Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-01-22
The Gamblers Alarmed.

The following narratiye-a true one
describes scene that actually took place
not many years since in country village
in The State of Maine. q
One evening in the month Of December,
1884, a number of townsmen had assembled
at the store of a Mr.. Putnam, to talk over
matters and things, smoke, drink, and in
short, do anytime TO kill time.
Three hours had thus passed away. Thsy
had laughed and talked and drinked No
chatted, and had "good time generally"
SO that about the usual hour of shutting up
shop each one 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!'"
$50 | say" exclaimed another; "who's
got the cards,"
"Fetch on your keerds," drawled out
third customer, his eyes half closed through
the effect of the liquor he had drank.
After drinking all round, an old pine table
was drawn up before the fire place, where
burned sprightly large FIRE of hemlock logs
which would snap and crackle-throwing
large Goals out upon tho hearth.
All drew around the table, seating them
selves on whatever came handiest. Four
of them ha6 rolled up to the table some kegs
which from their weight were supposed to
contain nails.
"Now," said Hatch, show shall we play!
every one for HIMSELF"
No, have partre-s," growled out one man.
"No, hang'd If | play So" shouted the
former, bringing his fist down upon the table,
knocking one candle cut OF the stick, and
another upon the floor.
"Come, come" said Hatch, "lo quarrel
ing; all who say fer having partners stand
up"
snow all who say each one for himself,
stand up" -.. - ~
The remaining one immediately got up.
"Yon see, Barclay" said Hatch, ":he ma
;orty are against you. Come, will you play!"
aWel, as don't want to be on the op-
posite side, I'll play" answered Barclay,
somewhat 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 no.
tice 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 WI hin few steps OF where
the men were sitting, he started back in
horror. Before 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, VINO was very heavy man. had
pressed in the head of the Seg on which he
sat, bursting the top hoop, and pressing the
powder out through the chinks. By the
continued action of their feet, the powder
become spread about the floor, and now
covered a space of two feet all around them.
Mr.. Putnam's first movement was towards
the door, but recovering himself he walked
toward the fire. Should either of them at
tempt to rise. he thought, 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's face deadly pale, and
gazing into the fire, exclaimed,
"Putnam, what ails you!" and at the same
time made motion to rise.
"Gent!emen, do not rise." said Mr.. Put
nam, "four os you sit on kegs of powder-it
IS scattered all round vou-one movement
might send you all to etornity. There are
two buckets OF water behind the counter
But keep your seuts one moment and you
are sayed-move and you are dead men!
In an instant every man was perfectly
sober-not limb moved, each seemed par
alyzed. r..t
In less time than we have taken to des-
cribe the scene, Mr.. Putnam had poured the
water and completely saturated the powder
on the floor, and extingushed 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 an
other game Of cards.