Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-06-29
A THRILLING SCENE.

years since, III country to"u III tue ola'o "
Maine. r.a.
One evening in the month of December, eigh-
teen hundred and thirty-fopr, a number OF
Thomas Putnam to talk over matters and things,
smoke, drink, and in short do anything to kill
time" ..a
"Come," said Charles Hatch, one of the COM
pany, "lets all liquor, and then have game of
'high-low-j jack ?"
$50 saw" exclaimed another, :" who's got
the cards !'
"Fetch on your keerds," drawled out third,
his eyes half closed through the effect of the IL
quor he had drank.
After drinking all round, an old pine table was
drawn up before the fire place, where burned
brightly large fire of hemlock logs, which
would snap andcrackle throwing largelve Goals
upon the hearth. i..a4
All drew around the table, seating themselves
on whatever came handiest. Four Of them had
rolledup to the table some kegs, which from
their weight, were supposed to contain nails.
snow" said Hatch, what shall we pay-ev-
cry one for himself"
"No, have partners" growed one man.
"No, hang'd if I'll play So" shouted the form
err, bring his fist down upon the table, knocking
one candle out of the stick, and another upon
the floor.
"Come, come" said Hatch, emo quarreling,
all who say for partners, stand up"
Three arose.
SNOW, all who say each one for himself stand
up"
Then the remaining four Immediately got
up.
"You see, Barclay" said Hatch, " the MAORI
ty are against you. Come, will you play"
"We as don't want to be on the opposite
side, I'll play" answered Barclay, somewhat
cooled down.
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store that evening,
and the clerk who was busy behind the counter,
had taken very little notice of the proceedings.
About half past ten, Mr.. Putnam tho't he would
step over to his store and see that everything
was SAFE
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.
There they were within a few feet of the fire
just described-and four of them seated on kegs
Of poacder
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 mo-
ton of their feet, the powder had become spread
about the floor, and now covered a space of two
feet all around them.
Mr.. Putnams 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 to the fireplace, where lay large
quantity Of live coal! t... ...a
AT that moment, Hatch looking up, and see
ing Mr.. Putnam with his face deadly pale, gaz-
ing into the fire, exclaimed
GOOD God, Putnam, what ails you ~ and at
the same time made motion to rise.
"For Heavens sake, gentlemen do not rise"
said Mr.. Putnam. "Four of you 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-move, and you are dead men."
In an instant every man was perfectly sober
ed-not limb moved-each seemed paral yzed.
In less time than we have taken to describe
this scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured the water on
and completely saturated the powder on the
floor, and extinguished the fire, so that an ex-
posion was impossible. Then, and not till then,
was there word spoken. True Flag