first experienced the distress and suffering
arising from loss Of sleep, but In spite of all
Efforts 70 compose myself. not one moment's
slumber came to my relief
Ny suffering from want of sleep was now
20 intense that / made two deliberate attempts
~ destroy myself-once by the gun-powder
~.d once by the water route-but was cir.
;nmvented by watchful friends. so long %
| was in a bar-room or other place where
general conversation or singing or general
hilarity was In progress, l was comparatively
FREQ from the annoying presence" to which
| have alluded, but the moment l repaired to
NY room, turned the light very low and
,trivsd TO sleep, the room at once peopled
with grotesque and hideous 8 apes that are
not satisfactorily accounted for in any work
on natural history l ever encountered
Tawny little devils, about three inches
n height, sat upon my shoulders and
'seled into my face with the most horrible
srimaces. Then strains OF music greeted my
ears, as If rendered by a Liliputian brass
band, and raising myself in bed and resting
my body upon my left arm, 1 beheld Il
multitude OF the tewny tribe marching in
military order, and keeping step to the
miniature m~usic-their trump being as dis
tinct to me as If ca1sed by q tread OF ele-
plants On their heads they wore tin hats
or helmets. As they passed along on the
floor, regiment after regiment, brigade after
brigade, they greeted me by name, and vo-
ciferously invited me to come down and "fall
in While | gazed upon this grotesque
vision suddenly every one OF those tin hats
began to rise slowly from their heads-up,
up, up, until they almost touched the cell
ing; and while marveling upon this remark
able transformation, and leaning forward to
secure a better view, the phantaSm vanished
in thin air,
Determined to secure some sleep II pos
sible. and turning my face TO the wall to
avoid the light, l was confronted by a hide
Gus snake cooled on the pillow, apparently
anxious 20 put its fangs where they would do
the most ~good-judg ed from a snaky stand
point. That sett led i'll No amount OF money
could have induced me to pass the balance of
the night in that room, and l hastily vacated.
again seeking relief in tie rough and noisy
crowd OF u bar-room, thankful 'or q few
minutes respite from such horrible illusions.
l ave neglected to state that during the
time the "jim-iams' WINS my special guest
my stomach psremtorily rejected The little
nourishnent ] attempted to absorb; In fact,
/ had no craving for even the most inviting
viands
II was while in this most pitiable plight
that | at last had recourse to a phyAlclan- l
Diet lied to hiBvsmy condition, described the
vagaries Of which ! had been the victim, and
my earnest longing for, and utter inability to
sleep. "Of course you are taking liquor once
In u while to taper of onF' -Of course l am
not, - l rejolned; "f l die you can bet your
bottom dollar I'll die sober. But, for Gods
sake, doctor, give me something that will
make me sleep" The physicians face bore
n grave, troubled look. and after a lew min
uoss' deep Thought he said: young man, !
will be candid with you. You condition is
-critical-probably more 50 than you suspect.
II you don't sleep. and that pretty soon, you
must either die or become u raving maniac.
am about to prepare for you a most pow
erful sleeping potion II you decide to take
it the result will DO that you VIII secure a
long, refreshing sleep, and awaken in a desir-
able state for supplemental treatment, or
you will never wake at all
/ FASTENED to my room, swallowed the
sleeping draught, sank into a sound and re
fre-Ling slumber, and. en- awakening. found
that 1 had been locked I'm the arms OF the
drowsy god for nearly nineteen hours. l
awoke feeling like a new man The numb
ness bad subsidized, the tawny little devils
were conspicuous by their absence, and l was
as hungry rs q wolf. However, / realized
that in my condition / must take food In
moderation and governed myself accordingly
in ordering my first square meal" for nearly
n week. Ny gradual but sure recovery
dated from that hour. Ny will-power wai
OF sufficient strength to enable me to keep my
vow 70 abstain from intoxicants, and as ons
OF the happy resu Is / gained in four months
time about rfty-hye pounds In weight. From
that day TO this-over ten years-I have
faithfully remained a total abatinent.
The boss soda water only FIVE cents a
glass at Ellis 29l Eddy street.