The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-10
Il THRILLING INCIDENT.

The New York Commercial Advertiser says
zone of our oldest merchants, who formerly
carried on business in Beaver street, residing,
us it WAS the custom in old times, ovei' Ills
store, tells tho following thrilling narrative,
which he occasionally relates with wonderful
effect:
"a party had been collected at bis house to
give eclut TO one of thOs. little family festivals
Whicl,.brghten the dark trace of life, and cheer
the human heart in every cline. 1t was his
daughters wedding day; crowds OF her young
acqllainlanccs circled around her, and as the
father gazcd proudly OH the face oil the young
bride he wished as bright prospect might
open for his other children who were gambol
ling mcrrily among Il crowd. Passing through
The MASSAGE connecting the lower rooms he
met the servant maid, an ignorant country
wench, who was carrying lighted taiioW
candle in her hand without canulestick. He
blamed her for this dirty conduct, and went
into the kitchen to make some arrangements
with his wife about the supper table; the girl
shortly returned with her arms l!lll OF ale bot
ties, but without the candle The merchant
Immediately recollccted that several barrels of
gunpowder had been placed in his cellar d: ID
ring the dav, ana ..,a. N, foreman had opened
one of the barrels to select sample for Gus
TONER where is your candle? lie inquired
in the utmost agitation. i couldn't bring 1t
up with me, for my hands were llll, said tile
Tlfl. -WHcrc Ulu o'l it"'r ~ "SH' Ho
c,ndlesick, SO stuck it lnto some black sand
that's there in one of the tubs The merchant
dashed down the cellar steps; the passage was
long and dark. and, as he groped his way on,
his knees threatened To give way under him;
his breath was chokcd, and his flesh seemed
suddenly to become dry and parchcd, rs II he
already felt the sullOcuting blast OF death. At
the extremity of The passage, IN the front eel
lar, under The very room where HIS Children
| aud f,inndc ,rnrn rovnllinu in felicity lie (s-
ccrnrd the open powder barrel, full almost to
the top. the candle stuck lightly in tho loose
grains, with Il long red snuff OF burnt-out wick
topping tho small and gloomy flame. This
sight seemed to wihcr all his powers, and the
merry laugh of the youngsters above struck
upon his heart like the kneil Of death. He
stood for some moments gazing upon the light
unable to advance. The lldlicr commenced y
! lively Jig, and the feet of dancers responded
with increased yivacty; the moor shook Wlth
| their eXertions. and The loose bottles In the
cellar iinIlcd with the motion. He fnnced the
candle was m0ved-was falling With drspc-
rate energy he dashed forward; but how was
he to relnUve il? The slightest touch would
cause tile small live coal OF WICK TO fall into
| the loose powder. With unequallcd presence
of mind he placed hand each side of the can
| die, with the open palms upward, ana inc DIS
tended tiugers pointed toward the ODlect OF
his care, which, Us his hands gradually met,
was secured in the clasping or locking OF his
fingers and safely removed from The head OF
the barrel. When he reached the head of the
stairs the excitement was over; he smiled at
the danger hr had conqucred; but the reaction
was too powerful. and he fell into fits Of most
violent and dreadful laughter. He was coll
yrycd senselrss To bed, and many weeks
| cl;lIsed ere his nerves recovered sufficient
tone to allow him to resume his habits Of every