The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-05-26
THE POWDER
MAGAZINE

copyright. 1901. by G. b. Lewls.l
There had been established at Kala.
baJ great depot Of supplies for the
use of the British army invading the
Afghanistan states. and five miles out
or the town and among the hills was
situated the big powder magazine. 1t
was great building Of stone, and
during active operations Il contained
hair million pounds Of powder and
other explosives. When my regiment
marched up to Kalabng to relieve tie
Fourth Of the line, there was a truce,
and this ended In n treaty Of peace; 50
that we saw no fighting. We were de-
tailed 10 guard the depot, aud Il came
about that | was placed I'm charge OF
the powder magazine with guard OF
fifteen men As the magazine was
so far from the other depOtA and its
situation 80 lonely and It's guard so
small, one would have expected II to
he given the most attention 10y the hlli
men, but they gave us no trouble. Now
and then we caught sight Of native
on the hills around, and now and then
lie screamed defiance and fired hui
let against the walls. but IL would
seem as II they had orders 10 let the
Iuaru alore. / got TO thinking mat.
tiers over one day and with the aid Of
the sergeant, who was bright sort OF
fellow, came TO the conclu sion that the
guerrillas had some sort Of trick up
their sleeve.
We had fortified our camp among
the hills, but II was commanded from
a dozen elevations, and a hundred
guerrillas could have carried II with a
rush any night. I believed they had
kept clear OF us for purpose and that
a big surprise would sooner or later
turn up. but the only thing | could dc
was 10 wait for IT, | figured that II
any attack was made Il would be un.
der cover OF darkness, but / was not
cute enough for the hill men. They
came with a rush one afternoon at
what was up they had possession OF
the camp ana magazine There were
twenty-eight of them. and instead OF
shooting us down they cOntented them
selves with tying our hands behind
our backs and putting a guard over
us. They put out scouts and sentinels
In the direction OF the town, aud then
twenty,four elephants that had heen
brought down a ravine close to the
camp were driven up 10 be loaded with
powder. They had the door open In a |
minute, aud they worked rapidly aud |
intelligently In loading the elephants. |
Each was loaded with eight kegs |
or twelve bugs OF powder, and when |
every elephant had his burden eighty /
OF the men picked up keg apiece and |
started on To the north. The two Of
hcers In command waited until ali the
others except our three guards had
gone. and was wondering II We were
TO have our throats cut when one OF
them approached me and smillngly
said:
There Is 70 be war again. and we
wanted your powder. / am almost
sorry TO go away aud leave you alive.
but as no one has been hurt aud as We
have made a grand haul l shall spare
you"
The guards remained with as for
half an hour longer and then departed
II a swift pace, and IL was not long be-
lore one OF the men worked a hand
OOse and then freed the rest Of as. II
vas big thing those hill men had ac-
'omplished, and nothing could have
'een more neatly done. but as / stood
n the open door OF that looted maya.
ans almost wished they had put an
nd 70 me before they left. Our briga-
Her was a nery tempered old chap.
eady 70 eritieise and censure a sub
rdlnate, and l knew that was IN for
court martial and a disgracefn dis
nissal from the service. IL was nv
espair and desperation that gave me
sudden idea They had neither de
troyed nor taken away our arms. aud
would follow on their trail with my
uard OF nfteen men. IL was a fOrlorn |
Ope. and could not sec how any ad-
antage was 90 come OF IL. but We set
q soon after The guards were cut Of