The Placer herald., 1857-01-31
The Gamblers Alarmed.

i he 1OllOWlnG naTfatlNe-a true One-de-
scribes 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 a Mr.. Putnam to talk over
matters and things, smoke, drink, and in
short do anything to kill time
Three hours had thus passed away. They
had laughed, talked, and drunk, 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 a
game of high, low, Jack"
$50 say" exclaimed another, "who's cot
the cards?"
"Fetch on your keerds," drawled out a
third person, his eyes half closed through the
effect of the liquor he had drunk.
After drinking all round an old pine table
was drawn up before the fireplace, where
burned sprightly a large fire of hemlock logs,
which would snap aud crackle, throwing
large live Goals out upon the hearth.
All drew round 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 himself"
"No, have partners" growled out one man.
"No, hanged if play So" shouted the for
mer, bringing his fists down upon the table,
knocking one candle out of the stick, and
the other upon the floor
"Come," said Hatch, "no quarreling; all
who say for having partners stand up"
Three arose.
"Now all who wish to play each one for
himself stand up"
The remaining one Immediately got up.
"You see, Barclay" said Hatch, "the ma
ority are against you. Come, will you pIay?"
"Well, as don't want you to be on the
opposite side, I'll play" answered Barclay,
somewhat cooled down.
Mr. Putnam was not in the store that
evening, and the clerk, who was busy behind
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 up towards the fire.
When within a few steps of where the men
were setting, he started back in horror. Be
fore him sat seven men, half crazy with
liquor and the excitement of playing cards.
There they were, within few feet of the
fire just described, 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 through the cracks. BY the
continued motion of their feet the powder
had become spread about the floor and now
covered space of two feet all around them.
Mr.. Putnam's first movement was towards
the door, but recovering himself, he walked
towards the fire. Should either of them at
tempt to rise, and statter few grains a lit
tie further into the fireplace, 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,
and gazing into the fire, exclaimed
putnam, what als you'" and at the same
time made motion to rise.
Gentlemen, do not rise" said Mr.. Putnam
'four 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 appeared perfect
ly sober-not limb moved-each one seem
ed paralyzed.
In less time than we have taken to describe
the scene, Mr.. Putnam had procured 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 these seven men left the store that
very night they pledged themselves never to
taste another glass of liquor, or play another
game of cards.