Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-01-29
The Gamblers Alarmed.


;. one-describes a scene that actually
took place not many years scene IL
, country village in the State o.
Maine.
One evening in the month Of De-
cember, 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
anything to kill time.
Three hours had thus passed away.
They had laughed, talked and drinked,
and had a good time generally; so
that about the usual hour of shutting
up shop each uf the party felt par
ticularly first rate.
Come says Charles Hatch, one
of the company, let's all liquor, and
then have game of high, low, Jack. ;
so l say exclaimed another,
who's got the cards?'
Fetch on your keerds,' drawled
out third person, his eyes half closed
through the effect of the liquor he
had drank.
After drinking all round, an old
pine table was drawn before the fire.
place, where burned sprightly a large
fire of hemlock logs, which would
snap and crackle, throwing large live
Goals out upon the hearth
All drew round the table seating
themselves on what ever come handi-
est. Four of them had rolled up to-
the table some kegs which from their
weight were supposed to contain nails.
| Now said Hatch, how shall We
play-every one for himself?'
No, have partners growled out
one man.
No, hanged if / play So shouted
the former, bringing his fist down
upon the table, knocking one candle
out of tho stick. and another upon
! the floor.
Come said Hatch, mo quarreling;
all who say for having partners stand
up
Three arose.
Now all who say each one for HIM
SELF stand up
The remaining one Immediately
got up.
You see, Barclay said Hatch, 'thc |
majority is against you. Come, will
you play?'
well as / don't want to be On the I
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 every thing was
safe. As he went in he walked up /
towards the fire. When within a
fewsteps of where the mon were sit
ting, he started back in horror. Be-
fore him sat seven men. half era
zy with liquor and the excitement of
playing cards. There they were, a /
few feet from the fire just described,
and four of them seated ON kegs Of
powder.
Barclay, who was a very heavy man,
had pressed in the head of the keg
on which hes at, bursting the top hoop,
and pressing Che powder out through |
the chincks. By the continued mo-
ton of their feet the powder had be-
come spread about the floor, and now
covered space of two feet all round /
them.
Mr.. Putnam's first movement was
towards the door, but recovering him.
self, he walked towards the fire.
Should either of them attempt to rise
and scatter a few grains a little fur
ther into the fireplace, where lay a
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 ais your and at
the same time made motion to rise
Gentlemen, do not risell' said Mr..
Putnam; -four Of you sit on kegs Of
powder--it is scattered all round 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