The Brookhaven leader., 1886-05-06
TOOK POISON.
The Bitter Experience which made Tenn
perance Man of Drunken SAILOR.

The Bitter Experience which made Tenn
perance Man of a Drunken sailor.
Honor and integrity are forgotten
when man acquires a craving appetite
for alcoholic drink, and he will often
resort to any subterfuge to satisfy the
intense desire that overmast .rs him.
Here is an instance A man with an
inordinate appetite for spirltuous liquors
was at one time serving as common
sailor on a steamship. He had been
mate once, but drunkenness had
caused him the loss of that position
The rules were strict in regard TO
drinking liquors on board ship, and
this mans craving went unsatlsied
most of the time.
One morning he chanced to pass the
purser's door. which stood ajar. Rest
inc on a shelf within the room, he saw
what he believed to be flask of whisky,
and he Immediately resolved to get
drink from it.
Several times during the afternoon
he found opportunity to be near the
door watching for a chance to get
drink from the bottle, but the purser
was inside or the door was locked.
What do you want round hcre?'
the purser once asked him, i'll no gem
tie tone.
"Nothin'," answered the sailor.
"Well. then. be off. If see you about
here again to-day, I'll report you to the
captain.
Despite this threat. he continued his
watch at intervals during the after
noon, but he was careful to keep out of
the purser's sight. At last his OppOr-
tunity came. He saw the purser leave
his room with some papers i'll hand
He shut the door but did not lock IT.
The man AZ once darted from his posi-
ton. opened the door, entered the
room. seized the coveted bottle and
put it to his lips. He drank two or
three deep swallows without stopping
to smell or taste Of the contents OF the
bottle, so eager was he for drink OF
his favorite LIQUID. But he suddenly
took the bottle from his mouth, smelled
of it, and then hurricdly put his hands
over his throat and stomach, with q
look of anguish on his face.
At that instant the purscr entered.
'What are YOU doing here, YOU scoun-
drel?" he demanded, Sternly
IL wanted a drink. groaned the sail
or. "Oh. my throat! L -
"Why, man, interrupted the purser.
1.-THE stuff in the bottle is carbolic acid
poison! Have YOU drank it?'
"Mercy save me, yes said the man.
With great presence OF mind, the
purser sized pitcher of warm water
which happened fortunately to be on
she stand. and said; Drink that
The man obeyed, and drank few
swallows. 81 cant, can't he eN-
claimed. "My stomach is on fire,
Drink it, You lubbcr if you value
your lifer' commanded the purser; and
then he stepped to the door Tell
the doctor to come here quick he
called to a man outside,
Well, the sailor had a terribly sick
time, barely escaping the effects OF the
carbolic acid with his life. For more
than a wear he suffered with what
seemed like acute dyspepsia, and had
to give up work.
But the bitter experience made a
! Temperance man of him, and five years
later he was second mate ON that very
steamer where he came so near fool
ishlv losing his life. Without rum he
was a man again. The carbOlic acid
which the man drank was diluted, 9th.
erwise the dose wouid have been fatal.
- YOUTHS Companion.