American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-11-22

The following narra,iye-a t,ue

The Gamblers Alarmed.
The following narrative-a tue one
describes a scene that actually took
place not many years since, in a coun.
try village in the State of Maine
One evening in tho mouth of Decem,
ber, 1884, a number of townsmen had
assembled at the stone ofa Mr.. Putnam
TO talk over" "mat,ers aud thugs" smoke
drink, and in shor, do any thing to kill
time
Three hours had thus passed away.
They had laughed, and talked, aud
drank, aud chat,ed aud had good time
generally" so that about the usual hour
for shutting up shop each Of the patty
felt particularly "frst rate"
"Come''t says Charles Hatch, one of
tho company, "let's liquour, and then
have game of high, low. low, Jack /"
$50 say" exclaimed another. who's
got the cards T.
Fetch on your keerds." Grawled out
a third customer; his eyes half closed
Though the effect of the liquor he had
dunk.
After drinking all round, an old pine
table was drawnup before the fire. place
where burned sPrigh,ly large fire of
hemlock which would snap aud 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 ia.
ble some kegs, which fiom their weight
weree supposed to contain nails.
Now" said Hatch. "how shall wc
play-every one for himsclf7'
"No. have partners" "growled out one
man.
"No hang'd if play so," shouted the
former, bringing his fist d,wn upon The
table, knocking one candle out of the
stick and another upon III e floor.
"Come. come" said Hatch, "no quar-.
reling; oil who say for having partners
stand up.'
Three arose.
Nov all who say each one for him
SELF stand up
The remaining one Immediately got
up.
"You see. Barclay, "said Hatch "the
majority are against you. Come, will
you play e.
"Well, as | don't want to be on the
opposite side, III play" answered Bar
clay, somewhat cooled down"
Mr. Putnam was not in the store that
evening, and the clerk, who was busy
behind the counter, had thken very lit.
tie notice Of tho proceedings. About
half past ten o'clock Mr.. Putnam tho't
he would just step into the store and
see that everything was safe. As he
went in he walked.up toward the fire.
When within few steps Of where The
mon were sitting, he started back in hor.
ror. Before him sat seven men, half
crazy with liquor, and the excitement
of playing cards. They were within a
few feet of the fire just described, and
four of them seated on kegs ofpowder.
Barclay, who was a very heavy man,
had pressed in the head on which he sat-
bursting the top hoop. and pressing tho
powder out through the chincks. BY
the continued motion Of their feet, the
powder had become spread about the
tloor, and now covered space Of TWO
feet around them.
Mr.. PutDam's first movement was to.
ward the door, but recovering himself
he walked up towald the FIRE. Should
either of them attempt to Iise he rho'l
and scatter few grains 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 dead.
" pale, gazing into the fire, exclaimed /:
putnam, what ails you r. and at the
same timo made motion to iisc.
"Gentlemcn do not rise I" said Put.
nam four Of you sit on kegs Of powder
it is scattered all around y6u-one
movement might send you all into oter-
nifty. 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 I"
In anfinstant every man was perfect
ly sobered--not limb muved--each
seemed paralyzed. In less time than
we have taken to describe this thrilling
scene, Mr.. PutDam had poored the wa.
ter, and completely saturated the pow.
der on the floor, and extingoished the
hire, SO that an explosion was impossi.
Bile. Then, and not ill 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.
A Boy was caught in the act Of steal.
iu,y l,i,l ko,,,,a =. .I