Virginia Free Press

THE EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS.

SHOCKING Accident.—One day last week, Francis Craiks, an Englishman, who resides four or five miles this side of Huntingdon, (Indiana.) started, together with his wife and daughter, from Fort Wayne to return home, on the towing path of the canal. They were in a wagon, and Craiks was intoxicated—drove fast and irregular, wheeling from side to side of the high path to frighten his wife, until, when near Bull Creek Aqueduct, he dropped his left hand rein, and pulling on the other, guided his horse into the canal, turning the wagon completely bottom upwards in about three feet water. The whole three were caught under the wagon, in such a position that they could not extricate themselves. An Irishman, the only person near at the time, could not, or would not render any assistance, but ran for help to the nearest house, which was five miles distant. On the arrival of the party at the scene of the catastrophe, at seven o'clock at night, Craiks was drowned—The daughter was dead, supposed to have been killed by the upsetting of the wagon, as the top of her head was smashed in. The horses were tangled in the harness, and both are drowned. The old lady was saved from drowning by having her head buoyed up by a cake of ice. When taken out she was entirely insensible, having been immersed under water and ice for several hours—Fires were immediately built on the spot, and she soon revived, and we are happy to learn that she is in a fair way of recovery: Will the fate of Craiks be a warning to the multitudes who are rushing headlong in the same career that has terminated in his awful destruction? We fear not.