Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-05-31
a THRILLING SCENE.
BY cHAs. RAND.

The following narratives true one-des
cribes a scene that actually took place not many
Maine.
One evening in the month of December
eighteen hundred and thirty-four, number oi
townsmen had assembled 3atsthe store of Mr.
Thomas Putnam, to talk over matters and
things :;, smoke drink and in short do anything
Come said Charles Hatch-one of the
company-lets all liquor, and then have game
ofhigh, low, jackr
SO say exclaimed another, who's got the
cards q
Fetch on your heeds,' drawled out third
his eyes half closed through the effect of the Ii
quor he had drank.
: After drinking all round, an old pine table
was drawn up before the fire place, where burn
ed brightly large fire of hemlock logs, which
would snap and crackle-throYipg large live
GOALS upon the, hearth. =
AL drew around the table, seating themselves
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 himselfP
'No-have partners growlcd one man.
Il say, every one for himself, exclaimed an
other.'
No, hang'd if I'll play so, shouted the for
mer bringing his fist down upon the table, knock
ing one candle out of the stick, and another up
on the floor
Come, come said Hatch, no quarrelling-
all who say for 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
are against you. Come, will you play!'
well, as don't want to be on the opposite
side, I'll play answered Barclay, somewhat
cooled down.
MIR. Putnam was not in the store that even
ing and the clerk who was busy behind the
counter, had taken very little notice of the pro-
ceedings. About halfpast ten, Mr.. Pullman
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 a few steps of where the men
We're 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 few feet of the fire Just
described-and four of them seated on keys of
ponder!
Barclay-who was a very heavy man-had
pTcSScu III tnc neau OF The ReS 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 became spread
about the floor, and now covered a space of
two feet all around them.
Mr. Putman's first movement was towards
the door, but recovering himself, he walked up
towards the fire. Should either ofthem attempt
to rsc-he thouSht-and scatter few grains
a little further into the fire place, where lay a
large quantity of live coal!
At that moment Hatch looking up, and see
ing MIR. 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 a limb moved-each seemed para
USED.
In less time than we have taken to describe
this thrilling scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured the
water on, and completely saturated the powder
on the floor, and extinguished the fire, so that
an explosion vas impossible. Then, and not
till then, was there a word spoken.-Zrue Flag