Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-07
A THILLINe SCENE
m eHAS. SAEP.

NJ eHAS. BAEB.
The following narrative-a true one-de-
seribes scene thst actually took place not many
years since, ia a country town in the State Of
Maine. of
One evening in the month Of December, eigh-
teen hundred aud thirty-rour, a number of
townsmen had assembled at the store Of a Mr..
Thomas Putnam, to talk over matters and
things--smOke-drink- in short do any.
thing TO kill time % -gr. .... -
Three hours had thus passed away. They had
laughed, anu talked, AMI drank, and chatted,
and had good time, generally; So that about
The usual hohr Of shutting up shop, each Of the
party felt particularly first rate. -.t d ...
Come, said Charles Hateh-onc of the COM
pany----' let's all liquor, and then have game
Of high-low Jack!
80 SAY exclaimed Another-who's got the
cards?' !, -a
Fetch on your kserds,' drawled out third,
his eyes halt closed, through The effect 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 henlock logs,
which would snap and crack le--throwing large
live Goals ont upon the hearth. .~,..r
! All drew up around 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 con-
tain nails. .
Now said Hatch, how shall we play-ev-
cry one for himself?'
: 'Nu-havc partners growled one man.
Y Il say, every one for HIMSELF exclaimed an
other. s- f.s.. ......
! NO hanged If III play So shouted the form
er-Cring'ng his fist hard down upon the table,
knocking one candle out oft he stick, and another
upon the floor. -.
'Come, come said Hatch, mo quarrelng-
all who say Tor having partners, stand up.
II Three arose.
Vow all who say, each one for himself
stand up
\ The remaining four Immediately got up.
Il You see. Barclay said Hatch, the majority
are against you. Come, will you play p
Well as | don't want 10 be on the opposit,
side, III play answered Barclay, somewhat
cooled down. ,...
Mr.. Pu man was rot in the store that evening
E and the clerk who was busy behind the counte
? had lakan very little notice Of the proceedings
About half past ten, Mr. Putnam thought h
r would step over to his store and see that ever
thing was sale. As he went in he walked u
: towards the fire. ,-. ... ,- r.,
{ When within few steps of where the me
were sitting lie started back in horror.
Before hun sat seven men, half crazy will
G drink and the excitement of playing cards.
: There they were, within few feet Of the fir
just dsscribed-and four OF them seated on keg
(, Of ponder!
. Birclay-who was a very heavy man--ha
, pressed in the head of the keg on which he sal
bursting the top hoop, and pressing the powde
9 ont through the chinks. by the continued mo
y ton of their feet, the powder bad becom
!, spread about the floor, aud now covered spac
of two feet all around them.
:, Mr.. Pntnam's first movement was tow ard
{. the door, but recovering himself, he walked n
toward the fire. Should either Of them sttemp
= TO rise-he thouaht-a scatter few grain
r little further into the fireplace, where Law
large quantity of live coalS
Al that moment Hatch looked up, and seeinI
Mr.. Putnam with his face deadly pale gasnI
into the fire, exclaimed
/ Good God, Putnam what ails on ? and q
the same time made motion to rise.
J. For heavens sake, gentlemen, do not rise,
n said Mr., Putnam. Four Of you cit on kegs o.
PowdeF-t is scattered 0B sS~und yOu-on,
movement might send you all TO eternity. Their,
: are two buckets OF water behind the bar. Bu
. keep your AeatS for one minute, and You ar,
: SaVed--moVe, and you are dead men!'
In an instant every mai was perfectly sober
ed not limb novel; each seemed psSaliSed
IN less lime than we have taken 10 desc.ibs
This thrilling scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured Oh,
waller aHI completely saturated the powder OF
the floor aud extinguished the FIRE o. that an
explosion was impossible. Then, and not Ill
iheU was there wSFd SPOKEN.
BefoTe those seven men left the store, that
night they pledged themselves never to taste
another drop Of liquor or play another game Of
eTds.- American Union.