Cleverly - Al
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review Saturday, 12 September 1874
One of the saddest facts we have to chronicle this week is the death of Alfred B. Cleverly, which occurred at the Aetna House, Danville, Ill., on the morning of the 10th. Naturally a man of great vitality, Al Cleverly without whiskey, might have lived to be ninety years old. But yielding to the fearful appetite for drink he fell a victim to the demon which lurks in the cup, and gave up his strong life at thirty. A friend who watched at his bedside during the fatal night of the 9th, as he suffered and struggled in that delirium which single out only the hard drinker for its victim, describes the scene as the most affecting that human eye could witness. Drummers schooled to carelessness and indifference by long contact with wretchedness, misery and suffering in our large cities were moved to tears as they looked up this, the saddest spectacle of their lives. For the sake of a mother now distracted with grief we would gladly draw the veil over the sorrowful death bed scene of one who might, but for whiskey, had lived a long life of usefulness. But there are other young men in this city by the score who are today as liable to such a death as Cleverly appeared to be a month ago. It would be a false sympathy that would conceal the facts from them. Deceased was born in Canada, his father being an officer in the English army. He came to this city about eight years ago and has been living with his mother, Mrs. Jack Morgan. He leaves considerable property, the result of investments from a legacy received from Europe a couple of years ago. The body was brought home on Thursday afternoon and buried yesterday with the Episcopal services. Deceased was as kind hearted a young man as ever lived. - s