A Horrible Story.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1904, 19 November 1886, Page 2

A Horrible Story.

John Anderson, about 22 years ol ace, and residing at Bnokharat ;street, Booth Metboarne, with two companions named Garter (about tbe same age) and Sulliran (some ’ eight or ten years older), all labourers, were drinking in the Kelson Hotel about ball past four or five. Their talk was, as it is not no* usual with hall drunken men, of their drink, i ing capabilities, and Anderson, with the I bravado of youth, exclaimed—- “ 1 could drink a bottle of brandy right " Could you" ssid Sullivan ; “ thou if you ; will. I’ll pay for it. “ Done," cried Anderson, with an amount 1 ol quasi foresight astonishing in men who propose and accept such a mad wager. They i crossed the road and parch seed a bottle ti castor oil. A portion oi this Anderson drunk, and they then recrossed the road and went into tbe grocery and wine and spirit store ol of Campbell, in Sandridge. To tbe store* keeper they appeared perfectly sober, and Sullivan asked for a bottle of brandy. *' What price brandy ?" queried the storekeeper. “ The cheapest yon have,” replied Bulb* van. Tbe storekeeper said be bad some at 8s Ad a bottle. This suited Sullivan, and be placed the money on the counter, As Campbell was about to wrap it up Sullivan asked him if be would draw tbe cork (or him. This was not an unusual request, as tbe people ol the neighbourhood who purchase single bottles ask to have the corks drawn. Campbell drew the cork aud placed the bottle _on tbe counter, and turning round was horrified to to behold Anderson (who was nearer tbe door) holding the bottle up. and literally pouring it down his throat. He started forward, aud protested against it being drunk on tbe premises, when Sullivan, detaining him, exclaimed " What business is it of yours ? It is paid for is it not ?” By this time tbe whole of the bottle of brandy had been swallowed by Anderson. “ Here,” said Carter, producing a bottle of castor oil “ try some of this now, it will do you good. The storekeeper, Campbell, who expected to see the drunken maniac fall dead, stood paralysed when he saw thiee men calmly walk out oi bis shop aud down tbe road. The effect of the puisou was not immediately apparent. When, however, tbe men bad gut some couple uf hundred yards down the road, the fierce poison, eouraing hks fire through this mad auioide’s veins, seized almost at the same instant upon tbe body and brain, and Anderson reeled sad ftll heavily upon the path. Carter, with the vague know* lege of tbe power of castor oil, admmiatsred the remiunder of tbo hotilfl* crowd, who rapidly collected, brought soda water and chafed his limbs and hands, but the man who bad wagered his life against a bottle of brandy was all intents and pnrposes as dead as if he swallowed a dose of pruasic acid. Ila was in a state of utter collapse, and only ths laboured breathing that convulsed the oneoas* clous form and tbe chilly damp upon ths ghastly face, showed that life stilt lingered. Dying be wae taken to the Melbourne Hoes pitaland tbe stomach pump was applied, but medical appliances were powerleee to extract the poison from the blood, to bring hack motion to the limbs or the light of reason to the brandy-sccrslmi brain. Ilia* ate by minute aud hour by hour,(he alcohol la poison fed upon the heart and bunt away the brain of the wretched young fellow, aud, ere monuung dawned, the hear) bad ceased |o beat and John AndersOn Was uwm oy uaa own hand* At tbe iauusst a veriiot ol “Death from ataoholie peuoamg ” wae returned.