Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-10-02
The Gamblers Aroused.
,. X. PHILANDER DoEsTICKs


scribes scene that actually took place not
many years since in a 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
matters and things" smoke, drink, and, in
short, to do any thing to "kill time"
Three hours had thus passed away. They
had laughed, and talked, and drank, and
chatted, and had good time generally; so
that at about the usual hour of shutting up
shop each of the party felt particularly first
rate.
"Come," said Charles Hatch-one Of the
comp any-"let's all liquor, and then have a
game of high-low-jack!"
$50 1 say" exclaimed another, who's got
the cards?''
Fetch on your keerds," drawled out a
third, his eyes half closed, through the effect
of the liquor he had drank
After drinking all around, an old pine ta-
BILE was drawn up before the fireplace, where
burned brightly a large fire of hemlock logs,
which would snap and crackle-throwing
large live Goals out upon the hearth.
All drew up around the table, seating them
selves 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, chow shall we play
every one for himselfF'
"No, have partners" growled one man.
"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 an
other 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"
"You see, Barclay" said Hatch, "the ma
jority are against you. Come, will you play?''
"Well, as / don't want to be on the oppo-
site side, I'll play" said Barclay, somewhat
cooled down,
Mr.. Putnam was not in the store that even
ing, and the clerk who was busy behind the
counter had taken very little notice of the
proceedings. About half-past ten O'Clock
Mr.. Putnam thought he would step over tc
the store and see that everything was safe
AS he vert in ne walked up to the fire.
When within few steps of where the mel
were sitting he started back in horror. Be
fore him sat seven men, half crazy with
drink and the excitement of playing cards.
There they were, within few feet of the fire
lust described, and four of them seated or
kegs of powder.
Barclay-who was a very heavy an
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 thu
continued motion of their feet the powde
had become spread about the floor, and nov
covered space of two feet all around them
Mr.. Putuam's first movement was TOWARD
the door, but recovering himself, he walked
up toward the fire. Should either of them at
tempt to rise, he thought, and scatter few
grains little further into the fireplace wher
lay large quantity of live Goals!
At that moment Hatch looked up, and see
| ing Mr.. Putnam with his face deadly pal
gazing into the fire, exclaimed, "Putnam
: what ails you?" and at the same time mad
motion to rise.
Gentlemen, do not rise" said Mr.. Putnam
''four of you sit on kegs of powder-it
: scattered all around you-one movement
might send you all into eternity. There ar
two buckets Of water behind the bar. Blu
keep your seats for one minute, and yo
are saved-move, and you are dead menl
In an instant every man was perfectly SO
cred NOT a limb moved-each seemed par
alyzed.
, In less time than we have taken to describ
this thrilling scene, Mr.. Putnam had poure
| the water and completely saturated tn
r powder on the floor and extinguished tn
q fire, so that an explosion was impossible
2 Then, and not till then, was there wor
E spoken.
3 Before those seven men left the stor
that very night they pledged themselve
, never to taste another glass Of liquor or pla
i another game of cards.