Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-05
A NEW BATTLEFIELD.
Murphy Opens His Guns Against In
temperance in Allegheny.
THOUSANDS LISTEN TO HIS WORDS.
A Former st. Louis Judge Tells How Drink
Has Ruined Him.
A DENIAL From REV. 4. R. D0NEHoO

Francis Murphy held two enthusiastic
meetings in Carnegie Hall yesterday.
Over l. 500 people crowded into the build
ing in the afternoon, and at night that num-
Der was lar exceeded. Mr.. Murphy will
keep up the meetings there during this
week.
Joseph R. Hunter, an old signer of the
Murphy pledge, was a speaker. He re-
lated to the audience his experience while
the demon drink had had him in its power,
and said when he began to lead a sober life
it seemed to him the world was brighter
and better than it had ever been. He
eulogized in the highest terms the keeiey
cure, and advise all men who had not the
will power to g le ,sS the habit of drinking
Intoxicating h4uors'to take course at one
of the Keeley institutions
Mr.. Murphy was in one of his eloquent
moods, and while he spoke scarcely sound
could be heard save the speakers voice in
that vast assemblage. He told of his life
before he ever touched a drop of liquor.
How sweet life was to him, and how every
fiber of his being throbbed in response to
the sounds and sights of Gods hsndiwork.
He then turned to the darkest hours of his
life, when all his friends had forsaken him,
and he was an outcast hated and despised
by everybody.
The Story of His Triumph.
He told of his reformation, of his strug-
giles to master the monster that held him BY
the throat, and of his final triumph. Mr..
Murphy closed by calling upon the people
TO come forward and sign the pledge, and
not few availed themselves of the oppor-
tunitv to do so.
At the afternoon meeting Captain j. K.
Barbour was introduced. He said the work
of temperance to him is a work he loves
because, from sad experience, he knows
what it S to be victim of the demon alco-
hol, and knows from experience as well,
what it is to be freed from its awful clutches
He told, in a most graphic manner, of his
life while on the downward road; how when
he had fallen so low that none of his old
friends and associates would have anything
to do with him, Francis Murphy had taken
him bv the hand and made man of him.
Mr. Murphy addressed the meeting for
half an hour in his usual eloquent style.
He said DR.. Keeley is the Columbus of the
Temperance cause. He only wants
chance to cure the drunkard and that
chance should be given him.
Mayor Gourley's Position Upheld.
Rev. S. W. McCrokle spoke at consider
able length OF Mayor Gourley's reply to
the ministers that they do not employ the
proper methods in their endeavors to re-
form the erring. ''This fact is too true"
he said, "when we come to consider the
matter carefully, and We should get to-
gether and see if we cannot adopt a course
that will be in line with that pointed out to
US by Mayor Gourley."
Charles I. forpaarlv oF
but now a resident of Pittsburg, asked
permission to speak to the audience
He ssid he, a few years ago, had been
elected a Judge in the courts of St. Louis,
and had as bright future before him as
any young man in the country He had
married a noble woman, minister's daugh-
ter, and for time they were as happy as it
is possible for mortais 10 be- But the
demon drink got the better of him, and he
went from bad to worse until he had to
leave ST. Louis and seek a livelihood else
where. He came to Pittsburg and Sc
cured employment at good wages
but most of the money went for drink. His
faithful wife clung to him through all and
for her sake and that OF his dead mother he
had resolved to sign the pledge, and live
sober life hereafter. He told his story in a
broken manIer-broken by the sobs which
shook his massive frame, and with tears
streaming from his ewes. When he had
told his story dozen hands were extended
TO him and as he clasped them in turn he
ask their owners to pray for him. 1t was
most affecting scene.
At the close of the meeting about so peo-
pie came forward and signed the pledge.