“Yesterday morning a sad drowning ease occurred in the River T—, near N— S—, about a quarter to eleven o’clock. It appears that the fourth hand on board the steam tug “E—” brought the skipper ashore in a small boat, and was returning to his vessel when he met with an accident. He had to board the steam tug “R—” to get on to his own vessel, and while attempting to do so by some means or other slipped, and losing his hold on the ship’s side fell into the river. He sank almost immediately and was not seen again. Grappling operations were commenced by a number of willing workers, and about a quarter past twelve o’clock two men successfully landed the deceased by means of the grappling irons. The deceased was only seventeen years of age.
“On the body being recovered, it was found that there was a wound on the bridge of the nose, which had been undoubtedly caused by the deceased coming in contact with the sponson of the tug, and this, it is thought, must have stunned the poor fellow when he fell overboard, which explains the fact that he did not make an effort to save himself, but disappeared almost directly on falling into the water.”
SUCH was the account of the fatality that appeared in a Tuesday morning’s paper, and many reading it would probably say, “How terribly sudden, and so young too.” “Was he ready to die?” would be the thought that would doubtless flash into the minds of others.
Now men are apt to say, “How sad to be cut off without warning, with no time to prepare to meet God,” and the justice of God is often called into question in connection with such cases; but we are persuaded that God deals graciously with all men, and if the end comes suddenly, it comes not before space has been given for repentance. There is another side to this sad story which I must also relate.
A young fellow—an acquaintance of the one whose death is here recorded—had attended our gospel meetings. There he discovered his deep need of a Saviour, and found in Jesus One who was able to meet his need. He was saved and knew it, and delighted to confess the name of the One who had saved him. A tract had been given to him on the night of his conversion in the which were the following well-known lines:
“To lose your wealth is much,
To lose your health is more,
To lose your soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.”
These lines made an impression upon the young Christian’s mind, and he committed them to memory.
On the Saturday night previous to the accident he was crossing the river on the ferry-boat; there he met the now deceased youth, and besought him to attend the gospel meeting on the Sunday night. He got a distinct refusal, however, and on parting with his old companion he repeated: —
“To lose your wealth is much,
To lose your health is more,
To lose your soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.”
That was all; they said “Good-night,” and separated, never again to meet in time. So that hover the young fellow died on Monday morning, he had his warning on Saturday night—a warning, we believe, given him by a gracious God who willed not his destruction.
It is not within our province to say whether he went to heaven or hell; we do but state the facts as they came beneath our notice, and we state them not to interest you in the soul of the one who is gone from earth forever, but to interest you in your own soul. We desire that you should be arrested, if still unprepared, for what lies ahead of you.
Think of your soul, which is of greater value than wealth or health. Think of God, His claims, His grace, His judgment; think of your sins, of death—dark and hopeless death if you are still Christless; think of eternity, and while you think, remember the solemn passage from the Word of God— “He that being often reproved and hardeneth his neck, shall be suddenly cut off, and that without remedy.”
J. T. M.