Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-22
The Gamblers Alarmed.

The following narratve-a true one--des-
cribes a scene that actually took place not many
years since, in q country village in the State OF
Maine:
One evening in the month of December, 1884,
nnmber of tovnsmen had assembled at the
store of Mr.. Putnam, to talk over ''matters and
things smoke, drink, and in short, do anything
to '.kill time"
Three hours had thus passed away. They
had laughed, and talked, and drinked, and chat
ted, and had "good time generally" SO that
about the usual hour for shutting up shop, each
of the party felt particularly '1irst-rate."
"Come," says Charles Hatch, one of the COM
pany, "let's liquor, and then have game Of
high, low, jack p"
$50 / say" exclaimed another, "who's got the
cardsa
"Fetch on YOUR keerds," drawled out third
customer: his eyes half closed through the effect
of the liquor he had drunk.
After drinking all around, an old pine table
was drawn up before the ,iri place, whero burn
ed sprightly O large fire os cmlock which would
snap and crackle-throwing large live Goals out
upon the hearth.
All 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, Show shall we play-ev-
cry one for himself9"
"No, have partners" growled out one man.
"No, hang'd if 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 quarreling;
all who say for having partners stand up"
| Three arose.
"Now, all who say each one for himself, stand
up"
The remaining one Immediately got up.
"You see, Barclay" said Hatch, 'the majori-
ty are against you. Come, will you play9"
swell, as don't want to be on the opposite
side, I'll play" answered Barclay, somewhat
cooled down.
Mr. Putnam was not in the store that even
ing, and tho clerk, who was busy behind the
counter, had taken very little notice of the pro-
ceedings. About half past ton o'clock Mr.. Put
nam thought he would just step into the store
and see that everything was safe. AS he went
in he walked up toward the fire, When with
in few steps of where the men were sitting, he
started back in horror. Before him sat seven
men, half crazy with liquor and the excitement
of playing cards. There they were within few
feet of the fire just described, and four Of them
seated on kegs ofpopder.
Barclay, who was very heavy man, had
pressed in the head of the keg 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 become spread
about the floor and now covered space OF two
feet around them.
| Mr. Putnam's first movement was toward the
door, but recovering himself he walked up to-
ward the fire. Should either of them attempt
to rise, he thought, and scatter few grains a
little further into the fire place, where lay
quantity of live Goals, all would be lost!
At that moment Hatch looked up, and seeing
Mr.. Putnam, with his face deadly pale gazing
into the fire, exclaimed:
"Putnam, what ais you2" and at the same
time made motion to rise.
"Gentlemen, do not rse!" said Mr. Putnam;
four of you sit on kegs of powder-it is scatter
ed all around you-one movement might send
you all into 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 limb moved-each seemed paralyzed
In less time than we have taken to describe
this thrilling scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured the
water and completely saturated the powder on
the floor and extinguished the fire, so that an ex-
plosion was impossible. Then,and not till then,
was there word spoken
Before those seven men left the store that
very night, they pledged themselves never to
taste another glass of liquor, or play another
oame Of cards