The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-06-09
WHOLE NUMBER 6l2.
A THRILLING SCENE.

\ A THRILLING SCENE.
! The following narrative true one--de-
scribes scene that actually took place moi
many years since, in county town in the
State of Maine.
! One evening in the month Of December
eighteen hundred and thirty-four, a number
Of townsmen had assembled at the store OF
Mr.. Thomas Putnam, to talk over matters
and s-smoke-drink-and in short dc
anything to skill time
| Three hours had thus passed away. They
had laughed and talked and drank, and chat
ted, and had good time, generally; so that
about the usual time Of shutting up shop
each ofthe party felt particularly first rate.
sCome,' said Charles Hatch-one of the
game Of high, low Jack!'
$50 | say exclaimed another-:whos eot
the cards.'
Fetch on your keerds,' drawlcd out a third
his eyes half closed through the effect ofthe
| liquor he had drank.
After drinking all round, an old pine table
was drawn up before the fireplace where
| burned brightly large fire Of hemlock logs
which would snap and crackle-throwino
large live Goals upon the hearth.
All drew up round the table, seating them.
selves on whatever came handiest Four oil
! them had rolled up to the table some kegs
which from their weight were supposed to
contain nails.
Now, said Hatch, show shall we play
every one for himself..
| 'No-have partners growled one man
| Il say every one for himself, exclaimed an
other.
No hang'd if I'll play So, shouted the for
mer--brnglng his fist down upon the table,
knocking one candle out ofthe stick. and an
other upon the floor.
Come. come,' said Hatch, mo quarrelinp
all who say for having partners, stand
/ up
Three arose.
'Now all who say each one for himself
stand up
/ The remaining four immediately gotu
You see, Barclay, said Hatch, the aiori
ty are against you. Come, will you playr
well as don't want to be on the oppo-
site side, I'll play answered Barclay, some
what cooled down.
Mr.. Platinum was not in the store that even
ing, and the clerk who was busy behind the
counter had taken very little notice of the
proceedings. About half-past ten, Mr.. Put
mum thought he would step over to his store
and see that everything was safe As he
went in he walked up towards the fire.
When within few steps of where the men
were sitting he started back in horror.
Before him sat seven men, half crazy with
drink and the excitement OF playing cards.
They were within few feGt stataad on kegs
| u porder!
Barclay-who was a very heavy man--had
pressed in the head of the keg on which he
sat, bursting the top hoop, and pressing the
powder through the chnks. By the contin-
ued motion OF their feet, the powder had be-
come spread about the floor, and now covered
a space of two feet all around them.
Mr.. Putnum's first movement was towards
the door, but recovering himself, he walked
towards the fire. Should either Of them at.
tempt to rise-he thought-and scatter ;
few grains little further into the fire place
where lay large quantity of live Goals.
At that moment Hatch looked up, and see
ing Mr.. Putnum with his face deadly pale
gazing into the fire, exclaimed.
Coed God, Putnum what ails your and al
| the same time made a motion to rise.
For Heavens sake, gentlemen, do not
rise said Mr.. Putnum. -Four ofvou sit on
kegs of powder-it is scattered all around
you-one movement might send you all to
eternity. There are two buckets Of water
behind the bar but keep your seats for one
minute, and you are saved-moye and you
are dead men,'
In an instant every man was perfectly
sobered-not a limb moved-each seemed
paralyzed.
In less time than we have taken to de-
scribe this thrilling scene, Mr. Putnum had
poured the water on the floor and extinguish-
ed the fire SO that an explosion was impos-
sible. Then. and not till then, was there a
word spoken.-Tfue Fhg.