The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-03-17
A Thrilling Incident.

The New York Commercial Advertiser
saws: "One of our oldest Merchants. who
formerly carried on business in Beaver
street. residing, as it was the custom in
old times, over his store, tells the follow
ing thrilling narrative, which he OCCASION
aliy relates with wonderful effect:
"a party had been collected at his house
TO rive eciat to one Of those little family
--.-~ >',.t-i CrHOo Uf
life. and cheer the human heart in every
cline. 1t was his daughters wedding
day; crowds Of her young acquantanccs
circled around her, and as the father gaz-
ed proudly on the face OF the young bride,
he wished as bright q prospect might
open for his other children who were
gambolling merrily among crowd.
Passing through the passage connecting
the lower rooms he met the. servant maid,
an ignorant country wench, who was car
wing lighted talow candle in her hand
without candIestick. 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 full of ale
DOGLfcS,
merchant Immediately recollected that
several barrels Of gunpowder had been
placed in his cellar during the day, and
that his foreman had opened one of the
barrels to select sample for customer.
Where is your candle 2 be inquired in the
utmost agitation. Il couldn't bring it up
with me, for my hands were full, said the
girl. Where did you leave it? 'Well,
i'd no candlestick, so | stuck it into some
black sand that's there in one oft the tubs
The merchant dashed down the cellar
steps; the passage was long and dark and,
as he grolsed his way on, his knees threat.
ened to give way under him; his breath
was choked, and his flesh seemed sudden
denly to become dry and parched, as if
he already felt the suffocating blast OF
death. At the extremity Of the passage,
in the front cellar, under the very room
where his children and friends were re-
Yelling in felicity, ho discerned the open
powder barrel, full almost to the top, the
candle stuck lightly in the loose grains,
with long red snuff of burnt-out wick
topping the small and gloomy fame.
This sight seemed to withor all his pow
ers, and the merry laugh ofthe youngsters
above struck upon his heart like the kncll
of death. He stood for some moments
gazing upon the light unable to advance;
The fiddler commenced lively jig, and
the feet of dancers responded with ill.,
creased rivacity; the floor shook with
their exertions, and the loose bottles in
the cellar jinglcd with the motion. lie
fanced the candle was moved-was fal.
ling! With desperate energy he dashed
forward but how was he to remove it !
The slightest touch would cause the small
live coal of wick to fall into the loose
powder With unequallcd presence of
mind he placed hand each side of the
candle, with the open palms upward. and
the distended fingers pointed toward the
object of his care, which, as his hands
gradually met, was secured in the clasp
ing 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 he had conquered; but the reac-
tion was too powerful, and he fell into fits
of most violent and dreadful laughter.
He was conveyed senseless to bed, and
many weeks elapsed ere his nerves re-
covered sufficient tone TO allow him to re-
sumo his habits of every day life.'
Evergreens-those who don't take