The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-04-11

"Within six hundred yards of the
court house stands dwelling house
which contains more infamy and degre.
dalton to the square inch than any four
known man about town yesterday MON
ing, and he said no knew from expert
ence whereof he spoke.
He then stated that there was a full.
fledged opium joint in this city which
he had visited. lie told an interesting
story OF his search for glass of beer
on Sunday evening in com pany with
party of drummer, one OF whom took
the party in tow In sea:ch OF the
beverage.
THE TINES informant gives the fol.
lowing description of tho affair: IA
party OF six started out last Sunday
| night with the inten ion of getting
glass Of lager or die in the attempt, one
OF whom, a drummer from Baltimore,
volunteered to act as guide. We
tangled ourselves up in doorways for
fully half hour looking for the right
numb when suddenly we found our
selves rcctiy in front of the open
sesame
1.-The house iteelf was q ramsh; cklc,
broken down aft ic and looked almost
common enough for "a orehouse. The
originator OF The scheme crept up to tho
door and gently tapped-he tapped
again but there was no response. we
sscod in silon there for almost Gve
minutes be!ore his knocking elected
response. During lull in the whis.
pered conversation a shuiling OF fer t
was heard.
after verbal struggle the door was
cautiously opened, AMI the light shone
o the tac9 4 half clad woman some 80
years old. Then Nh animated exami-
nation was INDUCED in by her as to the
objec: OF our visit She stated that the
house was full. We told her that all
VIC wanted wasa glass OF beer. and after
apologies for Tho appoaranc, Of the
rooms VIC wc5e admitted.
''AS soon "a We entered the hall the
| sickening smell of opium was apparent
| TO almost all Of tn parry. We nay have
felt surp Use but did not show it. We
were invited to pass to the room in the
rear, but in doing SO glanced in the
front room, which was ecc lpied by a
middle aged man who, in his negligence
| and coarsness, savored OF the buccaneer.
| lie was alive and didn't know it. The
| pounding OF six pair If shoes did not
disturb his oriental slumber.
The room self was worthy it's occu
pant, for the mcagre furniture pictured
only filth and vice. The room in the
rear was suddenly entered and brought
more horrible vision,::f or tho almost
petrified sightseers to gbze upon, for
on primitive reclining chair was a
being whose palor and silenc, sug
gested death, while seated by him was
an tnvious com panion who was eagerly
waiting t. use the hastily hidden
utensils of borrowed slumb r. The
only indication except the 1.vor OF the
atmosphere was the never to be forgo..
ten 'dop' jar ard 4 ellie with which
the death signal is cooked
The man who was und tie Influence
wai scAnii y attircd, being dressed only
in his underwear, and when arouse d
sufficiently to show apparent signs Of
| life could only glaze, a. us through his
dark trimmed eyes which looked out
from livid and almost pulsc,ess face,
which wa S wet with tho clammy per.
| spiration Of opium. All thought Of the
intent ton OF our visit was forgotten.
and quiet group OF sightseers filed
out into the night air."
The eA istence Of an opium ioint in
Roanoke will be revelation to the
public as we'll as to the police