Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-04-29
A THRILLING SCENE.
BY cHAs. RAND.

Inc IOHOHIHR udTFdllfc--d true OHo-Q6-
scribes 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
eighteen hundred and thirty-four, number
of townsmen had assembled at the store of a
Mr.. Thomas Putnam to talk over matters
and gs-smoke--drink and do anything
to kill time g
Three hours had thus passed away
They had laughed, and talked, and drank,
and chatted, and had good time, general
ly; so that about the usual hour for shutting
up shop, each of the party felt particularly
first rate.
"Come," said Charles Hatch, one of the
company, "lefs all liquor, and then have a
game of high-lowjack." IA
$50 l say" exclaimed another; who has
got the cards2"
"Fetch on the keerds,' drawled out third
his eyes half closed through, the effect of the
liquor he had drank. -
After drinking all round, an old pine table
was drawn up before the fire place where
burned brightly a large fire of hemlock logs,
which would snap and crackle, throwing large
live Goals out upon the hearth. 800.
All drew up around the table, seating them
solves ON whatever came handiest Four of
them had rolled up to the table some kegs,
which from their weight were supposed to
co ntain nails.
"Now," said Hatch, how shall we play,
everyone for himself?"
"No-haye partners" growled one man.
aIrorty ora for bin,colfD ox.olo I'M i
another.
"No, hanged if I'll play So" shouted the
former bringing his fists down upon the Ia
bic, knocking one candle out Of the stick, and
another upon the floor.
"Come, come" said Hatch, no quarrel
ling-all who say for having partners, Sand
up"
Three rose.
"Now all who say each one for himself
stand up.
The remaining four Immediately stood
up.
"You see, Barclay" said Hatch, "the ma
jority are against you. Come, will you
"Well as 1 do MT want to be on the oppo-
site side, I'll play" said Barclay, somewhat
cooled down.
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store that eve
ming, and the clerk, who was busy behind
the counter, had taken very little notice of
the proceedings. About halfpast ten, Mr.
Putnam thought he would step over to his
store and see that everything was safe. As
he went in he walked 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 cards.
There they were within few feet of the fire
just described, and four of them-seated on
kegs of powder.
Barclay, who was very heavy man, had
pressed in the head of the key, which he sat
on, bursting the top hoop, and pressing the
powder out through the chink. By the con
tinual motion of their feet, the powder had
become spread about the floor, and now COW
cred space of two feet all around 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 scatter a
few grains little further into the fireplace,
where lay large quantity of live Goals, the
consequence can be more easily imagined
than described.
AT that moment Hatch looked up and see
ing Mr.. Putnam with his face deadly pale
gazing into the fire exclaimed
Good God, Putnam, what ais you?"I
and at the same time he made a 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 may send you all to eternity.
There are two buckets of water behind the
bar. But keep yyur seats for one minute,
and you are sayed-moye and you are dead
men,"
In an instant every man was perfectly So
bered-not limb moved leach seemed par
alyzed.
In 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 and extinguished
the fire so that an explosion was impossible.
Then, and not until then, was there a word
spoken.
Before those seven men left the store that
very night, they pledged themselves never
to taste another drop of liquor or play an
other game of cards. American Union.