The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-09-02
was eommotion in the water ali

swimmer was seized by sharks,
dragged down and was seen no more"
Shipmasters, as a rule, abstain
from intoxicants sufficiently to insure
the safety of life and property so that
it is not endangered through inebri-
ETY.. There are, nevertheless, start
ling instances where sea captains have
been unable to resist the craving for
drink until there was reformation
through the stimulus of despair. The
writer was acquainted with man
who had a masters certificate, but
who, because of his drinking habits,
was unable to get command of
vessel. His father, shipowner, at
his death left him square-rigged
sailing ship.
The newly made captain and owner
was drunk when he left port with his
ship. He remained drunk for two
weeks, gave a wrong course to his
first mate, and the vessel was
wrecked in shoal water. The crew
clung to the top rigging, and lashed
themselves there. AT the expiration
of nine days a vessel sighted them,
but all had died of thirst and hunger
with the exception of the captain,
whose remarkable vitality had pre-.
served Bpark of life.
The captain recovered, and later
obtained command of another ship.
When he left port he was intoxicated
again. The vessel was wrecked, and
he was rescued. He never drank
again, but his masters certificate was
Cancelled, and he served as mate In
humble vessels until his death two
years ago.
Some years ago a two-term convict
found himself on trial for third
felony. He declared that he had no
recollection of any of his crimes and
asserted that all were committed
while under the influence of liquor.
He was sentenced to State prison,
and upon going there stated that
while in prison he intended to find a
way to cure not only himself of the
whisky habit, but all who would
listen to him.
He was put to work in the kitchen
| and in some way he obtained quas-
sia cup. These cups are turned from
the trunk OF the. quassia treet, which
is extremely bitter. Quassia is
well-recognized medicinal agent with
tonic properties. The convict discov+
cred that water embittered by contact
with the quassia cup diminished his
taste for liquor, and in time he over.
came it altogether.
Once out of prison, this man de.
voted great deal of time to advocat-
ing the "quassia cure" for the liquor
habit, and, so far as Is known, he
had no relapse.
Frequently the change to an unex-
pected and unwelcome occupation
provides the stimulus necessary to
bring out the indomitable will power
which rehabilitates a man who has
been in the grip of drink.
A Texan told of his own experience
in this connection, as follows:
Il was young, married and had
what l considered an easy job as
bookkeeper in store in small
town. / began to drink, and before
knew it l was drinking altogether
too much. / found that my hands
were shaky in the morning, and l
to work. Then l got to drinking in
the daytime, and neglected my work.
Finally, l lost my job. Then my
father took me aside and said:
"'Young man, have fifteen acres
of sandy soil out back there. You
know where 1t is; get out there and
see If you can find your salvation
II worked that piece of ground
one year, and besides its being sandy
SOIL, it was a bad year for crops /
worked it a second year with little
better success. The third year about
averaged up with the others. Then
l resolved that l was no farmer, but
l made a solemn promise to myself
that If | could get job in the city
again l would manage to get along
without liquor.
81 got the city job, and have kept
| my promise.
Tale of a Sea Captain.
Seventeen years ago sea captain,
whose home was in this city, said to
his wife:
If ever get drunk again I'll blow
out my brains"
He remained sober for fifteen
years. Two years ago the craving re-
turned. He went to the nearest sa-
loon, took three or four drinks of
whisky, and shot himself to death at
the table where he sat to drink.
OF all the sea stories that have to
do with loss through drunkenness of
the commander Of ship, the most
tragic is one fresh in the minds of
all seafaring men, and which involved
the loss of more than hundred lives.
The captain of liner had made the
most desperate efforts, according to
his friends, to stop drinking. Finally,
it was believed that he had con-
quered.
In fact" said the retired seafaring