Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-11-14
The Gamblers Alarmed.

Iage in the State of Maine
One evening in the month Of Decem-
Der. 1884, a number of townsmen had as
semblNd at the store Of Mr.. Putnam, to
talk oV<F matters and things. smoke,
drink, AID in short, do anything to kill
time"
Three hNprs had thus passed away
They had lpghed and talked, and drank,
and chatted Snd had ''good time gene
rally; so tha about the usual time for
shutting up ship. each of the party felt
particularly 5st.rate.'
Il" Come, saN Charles Hatch, one of
the company Nets liquor, and then
have game of gh, low, Jackv"
$50 / say" excl Smed another. ."wbo,s
got the cards 90
-" Fetch on your kt trds,' drawled out
athird customer, his Res half closed BY
>the effect of the liquor had drunk.
After drinking all rou an old pine
table was drawn up befof the fire. place
where burned sprightly large fire OIL
themlock which would snup Ind crackle-
Ahrowing large live Goals upon the
hearth.
All drew around the tab sea,ino
themselves on whatever cameHandiest'
-Four Of them had rolled up to h table
some kegs. which, from their 1eiuht,
we're supposed to contain nails.
Now" said Hatch. Z" how sin we
play-every one for himself?"
No, have partners" growled Out
man. VI
"No. haug'd if play so." shouted
CORNER. bringing his fist down upon thN
table, knocking one candle out Of thC
stick, aud another upon the floor.
"Come. come," said Hatch. "no quar-
veIIing; all wh9 say for partners s'"n'
OPP
Three arose.
Now, all who say each for himself
stand up"
The remaining one Immediately got up
I" You see. Barclay" said Ilarcn, tn
majority are against you. Come, vii
you play ?'
"Well, as l don't want TO be on tn
opposite side, III play" answered Bal
clay, some what cooled dowu.
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store ths
evening, and the clerk, who was busy be
hind the counter, had taken very littl
notice Of the proceedings. About ha
past tea O'Clock, Mr.. Putnam thought h
would just step into tie store and see thu
everything was safe. AS he went in /
walked up toware the fire. When with
in few steps Of where the men were ST
thug, he started back in horror. Befo
n him sat seven men. haifcraEy with liQuG
and the excitement OF playing cards.
There they were within few feet of Il
fire just described. and four of them sea
I'D on kegs Of pOa0der
Barclay, who was very heavy ma
had pressed in the head of the keg {
Which he sat; bursting the top hoop. AZ
\ Pressing the powder very gradual
4 through the chinks, BY the continue
N motion of their feet, the powder had b
eone spread about the door and now c
vered a space Of two feet around them.
& M, Pu,nam's first NOV, mrnt was
\ b! vnrd the door. but recovering himself
\ Islked up toward the fire. Should eth
Y tJhem attempt to rise. he thought. al
ptter,asfew grains little further in I
hre place, where lay Quanty OF IL
alS an would be lost
al th,stgmoment Hatch looked up, al
mg Mr.. Putnam. gti,h his face dead
gazing into the lre. exclaimed :
ullilt nat ais Ou duN HH "
\ stime made motion to rise.
.Sente,nen. do not rise y said h
fourof you sit on kegs Of pO
G is scattered all around yOu-o
~ snt mic send you all into eterI
Mere ace two buckets of water
" bar But keep your seats
aiaen. aud you are saved-mo'
Atare dead men r.
e,nsiant every man was perfec
not alimb movea leach seem
ne than we have taken to {
willing scene Mr.. Putn'
water and fompletely s
Y on the floor. and {
10 that an explosi
Naud not till tn,