Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-14
It Was Only Black Sand.
From The Ne'o York Times.

from NE Ne70 York Times.
New England skipper, a shipping clerk,
and the Captain of "A canalbO II, sat on the lee
rail OF q Goldfish schooner and discussed the
decline of the American merchant marine.
The clerk was wise IN fine points of law the
SKIPPER was nlleu to overlooking with wrath
agairst the land sharks at Washingt m, and
the Captain assented with cheerful READINGS
tn the most conflicting of opinions The
clerk wanted to reform Congress by Congress
siOnal legislation, the skipper was on the
point Of blowing up the capitol with dyna-
mite, and the Captain conceded with both
opinions by remarking that either remedy if
: ccessfully carried into effect, would pro-
duce astonishing results. still, me yenttlred
10 suggest, it would be a measure Of precau-
ton TO use gunpOwdcr instead of dynamite
ms gunpOwder was more deadly than all the
dynamite in the British isles.
But It's 80 dangerous To bandle," said the
skipper.
GLOW so7" inquired the clerk, who had
handled uncOunted tons Of explosives.
You never can tell IL from black sand
There was silence for several minutes
Then the Captain spoke.
is black sand particularly dangerous? he
asked.
Mighty dangerous"
How sOF' asked the clerk, with tinge of
humiliation for his ignorance.
when you're down on the Chinese coast
and you load up your guns with black sand IN
mistake for powder to repel an attack hv ri
rates you're always sure to he murdered be-
cause the black sand will not 20 on"
won lIf. asked the captain, In q tone
that implied that il would
81 never heard said the skipper The
clerk Was dumb through newly found igno.
rance.
'You see that scar" said the Captaip.
pointing TO red ridge across his cheek.
"Weu, give us the story" urged the skip
per.
1T was years ago." began the Captain; az
WAS running fast packet line on the Erie
canal from Albany to Buffalo. ! had a beau
tifu boat and four fast hor-es every few
miles. We carried the mail and alwavs had
hlg load Of passengers. One trip we tonk
on hoard lot OF small barrels labeled BLACK
snnj.' One OF the barrels was accidentally
broken open, the cover los and a quart or 20
Of the black sand scattered about the hold
The barrel WAS set out Of The ynv near the
wine cark, and apparently was forgotten. At
dinner Time some more wine was wanted bv
some OF the passengers, and went down 10
draw a. from The cask. As the hold was dark
! took q broken piece OF candle for L Hght
Scarcely knowing what I did, / stuck
the candle upright In tine 'blsck
eand,' and sat down on the floor 10
draw the wine. had been up All night
and was very tired, and somehow or other
fell asleep. | must have shut on the faucet
while asleep, for when I nwoko the wine
pitcher WAS filled and the faucet closed AsI
reacnel out my hand 20 take mp the candle
INV sight that irule my blood with horror
hlle hhd slept the candle nad burned low
AMI was on the point Of fickering out. Ia
another instant the lame would rcsch the
- ~ w '"tFHN it Wis lnNucr, anu not
BLACK snud--and hlnW boat crew and pHearn
gers tn atoms. died thousaud deaths In 40
Instant ! was paralvhed with fear. amt
eihid only wait with staring eyes for The emo
DEAN whr already ~ my throat. The sound
oi Inhghtcr in the CABIN came strange 20 my
chrt' Ihry were Teasing In the face 81 n ter
riht hehih. AZ last the end came. the light
nfkernd Tor moment, Jared az Tor the last
time, and then"
And ihcn.' whispered the skIpner and tho
clorh $3.50 hfehthless Interest.
Ath then wfnt out. A. Do was nothing has
nlifA .hn,i Tor mndtrs' nee, u0fhinr occurred
fnl inrwhfd Ia FAINT
hhi the scar" asked The clerk.
hie.sed BY mules Usual way with canal