Wichita eagle., 1888-07-24
SAD HUMAN WRECKS.
VICTIMS OF THE OPIUM HABIT AND
THEIR FATAL CRAZE.

| l'Etn fAtA6 STU<[Cs
Scenes in q Baltimore Drug store-"EIend''
| Customers After Midnight-A Miserable
| Class of Trade-Despair and Suffering.
Kabituai Lying.
"You want to watch fiends, do your Well,
| Just sit down. Tou won't have long to wait
| Its about time for them to begin to come in y
| 1t was shortly after midnight, as the clerk
| in the Baltimore drug store made this answer
| 10 a reporter:
1--WE have about thirty fiend customers, y
he remarked. II don't believe one of them
is over thirty years old The habit kills them
of young, guess. They generally begin to
come in about u o'clock at night, and for an
hour or two there is quite rush Of them
Then the trade drops OFF until about 4 in the
morning From that time on to z they drift
il pretty steadily. There is very little NOR
phine or cocaine sold during the day"
The clerk ceased his recital to wait on two
young wemen-such as might be seen drink
ing and looking for victims around saloons
after dark.
The reporter was sent cat Of sight, behind
a prescription case
Gimme eighty cents worth Of coke, Petite,
| an give Mamie the balance in DOPE" said
one Of tho women, laying down a silver DOL
sr.
The clerk gave them the cocaine and NOR
phine.
Before thcy were well cut of the store q
scrawny, miserable little young man Of the
lover" type sneaked a. His chinchilla
coat was thraadbare, and, with his turtle like
head and neck and trembling chin, he looked
disgusting enough
Gimme ten cents worth o dope, young
feller," he said as he staggered up to the
counter.
He watched the operation of weighing very
closely. Glow much did you ginme!' be
asked, looking with i'll favor on the small
quantity of the drug in the scales.
-Four grains" replied the clerk, laconic-
ally.
Il get six up to Go udder corner" he NUT
tered.
well, why don't you 60 and get it |"
asked the man behind tbs counter, pausing
with the wrapping paper in his hand. "You
don't have TO take this. Do you want it, or
don't yous''
AS the man still kept sullen silence he
-SCI> ~A-O A.SI1C u III LIS EEiII preparatory
to throwing the four grains back into tho
drawer, but the lover stepped him and paid
his ten cents.
"We don't want the trade" said the drug
clerk when the morphine Eends had dsap-
peared, but on account of our locati they
come in here to get their dope guess we
charge them more than others do, but it
doesn't seem to stop them. It's miserable
class of trade. They get the drug by the
dime Or fifteen cents' worth and are ALWAYS
finding fault with the quantity we give
them"
Another member Of the same fraternity as
the last fend shanbIed in
THAT fellows good two hours behind
his time" said the clerk "Hs usually gets
his good night dose about II O'Clock. won
der what kept him. Couldn't get the money.
1 suppose, and at last no comes around to
stand me Off Well, he'll get left, that's all. {"
The young man he spoke OF showed plainly
the effects of his deprivation OF the drug.
His Indebtedness was extreme He was ner-
vous and trembling, and he came up to the
counter with a miserable, dcspairing air.
Let me have twenty cents worth, and for
Gods sake crowd in all you car. It's all l
got"
He could hardly wait for the powder to be
wrapped up. But the clerk carefully kept it
in his hand until the fend had dropped two
dimes on the counter.
Let me have some water7" he asked, tax
ing hypodermic syringe from his pocket.
Take your stuff out Of here!" answered
the clerk, sharply. You can't dose your
self in this shop"
Tho suffering wretch fairly rushed out
when be got the coveted drug.
The next applicant was O woman She
could not have been more than 20 wears old.
and not great while ago must have been
moro than ordinarily good looking. Now
her features were drawn INTO hard lines. Her
big black eyes were sunken and lusterless,
and her whole appearance was expressive Of
despair and suffering. She shook the rain
from her draEgled, disarranged dress and
loose, uncovered hair, and a pleading look
came into her face and mingled with the
beaten down expression already there
She stood there some moments without
saying a word
"WellF' growled the clerk.
she raised her dark eyes to him and COW.
cred Us if struck with a whip
81 want some cocaine" she said In a low
tone.
Glow much do you wantT asked the clerk.
impatienely.
II haven't got any money" she said,
sbutn-
Then you can't get any cocaine,n an.
swered tho clerk, starting away from her.
''Oh, please let me have just little" she
moaned. Il haven't had a bit of it for two
days and Tn almost dead. For Gods sake
give me some, and I'll pay you as soon as I
get the money. I'll pay you four times over
if you'll only give me enough for one dose"
She leaned far over the counter as she
begged for cocaine and extended her arms
toward the clerk
NO; you kind of people don't get anything
from me without paying for it." replied he
~ haven't eaten thing all day" pleaded
the woman, and this hunger viii kill me if
l don't get dope or something. Ialways have
paid for what got hero before, haven't II
Give me some; - it, I'll do anything for
you if you'll only give me few grains"
In her earnest1ess she followed the clerk
behind the prescription case. At sight OF the
reporter she looked wildly shaIned and started
out Of the shop.
She was called back, given some money
and told to get something to eat.
No." she answered, glaring her thanks,
"l'll not feel the hunger if I've got what /
want"
She again demanded cocaine and the
clerk, knowing she had the money, sold it to
her. An attempt was made to induce hsr to
tell how she became so addicted to the use Of
the drug, but her shame at being discovered
and her eagerness TO get away and apply the
cocaine would not allow her to talk With
an oath directed to tho clerk she tore out of