SONG OF THE DECANTER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 195, 17 August 1881, Page 3

SONG OF THE DECANTER.

In March, 1839, there was seen floating on the Yarra, near the spot whereon is now erected that sweltering pile known as the Melbourne Gas Works, something resembling & dead body. On being fished ashore it was recognised as the mortal remains of n fast yonng man named Decourcy, not long out from England, who had been for some weeks previous knocking about the few miserable shanty grogeries— by courtesy called hotels. On being searched them were found in the pockets of the corpse an old pipe, a shilling or two, and a lock of hair ; and, wrapped up in an inside coat pocket, a flask— empty, but smelling strongly of the atrocious drinking stuff then vended nirler the nomenclature of rum. _ Glued on to the " pocket pistol" "was a slip of vellum, as thin as the finest paper, on which was printed (in nonpareil type and decanter form) a dirge of the bottle-fiend, whose terrible chanting, though no doubt often conned over by the reckless and ill-fated youth, was evidently disregarded by him. Of this curious effusion a "{facsimile" is here appended : —