Washington telegraph., 1853-09-21
A Thrilling Scene.
BY CHAS, RAND.

I By cHAs, RAND.
The following narrative-a true one-de-
scribes scene that actually took place.
not many years since, in country town in
the State Of Maine:
One evening in the month of December,
1884, number Of townsmen had assembled
in the store Of Mr.. Thomas Putnam, to talk
over matters and things -smoke-drink-
and, in short, to do anything to kill time
Three hours had thus passed away. Tehy
had laughed, and talked, and drank, and
chatted, and had good time generally, 80
that about tie usual hours of shutting up
shop, each Of the party felt particularly first
rate
Come, said Charles Hatch-onc of the
company--'let's all liquor and then have
game of high, low, jack
so say, exclaimed another, who's got
the cards!'
Fetch on your kecrds,' drawled out a
third, his eyes half closed through the effects
Of the liquor he had drank.
After drinking ali round, an old pine Ia
BILE was drawn up before the fire place, where
burned brightly large fire Of hemlock logs,
which would snap and crackle-throwing
large live Goals out upon the hearth.
All drew round the table. seating them
selves on whatever came handiest Four of
them had rolled up to the table some kegs.
which, from their weight, were supposed to
contain nails.
Now, said Hatch. how shall we play
every one for hinsclf,'
No have partners growlcd one man.
81 say every one for himself" exclaimed
another.
mo hang'd If Ill play o." shouted the
former, bringing his fist down upon the Ia
bic, knocking one candle out Of the stick,
and another upon the floor.
Come, come said Hatch. mo quarrel
ling-all who say partners stand up"
Three arose.
"Now all who say each one for himself,
stand up
The remaining four Immediately got up
you see. Barclay said Hatch, the
majority is against you. Come. viii you
play?"
"Well rs I don't want to be on the oppo-
site side I'll play" answered Barclay, somc-
what cooled down
Mr., Putnam, was not in the store that
evening, and the clerks, who were busy be-
hind the counter, had taken very little notice
of the proceedings. About halfpast ten,
Mr.. Putnam thought he would step over to
his store and sec that every thing was safe
As he went in, he walked up towards the
fire.
When within a 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 at cards
There they were within few feet of the
fire just decrihed-and four Of them seated
on Kegs Of Po,cder'
Barclay-who was very heavy man
had pressed in the head Of the keg on which
he sat, bursting the top hoop, and pressing
the powder out through the chinks BY the
continued motion oftbcir feet the powder had
become spread about tho floor, and now COW
cred space Of two feet all round them.
Mr.. Putnam's first movement was towards
the door, but recovering himself, he walked
up towards the fire. Should either Of them
attempt to rise, he thought, and scatter few
grains little further into the fireplace where
lay quantity Of live Goals.
At this moment Hatch looked up, and sec
ing Mr. Putnam. with his face deadly pale,
gazing into the fire exclaimed
Why, Putnam, what ails you!" and at
the same time made motion to rise.
For heavens sake, gentlemen. do not
risc,' said Mr. Putnam. "Four of you sit
on kegs Of powder, il i scattered MI around
you-onc 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 arc saved-move, and
you are dead men,
In an instant every man was perfectly So
bered, not limb movcd-each seemed par
alyzed.
Tn less time than We have taken to de-
scribe this thrilling scene Mr.. Putnam had
poured the water, and completely saturated
the powder on the floor, aud extinguislied
the fire, SO that an explo ion was impossible
Then, and not till then was there word
spoken.