The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-05-31
A Thrilling Scene.
BY CHAS. RAND.

n SSOhASs
BY cHAs. RAND.
The following narrative true one--de-
scrbes a scene that actually took place not many
years since, in country town in the State of
Maine:
One evening in the month of December, s34,
number of townsmen had assembled in the
store Of a Mr.. Thomas Putnam, to talk over mat
ters and things -smoke-drink- in short,
to do anything to kill time
Three hours had thus passed away. They
had laughed, and talked, and drank, and chatted,
and had a good time, generally, 50 that about
the usual hours Of shutting up shop, each of the
party felt particularly first rate.
Come said Charles Hatch--one Of the COM
pany-'let's all liquor, and then have game Of
high, low, Jack!
SO l say exclaimed another, who's got the
cardsp =
Fetch on your keerls, Tdrswed out a third,
his eyes half closed through the effects Of the IL
quor 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--throwing large live
esals out upon the hearth.
All drew round the table, seating themselves
on whatever came handiest -Four IF them had
rolled up to the table some kegs, which, from
their weight, were supposed 10 contain nails,
Now said Hatch, 'Low shall we play, every
one for himsclfn
'No-have parlncrs,' growled one man.
Isay every one for HIMSELF exclaimed anoth-
er.'
No, hang'd if I'll play So shouted the form
er, bringing his fist down upon the table, knock
ing one candle out ofthe stick, and another up
OH the>hoor.
Come come,' said Hatch, mo quarreling-alI
who say for having partners, stand up
Three arose.
Now all who say each one for himself, stand
up
The remaining four Immediately got up. q
you see, Barclay said Hatch, the majority
are against you. Come, wilIyou playP
well; as don't want to be on the opposite
side, I'll play answered Barclay, somewhat cool
ed down.
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store that even
inc, and the clerks, who were busy behind the
counter, had taken very little notice Of the pro-
ceedings. About half past ten, Mr.. Putnam
thought he would step over to his store and see
that every thing was safe. AS he went in ne
walked up towards the fire.
When within few steps Of where the men
were sitting. he started backiu horror.
Before him sat seven men, half crazy with
drink and the excitement IF playing cards.
There they were, within few feet ofthe fire just
descrbed-anl four of them seated on kegs of
pouder!
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 aspace of two
feet all around them.
Mr.. Putnam's first movement was towards the
door, but, recovering himself he walked up to-
wards the fire. Should either of them attempt
t., rise--he thought--and scatter frew grains
little further into the fireplace where lay a
quantity of live Goals
At this moment Hatch looked up, and, seeing
Mr.. Putnam with his face deadly pale, gazing
into the fire, exclaimed
'Why, Putnam, what ails yon,' and at the
same time made motion to rise.
For hAsTTcns 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 paralyzed.
In less time than we have taken to describe
this thrilling scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured the
water and completely saturated the powder on
the floor, and extinguished the fire, so that an
explosion was impossible. Then, and not till
then, was there word spoken!
ABSENCE OF M1yD.-The foreman Of a Grand
Jury in Missouri, after administering the oath to
a beautiful woman, instead Of handing the Bible,
presented his face and said, "Now kiss the book,
madamT' lie didn't discover his mistake until
the whole jury burst into roar OF laughter.
ANEcpoTE OF SHERIDAN.-Thc celebrated
Sheridan was one day much annoyed by fel-
low member in the House of Commons, who
kept crying out every few minutes, " Hear
hearr' During the debate he took occasion
to describe political cotemporary that wished
to play the rogue, but had only sense enough
to act the fool. "Where," exclaimed he, with
great emphasis, "where shall we find more
foolish knave or more knavsh fool than this 2"
"Hesr hear" was shouted by the troublesome
member Sheridan turned round, and thank
ing him for his prompt reply sat down amid
a general roar of laughter.
LEGAL W1T.-Counsellor Lamb, on old
,,,nu ,rhan ord ErkSina was at the height of