The Massachusetts Spy

From the British Temperance Record.

CHOLERA AND INTEMPERANCE.

The first case of cholera that occurred at Gateshead, (Eng.) was an aged female, who for many years has been remarkable only for her filthiness and intemperance. Her time was spent chiefly in begging and gathering up any kind of filthy offals which she could exchange for money. The money so obtained was generally spent in drink. In a state of extreme intoxication she was carried home, and in a few hours she was attacked by the cholera, of which she died in a very short time, under awful circumstances.
During the week immediately preceding Christmas-day, some of the Glass Houses presented scenes of excessive drinking. When some of those persons were reproved for their excesses, they jeeringly replied, "We drink to keep the cholera away." The sequel proved the reverse of their bravado; for some of those very men were among the first whom the cholera fatally seized.
About noon on Christmas-day (which was also the Holy Sabbath!) such scenes of drunkenness and outrage were witnessed, as would be disgraceful in a heathen country. Men and women were staggering in a state of complete intoxication. Some were brawling and fighting, while crowds were collected as spectators to glory in their shame. The streets in this case were almost impassable. But "because of these things, the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience." That night and the two following days, awfully verified this divinely-inspired declaration; no less than 98 persons were smitten by this pestilence, a large portion of whom died in a few hours.
From the 25th of December to the 5th of January, 325 cases were reported, and 102 deaths in Gateshead alone!! One of the worst streets, parallel with the Tyne, was swept of confirmed drunkards from one end to the other, with a very small exception.
The day following Christmas-day, two men (one living in the town and the other a few miles in the country.) attended a cock-fight in the afternoon; and at a public house partook of a supper with the company that had been engaged in this cruel and wicked sport, and without doubt enjoyed the concomitant drink. While at supper the townsman was seized with the cholera, and was a corpse in about 12 hours; and the countryman was assailed by the same messenger of death as soon as he got home, and within two days was also in eternity!
An aged woman, who was seldom sober when she could procure drink enough to intoxicate her, got to the door of her habitation about the hour of midnight on the 24th, and found her door locked against her. Her husband and son were in a similar condition. After she had effected her entrance, the cholera followed, and she speedily became its miserable victim!
A pensioner in the lower part of Gateshead, who was accustomed to see the money through before he ceased drinking, was cautioned by the gentleman who signed his certificate, on the 26th, to guard against his usual practice, lest that should be the last pension money he should ever receive. He unhappily disregarded the caution—took his place in a public house—drank to excess till midnight—was attacked by this fatal disease about two o'clock, and died at half past six the same morning!
Another person who had listened to some warnings upon this subject, went home and said to his wife, "They say that the wickedest and drunken people, are the first attacked by this disease: and I have been very wicked." This his wife admitted, and advised him to mend his life. That night he was seized, and the next day he died!
A pitman, at Byker, who had received his fortnight's wages, gave his wife twenty shillings of the money to maintain the family for an equal period, and, with the rest, (amounting variously from ten to twenty shillings,) he set off to a public house with the declared intention of spending it.— While there, his wife obtained another shilling from him, for urgent purposes. He afterwards staggered his way home, found where the shilling was laid; returned and drank the whole. Having spent all, he again made his way home, sat some hours on a cold stone at the door. The cholera followed this bout, and he was presently in the grave! Some of his family were attacked, but recovered. The bed, bedding, &c., of the unhappy man, were drawn from his miserable abode and committed to the flames!
It is reported, at a village on the Tyne, one R. was drinking to intoxication, and jovially sporting at the cholera. Capering merrily, he called out, "play us the Cholera," and danced about to his own tuning. Then sprawling on the floor, he mimicked the agonies of spasmodic pain, and shouted, "I've got the cholera, bring me some brandy." The derided cholera, so to speak, marked him for its prey, soon after smote him, and he fell its victim! An awful warning of approaching horrors to merry drunkards, and a dreadful proof that hardness of heart is a sorry defence against the arrows of death.
Reader! are these sufficient? If not sufficient, the number may be doubled! But surely these melancholy instances may suffice to convince you that the feet of the drunkard "go down to death, and his steps Fly, therefore, Drunkenness, as you would from the most deadly enemy, ere your fate is sealed. Fly from it, as from the early grave of the unprepared sinner. Fly from it, as from the wrath of the Omnipotent JEHOVAH.