Year: 1871

Niagara is the subllmest spot on the
continent, but almost every year il becomes
the scene of some new horror that makes
the blood curdle to read of it. A few
weeks since, it added new chapter to
the ever-growing volume Of strong drink.
Three young men, who had become intox-
icated to the point Of perfect stupidity,
undertook to cross the Niagara river about
three miles above the cataract. The own
er of the boats refused to let them one,
but, by some means they got boat, and
launched out for the Canadian side.


The little skif was soon caught in the
swift current of the rapids. A strong and
steady arm could alone save it., The oars
man, who was the nearest sober Of the
unsteady trio. stood up in the boat. and
seeing the terrible danger, gave a wild
shrek and leaped overheard to swim a.
shore. The current was too strong for
him. He bufetted the fierce rapids for a
few moments until his little strength gave
way. and then he was whirled along help
lessly to the verge, and shot ever the cat
aracs. ''s-lS ss--sss-z5s


His two stupiicd companions lay asleep
on the bottom of the boat. and never woke
until their affrighted spirits awoke in eter-
nifty. Their frail boat leaped of the aw-
full cliff of waters like bit of cork, and
in an instant they were engulfed in tho
foaming maelstrom beneath: The next
morning single leg of one Of the poor
wretches was picked up on the Canadian
shore. showing that their bodies must
have been dashed to fragments in their des-
cent among the rocks below the cataract.
The Word of God describes drunken
man as zone who lieth" (asleep) ION the
top of mast in the midst Of the sea-
But it adds a new horror to the picture to
lie in the sleep of drunken insensibility on
the foamlng edge of Niagara. Probably
the wretched creatures in the boat fancied
themselves on delightful sail as they
swept so swiftly through the waters. They
awoke from the enchanting slumber in the
jaws of death.


This terrible tragedy at Niagara is but
a picture of the cataract of ruin. over which
one hundred thousand OF our countrymen
we're swept during the last twelve months.
Commissioner Wells reports that immense
number as going down into the vortex of
death through intemperance" aotthin one
gear. How many fathers and mothers
have stood on the bank and seen their
sons whirl over into the abyss, God only
knoweth.


But every young man or woman who is
playing with the wine-cup is venturing to-
ward the rapids. The liquor-sellers fur
nish the boats it is their trade to "hire'
them for pleasure excursions" Every
young man, as he launches into the habit
of drinking. laughs at the idea of danger
who's afraid ? not I r. In little while
he is helpless on the bottom Of the skiff,
and shooting toward the brink of perdi-
ton. All the warning cries Of pulpits.
and press, and parental love cannot waken
him. He is drugged with the dram-sell-
er's dose of death. He will wake up when
he gets into eternity before.


Sometimes poor slave of the bottle sees
his danger, and like that third man at Nj
agara. jumps out of the boat. But it is
too late. He has gone too far. and the
disease of drunkenness has become incur
able. His will has become powerless.
He cannot control himself. The rapids
of fatal habit are too strong for bis enfee-
bled resolution. Now and then one, by
the help Of the divine grace. reaches the
shore. Temperance Societies pick up a
few strong swimmers, and assist them with
the rope of total abstinence pledge
But the vast MAORI y Of habitual drinkers
60 over the falls. Young man! the first
glass you take is step into the boat
The voyage may begin with song-but
it may end in the shrek Of a LOST SOUL.
ILLUSTRATED Christian Weekly,


EE He who has struck his colors to
the power of an evil habit, has surrender