The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-05-19
( From the True Flag.
A Thrilling Scene.
BY CHAs. RAND.

One evening in the month of December 1884,
lumber Of townsnlen had assembled at the store OF
MIR. Thompson Putnam, TO talk matters and
tbings-smoke -drink--and in short do anything TO
| 'kill time
! Three hours had thus passed away. They had
bad good time, generally that about the rspa!
hour Of shutting up shop, each Of the partie, felt par
| ticuArly first rate.
|. Come said Charles Iatch-onc Of the company
let's all liquor, and then have game Of high-low
! jack
SO l say exclaimed another-'who's got the
carlsn
| 'Fcrch on your keerds, drawlcd out a third his
eyes half closed, through the effect Of the liquor he
/ had drank.
After drinking all round, an cid Pine table was
drawn up before the fireplace where burned brightly
large fire OF hcmock hogs, which would snap and
cTack-hrowing large live Goals upon the hearth.
! All drew around the table seating themselves on
whatever came handiest. Four Of them Lad rolled
up to the table some kegs, which from their weight
supposed to contain nails.
Now said Hatch, how shall we ray--every one
/ for himsolf!'
! 'No---have partners growlc one man.
y say every man Tor himself, exclaimed another.
NO, hanged if III play so,' shouted the former
bringing his fist down upon the table, knocking
candle out OF the stick, and another upon The floor
Come, come said Hatch, $40 qlauelns--all
who say tor having partners stand up
Three
! The remaining four Immediately got up.
you see, Barclay sad Hatch, the majority are
against you Come. will YOU play!'
wv ell, as don't want to be the opposite side,
III play answered Barclay sonew what cooled down.
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store that evening. and
the clerk being bus, behind the Counter had taken no
notice Of the proceedings.
! About half past ten Mr.. Putnam thought he would
step over 10 his store and that cverytan, was
safe.
/ A l. l. IL 4
When within few steps Of where the men were SIT
ting, he started back in horror.
Before him sat seven men, half crazy with drink
and the excitement Of PLAYING cards. There the,
were, within few few feet OF the fire us, described
and four Of them Seoted Kegs Of p,a,dlr'
: Earclay-who very heavy Tlali--had pressed
IN the head Il the heg which he sat, bursting the
tor hoop, and pressing the powder through the
chunks. Ky the continued motion Of their feet the
powder had become spread about the floor, and
covered space Of tw feet all around them
Mr. Pntnam's FIRST movement was towards the
door, but recovering himself he walked up towards
tbs fire. Should either Of them attempt TO rso--hc
hon9ht--and scatter a few grains itc further into
the fireplace where lay large quantity Of live Goals
Of Ere,
Putnam with his face deadly gazing into the fire, ex-
claimed: -
Good God, Putnam, what ais your and at the
same time made noiion 70 rise.
'For Heavens sake gentlemen, do net rse, said
Mr.. Putnam. 'four of YOU set upon kegs Of pow der
it is scattered AL around vou--one movement might
send yuu all to eternity. There are two buckets Of
wafer behind the bai. But keep your seats for
moment, aud you saycd--moyc and YOU are dead
mcn.'
In an instant every man perfectly soJcrcd-not
Il huIo moyed--each seemed paIal1 Sod.
In less time than have taken e describe this
drilling scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured the water
aId completely saturated the powder the floor and
eXtirg he'd the fire : thlt an explosion Was u-
possible. Thcn and net until then was i word .,o-
ken.
MELANcHoLY AFFAIR ~ Hon LlrN.--A
few DAYS since Il beautiful air Oal, Il wears of age
While visiting friends IN ;hc uryCr ylrt IF the
city, made desperate effort to dcstr1y her own lie
b, swallowing iuan,ty oi !audi!iun. Some Of the
members Of The family whom She visiting, hay-
ng noticed her depIesSta state o mind. had watched
her CLOSELY, and within hours after she had taken
the poisonous drug. they accused her If attempting
et-deStrlc ion, when she fiankly achnom lodged what
she had dpnr lh, sician was hasiii, summoned
aud by administering powerful emetic succeeded ~
saving her lfe.
l be lady question is Of wealthy parents aad has
heretofore resided in the country "A short distance
from the CITY, where sic has Cn)oycd every Iu<Fry
tin: money ca,li purchase. Previous 10 !rr e..ii
she became acquainted with yoanr man to - hanl
she lcca.ne greatly attached and ,irev were engaged
10 be married. u f;tcd hnar she + Il vic,in to
his 'ieluslve ants, when, shortly afterwards, he left
her, broken hearted and undunr. liar boring ia her
mird the deep wrong shr had suffered she lei,
her rarenta! roof with the inward resolution al never
returning alive, aid came 10 visit friends "a the
city. She had not been here lore before she n,aric
iI'st attempt at suicide by procuring laudaumu but
her intentions were discovered before she could adj
ministc, il 10 herself. Though clc>c, watched he
succeeded IN obtaining second dose, with the results
above stated. This bat another warning to parents,
and Young women. added to the many of the
Kind which have become pubic.--tN.Y. san.
! SLArE.-The slate rock uscd for roofing rarc,
occn's IN the United Siatcs Great quantities are
imported into tins country from " alcs. Mrc! Of the
domestic supply has hitherto been obtained from
not very extensive quarry in Peuns, wanna. The
west has been MANI, supplied from this horne source.
But recently discoveries of slate Quares have been
made in Arkansas, which promise greatly 10 increase
The supply.
HORTICULTURAL TAsrE.--Thc country is the
true home OF beauty, and horticulture Is the free
school OF taste, IN which all Of our readers NAV be-
come apt pupils il they choose. and cratiicd and use
ial professors II they will and help create as much
beauty IN their spare hours the wealthy citizens
can purchase with The gains Of years. to decorate his
brick and mortar palace, in the metropolis
mere Is no mere ornament, IN the house out Of
IT, so cheap and tasteful! as healthy plants and
flowers; and you will find persons admir-
lns Your Gcran'um Faschie where ono will notice
your rich curtains and tall mirrors. And OH, doors
the eye that would never be attracted b, aring paint
csfnice or column, will be instantly arrested bv the
living ArabesCue of IA native CrcClcr or the unbra.
gcous outline of an American tree.
! DO YOU not admire that simple little cottage, with
ITS graceful trees from native woods the vines
making beautiful, while they conceal the rourh ont
buildings the little ''i,ont yard, or more fitting lawn
gcnined with shrubbcry and sparkling with flowers;
with neat walks with fringe OF velvctv turf or nat.
ural ones over it, all in keeping and ali suited to the
of the tasteful ON nerl Ii YOU have been able
To lift the veil that hides the life within have you no,
found real comior, and happiness there and are
the inmates really deserving Of what they ENJOY!
The Washington Union saws the rumor that the
President "w'Il m the course Of few days. pay Wis
ii TO New Ham, shre,' has no foundation in truth.
We are authorized To that he does not cx-
pect to leave Washington during the approaching
The Glasgow stone masons are beginning to wear
mousachcs, AS recommended by DIR. Allison.
In the new town of Nahant there are oaly thirty
voters. of whom fifteen are oiica bol