Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-10-12
BAD JOKE AT A WAKE
WILLIAM CLARK INDUCED TO SMOKE
A LOADED" PIPE.
Men-Ths Pipe Was In HE Mouth
When the Gunpowder Exploded.
New York SUM-


friend. Mrs. Bridget Murphy. In Thirty
eighth street near Eighth avenue. South
Brooklyn died on Monday morning. The
wake was held on Tuesday night. and
about twenty persons were present.
Every one was at Mrs. Murphy's house
by 10 o'clock who had been invited, with
the exception OF old Mr.. william Clark.
He was expected to be the leading spirit
The nineteen who had come went up to
the chamber where the dead woman lay.
and were getting along very nicely. telling
stories about ghosts. fairies, and OF the
days gone by, when suddenly some one
heard the voice OF Mr.. Clark. who. by
the way, is 60 years old. raised in song
In front OF the house. They all kept quiet
until the old gentleman had finished
singing. and then they burst out In ap-
plause.
Mrs. Murphy ran down stairs to let her
guest in and welcome him. He was very
drunk. His high silk hat was tilted at
rakish angle. while his face was all aglow
with pleasure and good-nature.
Mrs. Murphy had plenty OF beer and
whiskey. Mr.. Clark proposed that all
have drink. 1t was about IL o'clock
when Mr.. Clark had arrived. and up TO
in the morning the company did little
else than drink whskey or beer, and by
that time the women who were present
had retired
Mrs. Murphy had bought three or four
dozen common clay pipes and several bags
Of tobacco. Every one enjoyed the pipes
After 2 o'clock Mr. Clark suggested 10
Mrs. Murphy that they have luncheon
After the luncheon the men became more
and more intoxicated. Along about half
past the fun waxed fast and furious
They danced, sang, and fought all at
the same time.
Clark was getting too drunk TO STAND
up by this time, but was dancing in
spirit, II not in body. Some one started
up the song. Down Went McGinty.' ana
all joined in. When they came 10 inc
chorus and the word down" Clark was
carried away with enthusiasm, ana, 10
emphasize the word down he threw ms
pipe against the wall and broke II In Il
hundred pieces AS soon as the song was
over Clark yelled for new pipe. lie was
too drunk TO get up and get himself one,
so he kept his seat and shouted uhtli
some one playfully hit him over the head
anu lDlh MN " hNtP lN'tA - 80
throw him out the window.
BEGAN SNORING.
Whether it was the blow or the threat
that Quoted Mr.. Clark f. not known. At
any rate. he fell back on his chair, ana
began snoring loudly. The rest OF his COM
panions kept on merrymahing but soon
got weary. and 1t entered one OF their
muddled brains TO play trick on Oh
man Clark.
Some one. it has not yet been found
out who, thought it would be capital
joke to nj pipe with gunpowder and
make the old gentleman light II. Every
one thought the idea a capital one. Where
the powder came from IS not known,
either.
After the pipe was loaded, some one sug-
gested that II would be more fun to make
the old man put the bowl OF the pipe IN
his mouth. Then the powder would burn
his jaws and tongue. instead Of simply
singeing his cheek and eyebrows, 40 It
was decided that he must put the bowl OF
the pipe in his mouth, and that nothing
else would do
At this point some one suggested the
diaboical idea that If some cayenne pep
per were put on top Of the powder That
when the powder went OF the pepper
would get in the wound that the powder
made and make the old gent hop with
pain.
\ pipe was selected. and the whole bowl
of il was filled with gunpowder up 70
a short distance from the rim. ON top OF
the powuer a layer Of cayenne-pepper was
placed, and on top OF this was put thick
layer OF tobacco.
Tten came the question as to whether
Clark would put the bowl of the pipe in
uufI Ia g..
It whether he wanted or not. Then a
bright idea struck one of them, and he
said tina; they should all take new pipes
and fiji them with tobacco. light them,
and put the bowls in their mouths. blow
ing the smoke out through the stems.
When they had got them ali agoing
Clark was TO be awakened and told 10
join the company and smoke as they
did Then the pipe filed with powder
and cayenne pepper was to be handed
20 him. and he was TO be made to put
the bowl in his mouth and blow. This
plan was followed.
When Clark was awakened he bracei
up with drunken stare and saw the
rest OF the party smoking. wrong side
in" as he expressed IL. The pipe was
handed him, and he was told to put the
stem in his mouth until he got IL going,
then to put the bowl in his mouth.
lie did so, ami soon had the bowl.
fire. and all, in his mouth. AS he blew
thin stream OF smoke escaped through
the mouthpiece. The powder was slow
in catching fire,
THERE WAS 4 FLASH.
The jokers kept watching him. and in a
moment the pine flew out OF his mouth.
There was a flash OF light, and he feil
backward In a chair and opened his
mouth. from which came stream OF
powder smoke.
lie waited fully half minute before
he uttered sound; then, with wild
sfrlek. he jumped from the chair In