The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-30
THE DEADLY CIGARETTE.
Terrible Effect on 81 Wyoming Cow
boy Who Failed to Quit.

OF all forms of using tobacco the small,
paper-covered tube known as the cigarette
is the most deadly. There are a hundred
reason for this. In the first place, the
cigarette smoker has no assurance that
the tobacco is anything more than rubbish
which cannot be used in any other manner.
exceedingly poisonous. Not more so than
genuine tobacco, probably, but there is d
wild hilarity which follows the smoking OF
paper that speedily breaks down the
strongest nervous system. Thirdly, the
cigarette is an insidous evil. 1t is SO milo,
and so handy. and so cheap, that the I'M
fortunate smoker uses more of them than
he has any idea of.
The other S97 reasons need not be given
discussed in the public press, and so great
has been the influence Of these exposures
that cigarette smoking has increased over
Yet there are people who scott at the power
conclusively that a thing is harmfuI 10 get
thousands Of people TO test the question
for their own satisfaction.
Even in the far West frightful examples
John w. Stebbins, of Wyoming. will do
much to open the eyes of the users of the
vile weed in its vilest form. 1t will pain
cite has instructed itself into the rural sim
plicity of Wyoming. Hitherto the inhabi-
tants Of that Territory have been a guile
dulge in scalping, cattle raids and bad
whisky, enlivened by a murder now and
then, but never mas tnelr worst enemy
charged them with smoking cigarettes.
Now, alas! all this is changed.
1t is no sight to see a gang
of cowboys peaceably returning to camp
after sacking a village, each with a cigar
cite in his mouth. True, some of the most
noble Of the cowboys, stood out against
the growth. of this habit, and shot a few
OF the smokers; but although this method
Of argumen seemed to be conclusive in In
dividual cases, yet matters of policy pre-
vented its universal adoption.
So. in spite of the best intentions on the
tinued to spread among the unsophisticated
people Of the plains. Stebbins fell an easy
victim to the cigarette, and smoked inces-
sanity. The effect of the habit on him was
not noticed until one day he fired at a ten
derfoot from the East three times in sue
alarmed his friends, and they besought him
with tears in their yes to abandon a habit
that was doing SO much to undermine his
usefulness and influence on the plains.
Stebbins felt himself rather shaken, and
consulted a physician, who told him that
If he did not give up cigarette smoking he
would not live six months. Stebbins agreed
to give it up-next week This is a peculi-
arity of the cigarette smokers. They arc
always going to give up some time in the
future.
That night there was a social card party
in the shanty. Stebbins sat upon the pow
der keg. He let a cigarette stump fall on
the keg. The party instantly broke up
stebbins and part of the keg were last seer
going through the roof. AS neither have
yet come down, serious fears are beginning
to be entertained on that ranch that some
thing has happened to Stebbins. Thus it is
that the doctors most sanguine expecta-
tons nave been reaLzed. and she name OF
to the already long list of the victims OF
the deadly cigarette.