Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-02
4 CIGARETTE DEATH.
Persistent Smoking Made MsrM 4
, Demon.

Merkt in his last breath when he died
Sunday, raying mania n,ta N Ne M in Yart
city, All day long doctors and attend,
ants had struggled with the emaciated
Young man who had suddenly gained the
strength Of hundred t g aaaHv Ia he m mac
completely exhausted and had sunk 70
his cot so weak he was scarcely able to
articulate. His death was the result OF
nicotine poisoning. Young Merkt had
He had worked as bartender for ne ais
father. who keeps saloon at NO. -
West Thirty-seventh street. The son, al,
though only twenty-six years old had
pretty young wife and baby. They livea
across the street from the saloon at NO
262 Georges only falling was cigarettes;;
him into a demon he had taken greai
pride in his little home. But they galneu
a hold upon him which neither the plea:9s,
ings of his aged father nor loving VIE
could break.
Its no use" young Merkt would say.
IT feel that I'm doomed. I've trled "
leave Off the accursed things put how .eai'I
not get away from from them hem tb MY Too III"
John Merkt. the boys faLner. h,o s sow
cigarettes in his saloon. When ne saw saw
that his boy was his best cigarette pa', ,,nl
he stopped handling them. he hau M. h4s
ticed Georges abnormal appetite TOT nm; t,,,s
form of tobacco. George was consclo ',a
of his fathers concern in the mater E his
smoked as little DIS PooSipiS
father was in the saloon. He would u,.i,, sup
out to neighbours at every opp, t ~. n
and. producing a box. would smoke I'M Nv, :,
or three of the poisonous rolls as rap'''S
II feel better now he would say. y
guess I'll be able to hold out until the oi a
gentleman leaves the place. couioh
have held up minute longer. ,,a
George was a man of strong frame ana
nrobably five feet eight inches tall. but
when he had been deprived of cigarettes
for an hour during the day ne f Mouiu
tremble like an aspen leaf. He finally
reached a stage where sixteen PACKAGES
day was considered an ordinary allow
ance. 1900, - ,o+
strangely. He was extremely nervous
and unless he had cigarette IN ms ms
mouth all the time he was apt to lose ms
temper and abuse his father and his wlIe.
father called in physician. The doctor
advised that he be placed in private
ward in Bellevue. He was taken to that
institution and was under treatment Tor
about two weeks. When he returned to
work his friends said that he had at last
been broken of the habit. Strange to
saw up to this time his Vicious excess had
not greatly changed his physical appear
ance.
He was able to abstain from smoking
for two days after he returned to work
Then he was unable to control the old
appetite, which seemed to have returned
TO him with redoubled vigor He was
again soon smoking sixteen packages a
day. and he is said to have Kept up that
average until he was taken to the Belle
vue hospital in an ambulance early sun
day morning.
BY this time the poison had begun to
make itself manifest in the young man $
physical appearance. His cheeks had
fallen in, his complexion was sallow. his
formerly powerful shoulders were bent
his eyes seemed to be starting from theii
sockets, his tongue grew the color OF
chalk and the skin began to peel off of It,
The metamorphosis in his mental con-
dition was fully marked. From SEN
Sible young man he was changed by turns
into a snickering. Sinking idiot. or into
Il raving demon that the combined
strength of four ordinary men could not
handle.
When he was in a harmless mood on
Saturday morning his father called a
carriage and took him to Bellevue hos
the gate the young man seemed to sud
denly realize the design of his father
He struck the old man a terrific blow
leaped from the carriage and ran up the
street
Late that night he returned to the sa
loon. He had quoted down'by this time
and the father then on the pretext thai
they were going to buy cigarettes. took
him to the West Thirty-seventh stree,
station.
Sergeant Cagney was at the desk. A
glance Sufficed to show the sergeant with
what kind of a case he had to deal He
had had experience with such prisoners
before.
Il want a cigarette" the wid-eyed
young man begged.
Just step this way then said the
sergeant, and he led him back to cell
He pushed him inside. then slammed the
door, shut and bolted it. Merkt was a
drunken prisoners were sobered into
trembling fright by his awful cries.
Four stalwart policemen were neces-
sary to place him in the Bellevue ambu-
lance Then they We're Obliged to Shackle
him.
There are rats on the floor There
they go. See them! See them!'' the
and left in an effort to escape from the
imaginary rodents. He kept this up after
he arrived at the hospital and until al
lieve his sufferings on Sunday night.