Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-04-25

| vacation his weakened COnQltlOn,
continually growing weaker, has
been very noticeable, yet he has
continued work (it being the one
pleasure of his life) against my
advice and the remonstrances of
wife and friends.
We feel now that had we better
understood his condition we
could have averted this sad oc-
currence.
He closed a meeting at Burgaw
recently much exhausted. in
tending to spend two days, upon
invitation, at the Y. M. G. A
convention at Raleigh aud then
return here for his much needed
rest, but so given to his work in
the Masters vineyard he forgot
his prostrated condition and con-
tinued his preaching in Raleigh
for eighteen days, closing his
service on Sunday, April 9TH.
His wife, who was with him the
latter part of these services,
having been wired to come. at
once, told me that on Saturday
night, April 9th, he was extreme
ly nervous, walking the floor half
of the night, restless and sleep
less. She fearing his mental con-
dition, insisted upon his declin-
ing to preach on Sunday, which
he refused to do, it being his
closing day.
Mr.. Oakes returned here Mon
day, the 9th inst, exhausted,
haggard, worried, depressed and
melancholic, his appearance at
tracing the attention even Of
casual observers. He was suffer
ing with much pain and abso-
lutely let down physically. |
gave him an opiate and nerve
tonic. He spent a few hours in
bed and left on the same night
for Washington City, taking
medicine with him.
Having an important engage
ment the next day he was deter
mined to meet it though against
advice and under protest of my
self and friends, yet as he would
go, we trusted and hoped the
trip would be beneficial and re-
creative.
In this condition he left US at
10 o'clock p. m. on the Shoe Fly
train Gt being late) intending to
take sleeper at Wilson for
Washington City.
At Goldsboro he left the train
and went to a hotel, suffering
still with pain. Depressed and
melancholic; he fell an easy prey
to liquor and drank freely (as he
told me). He left Goldsboro at II
o'clock m. Tuesday and stopped
at Wilson, and while waiting for
a Northern train walked up town,
found barroom, drank freely
and publicly (yet remembered
nothing of his being there). He
went on Wednesday to Richmond
and was drunk and boisterous on
the train. He spent that day and
night in Richmond and there
heard of aKeeley Institute twenty
miles above Richmond at Ash
land, and was persuaded to go
there for treatment. DR.. Wade,
the chief physician, was tele-
graphed to come to Richmond
and take him in charge, but Mr..
Oakes went alone on the first
train, thereby missing DR.. Wade,
who returned at once to find him
at the institute.
I saw him on the following
Sunday; he only remembered
drinking in Goldsboro, knew
nothing of his stay in Wilson ano
only remembered hearing Of this
institute and seeing a hack driver
in Richmond. Not hearing Of this
; sad affair until Saturday night
and little later of Mr.. Oakes
whereabouts, [ left Immediately
for Ashland, Va, knowing full
well that he must be in an ire
= sponsible condition.
l. Stopping over in Wilson for al
hour, awaiting my train, I saw th'
: hotel porter who had seen much
of Mr.. Oakes in Wilson. He toLt
: me that when he saw him that h,
thought him to be- curious, pecu
l liar" little crazy, more thai
: drunk.
t [ reached Ashland at 4 O'CLOCK
j a. m., Sunday, and found Mr.
1 Oakes at the Keeley institute il
4 bed and Of course in terrible con
q dition, "fearful wreck and ab
: solutely done for, as he expires
!, sed it. and I could see in hi
d hopeless expression that b
e realized that the black cloud Q
r inherited tendencies and weak
/, nesses was engulfing him in ab
f solute, eternal destruction, a
: he lay writhing in mental, spir
y itual, and physical agony. H
: was unable to travel and will b
compelled to remain at Ashe
n land for sometime. When | frs
e heard of his being drunk i
= Wilson I could not believe il
o but the truth of the report salts
IS fed me that he was not respor
Z sible for his condition.
# After an intimate associatio
J with Mr.. Oakes as friend ar
d physician for months I give
b to the public that in my opinion
n based upon the facts herein Sc
= forth, his family history, and to
le gether with recent publication
r involving him in his social an
Ie church relations. which adde