Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-05-20
HE AVOIDS EXPLOSIVES.
Drifter's Experiences Have Led Him t.
Steer Clear of Them.

steer clear OF Inem.
GAS you say, 1 am extremely cautious
about handling high explosives" admit
ted Drifter, land for man who has mixed
in the mining business l confess l am
unique. Why, actually avoid fireworks
displays, except at safe distance, and
when the big down town stores blossom
out with Fourth of July decorations pass
by on tho other side.
81 wasn't so easily scared when you first
knew me. That's true. May be can ex-
rlain how the scare developed in me. One
day while tramping along over dusty
road in Connecticut-there being no stage
line to my destination--I was overtaken by
a jolly young chap who was driving such
wagon as cigar and candy peddlers in New
England affect. He gave me lift, and
put the whip to his horses. He went at a
hot pace and putfed away at cigar from
my case. Ienjoyed my smoke, too-that
is, until we reached the village. Then
the driver tossed his stump in the road and
said:
"'Young fellow, fro that cheroot.
You're riding on powder wagon, and the
boss would bounce me if he caught us
smoking. Pm used to taking chances
wasn't born to be blown up
"The very next day an explosion shook
the country. A powder plant went up in
the twinkling of an eye, and that careless
driyer-well, no was too widely scattered
to need funeral.
"I was rattle Drained when 1 made my
first trip to the mining region now famous
as tho Lake of the Woods mineral belt
We had to pack all the supplies to oul
camp, and when we came to portage
| took my share of the work. picked up q
box weighing about 30 pounds and totet
| it half a mile. wanted to fill my pipe
so carelessly tumbled that box-contain
ing canned goods for all Iknew-down or
| the ground. Jack Brown, the foreman o.
| the outfit, lounged back to thu trail ant
said quietly:
Drifter, don't be so kittenish will
that box It's full Of dynamite. Luck!
for you and tho lot Of US that l filled 1t a
the winter cache near Rat portage, and it,
frozen.
"I didn't talk above whisper during
the rest of the trip. The next summer
went to the mine and did my turn on on
of the drifts. One day proposed FISHING
trip. Mike, the day engineer, laid Off ant
went with me in our canoe. The pickere
didn't show up to suit Mike. So, padding
to rock entirely bare of vegetation, h
stretched himself and said
"Now, MIR. Drifter, I'll show you hoy
to catch fish, He had dynamite car
fridge in a bottle. He inserted fuse
packed the dangerous stuff tightly i'll tn
neck of the bottle and said, I'll touch thi
off, toss it in the lake and heaven help tn
fishes 1 argued against such unsports
manlike slaughter, and Mike got ratified
We were standing on naked rock. Mike
foot slipped, that internal bottle droppe
from his hand, and We
"No, we were not blown to kingdoI
come, for Mike just grabbed the bottle a
inch or SO from the rock. He threw it OF
in the lake. There was convulsion,
vast jet of water shot up in the air an
hundreds of f1uttering dead and dying fis
lay ON the surface. 1 couldn' It have touche
one to save me from hanging, and thoug
Mike simply said, That was close enough
he suggested returning to the camp, an
he was the quietest man in the outfit II
the next month.
"From that day to this I have been ju
trife discreet, as you might say. don
nose around powder mills or try to inve
tigate chemical works, and when {
back to mining the miner who tries
thaw out dynamite cartridge by the Il
! in our shack will get out Of the camp b
: fore he's minute older If catch him.
!, New York Sun.