Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1894-11-29


One of the most eloquent temperance
sermons l ever heard-or rather, saw
preached was delivered some ten years
ago on the deck Of a propeller sailing "to
the eastard," out Of the port Of New
York. The pulpit was forecastle. The
audience was SO much of the ships COM
pany as happened to be then on deck.
The time was on towards midnight of a
dark night. The music was the weary
"thump, thump, thump," OF the screw
lashing the sullen waters. The text was
that ancient challenge, "Who hath woe?
Who hath sorrow? They that tarry long
at tho wine" The preacher was the
shattered wreck Of young man. His
inspiration was delirium tremens. The
most telling argument of his discourse
was a quick fatal plunge into the dark
and angry waters OF Long Island Sound.
There was no closing prayer, no bene-
diction, no gentle breathing $50 in
peace!" 1t was awful. The event sick
ened us all. had been in conversation
with that very man but thrce-quarters Of
an hour previous to his last, mad leap.
Sauntering forward, and engaging in
conversation with several individuals
which soon took religious turn, my at
tention was directed to young fellow
who gave every evidence Of having been
q hard drinker, and whose speech was
even then somewhat incohercnt. We
talked awhile in the gloom just abaft the
forecastle. One remark my new acquaint-
ance then made I distinctly recall: 81
don't suppose that there is harder
drinker in all Portland than 1 ami"
What may have said in rcmonstrance
on the young mans mad course cannot
now recall. 1 learned that he had
mother in Portland who was waiting his
return, and doubtless,-mothers have
that way ofttimes, God bless them,-
praying for her absent boy.
1t was less than an hour after our con-
versation just described when there
sounded sharply on the night air the clang
OF the engine room gong, and instantly
in obedience to the signal from the pilot
house the engine stopped. Everybody
on deck ran forward, to be greeted by the
startling news, "Man overboard" cry
which once heard at sea lives ever after
ward wildly in the memory.
AS soon as possible the gathered head
way Of the steamer was checked. Quick
ly boat was swung cupboard and low
cred away from the davits. "Better take
lantern with you'll" calls out the captain,
anxious lest the boat should be run down
in the darkness by Sound steamer
whose lights showed her to be coming up
behind. "Never mind us! the plucky
mate in charge, bent on saving life, re.
piled, as the falls were unlocked and the
boat dropped away astern.
Moment after moment of anxious sus-
pense went by while the rescuing party
searched the face OF the gloomy deep,
and the excited passengers rehearsed
among themselves the particulars of the
strange, sad event. 1t appeared that the
victim was the young man with whom I
had had the conversation above referred
to; and that the case was one of suicide
under the devilish spur and impulse Of
strong drink. A ships officer who hap
pened to be in the pilot house at the time
told how he had suddenly seen an appar-
ition of a figure on the forecastle, had
noticed something strange in the mans
actions, but before any orders could be
given to some of the hands to secure him,
he had plunged desperately off the port
bow into the sea.
No shout of satisfaction at accomplish
ed rescue came back from the searching
party astern. Evidently the wretched
man had sunk like lead in the waters.
After fruitless search the boat returned,
was hauled up and slowed inboard; the
screw began to revolve again, and we
with sickened and saddened hearts were
off, leaving the form of the mad suicide
coflined there in Long Island Sound, with
pitch dark night for his rall.
The temperance sermon had been
preached, and the service OF testimony
was over. 1t was awful. 1t was thing
to remember all ones life. TWAS thing
to tell to others as a warning for their
friends sakes, if not for themselves, as l
am doing now. The good Book says of
bad men: "The way OF the transgressor
is hard;" and 1.-THE wicked is driven
away in his wickedness." Isn't it 80.
Christian Gamblers.
The Law and Order Society of Column