Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-11-05
THE GAMBLERS ALARMED

The following narrative-a true one-.d.s
crIbes scene that actually took place no.
many years since in a country village in tn,
State Of Maine
One evening IN the month of Deeernbo-
1854, number of townsmen had assembled
at the store of a Mr. Putnam to talk over
matters and things. smoke, drink. and in
short do anything to kill time.
Three bours had thus passed away. The,
had laughed and talked and drank, and hal
good time generally, SO that about the usual
hour Tor shutting up shop each of the nartv
felt particularly first rate
Come, says Charles Hatch, ore of tbs
company. * let's all liquor, and then hare =
game of high low. Jack
. 80 say" exclaimed another; who's
got the cards ~
& Fetch on your keerds,' dravled out
third person. his eyes half closed through
the effect of the liquor he bad drank.
After drinking all round, and an old nine
table was drawn up before the frepIace
where burned sTrightly large fire of hem.
lock logs, which would snap and cractI.
TN lowing large 1--we Goals out upon the hearth
All drew around the table, seating them
selves on whatever came handiest Fonr -
them had rolled up to the table some kep,
which from their weight were supposed To-
contain nails
" Now" said Hatch, :" how shall We play
every one for himself?'
9 No, have partners" growled on. o.s
man.
g No, hanged if I play So" shouted the
former, bringing his fist down upon the table
knocking one candle oft Of the stick sno,ber
uyon the floor
- Come" said Hatch, mo ouarreling,
all who say for having partners stand up.
Three ose
9 Now all who say each one for himself
sand up"
The remaining one immediately 90, IN
= You see, Barclay" said latch. :" tba
majority are against you. Come, will vou
play q
" Well, as don't want to be on the on,o-
site side, III play" answered Barclay, SONG.
what cooled down.
Mr. Putnam was not in the store that ,ver-
ing, and the clerk who was busy behind the
counter, had taken very little notice of tho
proceedings About halfpast ten Mr.. Put
nam thought he would just step into the store
and see that everything was safe. As he
went in he walked up towards the fire. Wb.n
within few steps OF where the men we're Sit
ting, he started back in horror. Reeo-e h;r,
excitement of playing cards. There tbet
were, within few feet of the fire iust de:,
cribed; and four Of them seated on kegs Of
powder,
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 thro' the chinks By the eon,;n-
ued motion of their feet the powder had be-
come spread about the floor and now covered
space of two feet all around them.
Mr.. Putnam's first movement was toward.
the door, but recovering himself. he walked
towards the fire. Should either of them at.
tempt to rise, and scatter few grains little
further into the fireplace where lay quantity
of live Goals, all would be lost
At that moment Hatch looked up. and see
ing Mr., Putnam with his face deadly pale.
and gazing into the fire, exclaimed
g Putnam, what ais YOU" and st the
same time made motion to rise
. Gentlemen, do not rise :" said Mr. Put
nam; =" four Of you sit on kegs of powder
1t 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
savcd-move and you dead men ~
In an Instant every man appeared perfectly
sobcr-not limb moved-each one seemed
paralyzed.
In less time than we have taken to describe
the scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured the water
and completely saturated the powder on the
floor and so extinguished the fire, so that an
exl loslon was impossible. Then aud not till
then was there word spoken
Before these seven men left the store that
very night they pledged themselves never to
taste another glass of LIQUOR or nlav another
game of cards.