The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-11
YOUNG MAN WITH 4 THIRST.
Repented His Rashness in Seeking a
jag Cure and Seized First OppOr-
tunity to Escape.

The other day a young man who had
been addicted TO the drink habit for
a long time went to. DR.. W. j. Crow
ellis s~anitarium, on North Church
street, for q course Of treatment. He
had been drinking hard for 4 week or
two and was on the verge of delirium
treInens. About the time he realized
that 1t was time to call a halt, he
made the sudden discovery that his
appetite for red liquor was q thing be-
.Yond his control. He wasn't particu-
dairy anxious to give up drinking. but
he wanted to get his hand Oh the rud-
der once more, SO he sought a cure for
his beautiful jag.
Now it must be remembered that, in
contradistinction to the Kelley inst
tutes, which continue to give a partient
all the Whiskey he want until he alb
hors and loathes the stuff, DR.. Crowell
acuts off the supply at once. He not
only refuses TO give a man liquor after
he enters the sanitarium, but watches
the patient closely to see that he has
no opportunity of getting any.
This particular u man did not
inquire into the details of the regula-
tions when he entered the institution,
oIlo III AASo y DOO1I lAANle -oAi5 oNAoA~
he called for a good, stiff drink. His
nerves We're running riot and he want
ed d bracer. and wanted it badly. But
the physician told him no and inform
ed him that the remedy would not take
hold of his system if he got on the out
side of any more liquor. Right then
the young man repented his rashneSs
in seeking the jag cure.
The physician realized the condition
of his patient and kreW that he would
stop at nothing in an effort to satisfy
his longing for drink. 1t was thought
wise to keep a close watch over the
young man for a day or two, and, as
DR.. CroWell was specially interested in
the case, he decided to sit UP with the
patient a portion of the night. Along
after midnight the doctor called an at
tendant and retired to his room.
The young mans craving for a drink
IA kept him awake and h. felt as if
he would die if he could not satisfy his
appetite. Just then life without liQuir
did not ppear worth living, anyway.
M he cursed the impulse that moved
hin TO seek a cure for a habit that
was the most important thing in all
the world to him. He began to figure
on how he could regain his liberty,
ll0 lac ollSC liz ou6h VI lllS 1l&dl-
ter, the more determined he became to
break loose from his confinement at
any and all hazards.
The attendant who came in to re-
lieve he physician probably had no
interest in his employment further
than the pay he was receiving. At
any rate, the task of watching the pa
tient became very m~onotonous, and
shortly after 8 o'clock in the morning
the watcher fell asleep. Before the at
tendant's head had become fairly set
tleC in slumber on his bosom. the
young man with the thirst determined
to seize the opportunity to escape.
Liberty was too precious to be riSked
by losing valuable time in dressing, SO
the young fellow quietly arose from his
bed and stole out into the darkness,
wearing only the single garment a man
puts on to sleep in.
The escape was discovered in a very
few minutes and DR.. Crowell lost no
time in going in pursuit. He ran swift
ly to the uar and startled Police
man Earnhardt by inquiring, in an ex-
cited tone of voice: Seen anything Of
a man dressed only in a night shirt
running past here?"
mo ghost has passed my beat to-
night" replied the officer.
Just then the two men looked up
North Tryon street in time to see a
ghost like form fit across the street
and run down by the city hall. DR..
Crowell recognized his escaped patient
n set out to overtake him, followed
by the policeman, whose mind was
busy imagining what manner of crime
had been attempted or perDetrated.
Mr.. E~arnhardt blew his whistle, which
brought other officers to the scene
In the old trading lot just off from
the city hall the young man was cor
ne;ed. After some manoeuvering, the
doctor and the policeman managed to
surround the thirsty individual, when
he was lassoed and carried back to
receive the remainder of his course of
MISUNDERSTANDING Chronicle
Rather Pointed TntpS