The fright produced by this incident,
and a very narrow escape, in some degree sobered me, but what I felt
more than anything else was the exposure now; all would be known, and I
feared my name would become, more than ever, a byword and a reproach.
Will it be believed that I again sought refuge in rum? Yes, so it was.
Scarcely had I recovered from the fright than I sent out, procured a
pint of rum, and drank it all in less than an hour. And now came upon
me many terrible sensations. Cramps attacked me in my limbs, which
raked me with agony, and my temples throbbed as if they would burst.
So ill was I that I became seriously alarmed, and begged the people of
the house to send for a physician. They did so, but I immediately
repented having summoned him, and endeavored, but ineffectually, to get
out of his way when he arrived. He saw at a glance what was the matter
with me, ordered the persons about me to watch me carefully, and on no
account to let me have any spirituous liquors. Everything stimulating
was vigorously denied me; and there came on the drunkard's remorseless
torture: delirium tremens, in all its terrors, attacked me. For three
days I endured more agony than pen could describe, even were it guided
by the mind of Dante.
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