The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-12-07

sum divided in twelve parts, for it
would not do for one boy to buy all the
powder, nor even for US all to make
our purchases at the same place. That
would excite suspicion at any time, par.
ticularly at period 50 remote from the
Fourth Of July.
There were only three stores in town
licensed to sell powder, that gave each
store four custome mers. Not to run the
lightest risk of remark, one boy bought
his powder on Monday. the next boy on
Tuesday, and SO on until the requisite
quantity was in our possession. This we
put into a keg and carefully hid in
dry spot On the wharf.
Who knew anything about fuses
Who could arrange it so the guns would
90 off one after the other, with an inter
val of miaute or so between
Theoretically we knew that minute
| fuse lasted a minute double the quan-
| tity, two minutes; but practically we
| were at stand still. There was but
| one person who could help us in this ex-
remity-Sailor Ben. To me was as
signed the duty of obtaining what infor-
nation could from the ex xgunner, 1t
| being left to my discretion whether Or
not to entrust him with our secret.
So one evening dropped into the
cabin and artfuly turned the converse
| ton TO fuses in general, and then to par
ticnlar fuses. but without getting much
out Of the old boy, who was busy max
| ing a twine hammock. Finally 1 was
| forced to divulge the whole plot.
/ The Admiral had sailors love OF q
Joke, and entered at once and into our
scheme, He volunteered to prepare the
fuses himself. and I left the labor in his
hands. having bound him by several ex
traordinary oaths-such as slope l
may die'' and Shiver my -timbers'
not to betray US, come what would
This was Monday evening. On We'd
| nesday tue fuses were ready. That
night We were to unmuzzle Bailey 8
Battery.
Directly after twilight set in Phil Ad-
ans stole down to the wharf and fixed
the fuses to the guns, laying train OF
powder from the principal fuse to the
fence, through q chnk of which l was
to drop a match at midnight.
At ten o'clock Riyermouth goes to
bed.
At eleven o'clock Rivermouth is as
quiet as country churchyard.
At twelve O'Clock there is nothing
that broods over the little seaport.
p In the midst of this stiffness / arose
and glided out of the house like phan
tom bent on sn evil errand; like q
phantom I glided through the silen
street. hardly drawing breath until
knelt down beside the fence at the ap'
pointed place.
Pausing moment for my hear: K
I'll fnd tch pC
shielded it with both hands until it wal
we'll under way, and then dropped th'
blszing splinter on the slender threa(
of gunpowder.
A noiseless fash instantly followed
and all was dark again. / peepet
through the crevice in the fence, ant
saw the main fuse splitting out spark
like conjuror. Assured that the trail
had not failed. took to my heels, fear
full that the fuse might burn more rap
idly than we calculated, and cause al
explosion before | could get home
This luckily. did not happen. There i
q special Providence that watches owe
idiots, drunken men and boys.
lodged the ceremony OF nndress
ing by plunging into bed. jacket boot
and all I am not sure took off m
cap; but know that Ihad hardly pulle
the covering oyer me- when "BooM :.
sounded the first gun OF Bailey's Bat
terry.
lay still as a mouse In less tha
two minutes there was another burst c
thunder. and then another. The thir
gun was tremendous fellow, and fair
ly shook the house.
The town was waking up, window
were thrown open here and there, an
people called on each other across th
streets, asking what that firing was fol
"BooM:' went gun number four.
sprapg out Of bed and tore off m
jacket, for l heard the Captain feelin
his way along the wall of my cham be
was half undressed by the time
| found the knob of the door
Il say. sir" l cried, "do you he.
those guns p
Not being deaf. do" said the Cal
| tain, a little tartily-any reflection c
his hearing always ne;tled him ,'h'
what on earth they are for, I can't con
, ceive. You had better get up and dre
3 yourself
> I'm nearly dressed, SIR
"BooM! Boom two of the GU,
> had gone off ogether.
: The door of Miss Abagil's bedroo
} opened hastily, ana that pink OF malt
, enly propriety stepped out into the ha
in her nightgown-the only indecoro,
thing I ever knew her to do. She held
lighted candle in her hand and locke
|, like very aged Lady Macbeth.
.. 30 Dan'l this is dreadful! What {
! you suppose it means?''
= 81 really can't suppose. ''said the Ca
tain, rubbing his ear; 'but guess it
over now"
; "BooM" said Bailey's Battery.
Rivermouth was wide awake now, ar
half the male population were in IL
streets, running different ways, for Il
firing seemed to proceed from opposi
points Of the town. Every body wa
, laid everybody else with questions b
as no one knew what was the occasio
of the tumult, people who were not u.s.
: ally nervous began to be oppressed |
: the mystery.
| Some fhonoht thu foup uoo ha;