Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-10-30
THE GAMBLERS ALARMED.

The following narrative-a true one-des-
cribes scene that actually took place not
many years since in country village in the
State of Maine.
One evening in the month of December,
1884, number of townsmen had assembled
at the store of Mr.. Putnam, to talk over
smatters and things smoke, drink, and in
short do anything to 'kill time
Three hours had then passed away. They
had laughed, and talked, and drinked, and
chatted, and had "a good time generally
so that about the usual hour for shutting up
shop, each of the party felt particularly 'first
rate
Come says Charles Hatch, one of the
company-'let's all liquor, and then have
game of high, low, Jack"
so I say exclaimed another; who's got
the cards p
Fetch on your kcerds,' drawled out a
third customer, his eyes half closed, through
the effects of the liquor he had drunk
After drinking all around, an old pine Ia
BILE was drawn up before the fire place where
burned sprightly large fire of hemlock logs
which would snap and crackle-throwing
large live Goals out upon the hearth.
All drew around the table, seating them
selves on what ever 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
mo, have partners growled out one man.
= sNo, hang'd if play So shouted the for
mer, bringing his fist down upon che table,
knocking out 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.
sNow all who say each one for himself,
stand up
The remaining one Immediately got up.
sYou see, Barclay said Hatch, the ma
jority are against you. Come, will you play"
well, as I don't want to be on the oppo-
site side, I'll play answered Barclay, some
9swhat cooled down.
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store that
evening, and the clerk, who was busy be-
hind the counter, had taken very little notice
of the proceedings. About half past ten
Mr.. Putnam thought he would Just step into
the store and see that everything was safe.
As he went in he walked toward the fire.
When within few steps of where the men
were sitting, he started back in horror. Be-
fore him sat seven men, half crazy with liq-
uor and the excitement of playing cards.
There they were within few feet of the fire
just described, and four of them seated on
kcgs-of fpondcr.
Barclay, who was very heavy man, had
pressed in the head of the kcg on which he
sat, bursting the top, hoop, and pressing the
powder out through the chinks. BY the
continued motion of their feet, the powder
had become spread about the floor, and now
covered a 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 to rise, he thought, and scatter few
grains little further in to 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 in the fire exclaimed
putnam, what ails you?' and at the same
time made motion to rise.
Gentlemen do not risep said Mr.. Put
nam; sfour of you sit on kegs of powder it
is scattered all around you-one movement
might send you all to 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 So
bered-not limb moved-each seemed
paralyzed.
In less time than we have taken to des-
cribe 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 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
game of cards.