Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1853-07-07
LITcRFIELD COMM THURSDAY JULY = 1855



The following narrative-a true one
describes scene that actually took plac
not many years since. in country tow
in the State of Maine:
One evening in the month of Decembe
1884, a number of townsmeu mad assem-
oied at the store Of Thomas Putnam. {,
TAX over matters and things, smoke
dr'"S' and in short, do any thing to xii
time.
Three hours had passed away. The,
had laughed, talked and drank, and hat
good time generally; SO that about III,
usual hour of shutting up shop, each o
the party felt particularly first-rate.
Come. said Charles Hatch, one of tn,
party-le.'s liquor and then have gam,
Of high.low Jack!
So say /, exclaimed another-whoI
got the cards?
Fetch on your keerds, drawled out {
third, his eyes half closed through the
effect of the liquor be he'd drank.
After drinking all round IAN old pine
table was drawn up before the fre> place,
where burned brightly large ere OF
hemiock logs. which would snap and
crackle-throwiDg large live GOALS out
upon the hearth.
All drew up 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 himself ?
No. have partners growleG one man.
/ say every one for himself. exclaimed
another.
No hanged il I'll play so. shouted the
former--bringing his fist down upon the
table. knocking candle out of The stick
and another on the floor.
Come, come. said Hatch-no quarrel.
ling /; all who say for having parties
stand up. Three arose.
Now all who say each for himself
stand up. The remaining four immedi>
ately got up.
You see. Barclay, said Hatch, the
majority is against you. Come, will
you play?
Well. as I don't want 10 be on the
opposite side, I'll play, answered Barclay
somewhat cooled down.
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store that
evening, aud the clerk was busy behind
the counter, and had taken very little
notice Of the proceedings. About ten
o'clock Mr.. Putnam thought he would
step over to the store and see that everv
thing was safe.
AS he went in he walked up toward
the fire. When within few steps of
where the men were sitting. he started
ia horror. Before him sat seven men
half crazed with drink and the excite.
ment Of playing cards. They were
within few feet OF the FIRE Just des-
cribed, and four Of them seated on kegs
Of powder. ..s. a...
Barclay, who was very heavy man,
had pressed in the head Of q key on
which he sat. bursting the top hoop, and
pressing out the powder through the
chinks. By the continued motion Of their
feet the powder had become spread
about the floor, and now covered the
space Of two feet all around them.
Mr.. Putnam's first movement Was
toward the door, but recovering himself
he walked up toward the fire. Should
either Of them attempt ~ rise, they would
probably scatter a few grains little
farther into the fireplace. where lay q
large quantity Of live Goals
Al that moment Hatch looked up. and
seeing Mr.. Putnam with bis face deadly
pale. gazing into the FIRE. exclaimed:
Good God, Putnam !! what ails you :?
and at the same time made 9 motion 10 rise
For Heavens sake, gentlemen. do not
rise. said Mr.. Putnam. Four OF you H.
on kegs Of powder: it is scattered all
around you one movement might send
you all to eternity. There are two buck.
ats of wafer behind the bar: but keep
your seats for one minute and you are
and you are dead men.
In an instant every man was perfectly
sobe,ed not limb moved-each seemed
paralysed.
10 less time than we have taken to
describe this thrilling scene. NJ. Putnam
had poured the water and completely
saturated the powder on the floor, and
ex,inguished the FIRE. so that explosion
was impossible. Then, and not till 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 OF
play another game OF cards.
During the past winter, o reverend
clergyman in Vermont. being spprehen'