The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1853-08-31
A Thrilling Scene.
BY CHARLES RAND.

The following narrative-a true one
describes 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,
1884, a number of townsmcn had assem-
bled in store of Mr.. Thomas Putnam,
to talk over ''matters and things smoke
.drink-and, in short, to do anything to
"kill time
Three hours had passed away. They
had laughed, and talked, and drank, and
chatted, and had good time generally,
SO that about the usual hours of shutting
up shop, each of the party felt particular
ly first rate.
Come said Charles Hatch--one of
the company-'let's all liquor, and then
have game of high, low, JACKIE
$50 I say" exclaimed another, ''who's
got the cards?"
"Fetch on you keerds," 4" drawled out a
third, his eyes half closed through the eff
fects of the liquor he had drunk.
After drinking all round, an old pine
table was drawn up before the fireplace,
where burned brightly large fire of hem
lock logs, which would snap and crackle-
throwing large live Goals OUT upon the
hearth.
All drew round the table, seating them
selves on whatever came handest. Four
of them had rolled up to the table some
kegs, which, from their weight, were sup
posed to contain nails.
"Now," said Hatch, chow shall we
play-eyery one for himself 90
"No--havc partners" growled one
man.
Il say every one for himself" exclaim-
ed another.
s'No, hanged if I'll play so,'' shouted
the former, bringing his fist down upon
the table, knocking one candle out of the
stick, and another upon the floor.
"Come, come said Hatch, ''no quar-
reling-all who say for partners, stand
up"
Three arose.
CHOW, all who say each one for himself
stand up" 6rs
The remaining four Immediately got up
"You see, Barclay" said Hatch, ''tht
majority are against you. Come, viii
you play"'
''Well, as | don't want to be on the op
posite side, I'll play" answered Barclay
somewhat cooled down.
Mr.. Putnam, who was not in the stor,
that evening, and the clerks who were busy
behind the counter, had taken very little
notice Of the proceedings. About hal
past ten, Mr.. Putnam thought he woulo
step over to his store and see that every
thing was safe. AS he went in he walked
up towards the fire.
When within a few steps of where th'
men were sitting, he started back in hor
ror.
Before him sat seven men half Graz,
with drink and the excitement of playing
at cards. There they were, within a few
feet of the fire lust described-and four 9
them seated ON kegs of poscdert s
Barclay-who was very heavy MAJ
had pressed in the head of the keg o.
which he sat, bursting the top hoop ant
pressing the powder out through tn
chinks. By the continued motion of thei
feet the powder had become spread abou
the floor, and now covered a space of tw
feet all round them
Mr.. Putnam's first movement was to
wards the door, but recovering himself, h
walkedup towards the fire. Should eithe
of them attempt to rise-he thought, an
scatter few grains little further int
the fireplace where lay quantity Of liv
Goals.
At this moment Hatch looked up, an
seeing Mr.. Putnam, with his face deadl
pale, gazing into the fire, exclaimed
'.Why, Putnam, what ails you, an
at the same time made motion to rise
''For Heavens sake, gentlemen, do nc
rise p said Mr.. Putnam ''Four of 20
sit on kegs Of powder! it is scattered a
around you--one movement might sen
you all to eternity! There are two buck
cts Of water behind the bar. But, kee
your seat for one minute and you are save
move and you aresdead men p
In an instant every man was perfect
sobered, not limb moved-each SCENE
paralyzed.
In less time than we have taken to dc
scribe this thrilling scene, Mr.. Putnam ha
poured the water and completely saturs
ted the powder on the floor, and extinguisl
ed the fire, SO that an explosion was in
possible. Then, and not till then, wa
there word spoken
What on 'arth ails these ere shirt but
tons, I wonder? jest the mint puts til
needle through 'em to sew 'em on, the
. c,1;fc o,,d A;oe oil ~, b;tc