Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-05-04
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Presence Of Mind In the Face Of Ter

Presenes of Mind In the Face of Ter
ribls Danger.
One of the strangest incidents Of the
sepoy rebellion is told by William
Forbes Mitchell In his "Reminiscences
Of the Great Mutiny." Mr.. Mitchell
who was sergeant Of a highland regi-
ment, had the misfortune during bat
tie to lose the great coat which every
soldier carried folded in what was
known as "Crimean rolf and strap
ped to the shoulders in such a manner
that It crossed the breast.
Many a man owed his life to the fact
that bullets became spent In passing
through these rolls. 1t happened that
in the heat Of the fight my roll was cut
right through where the two ends were
fastened together by the stroke OF
keen edged tulwar, which was intend
ed to cut me.
AS the day was warm. ! was rather
glad to get rid Of 1t, but by 10 o'clock
at night there was a difference In tenn
perature, and when was relieved from
patrol duty and wanted to lie down to
sleep felt the cold, wet grass anything
but comfortable, for kilt is not the
most suitable article Of dress on q cold
November night In upper India.
My company was encamped In and
about the tomb Of the first king OF
Oudh. A large inclosure surround
ed the building Of the tomb itself, and
on the inside Of this were small rooms
built for the accommodation OF pill
grims. When I entered the inclosure
I noticed these apartments and asked
permission to sleep in one Of them, but
was refused. / had to make the best
of my position, but was too uncomforta-
BILE to sleep.
It struck me that some Of the sepoys
might have dropped their blankets In
their hurried departure. With this
hope I went into one Of the rooms
where lamp was burning, took 1t on
the shelf and walked to the door Of the
great domed mosque or tomb.
I peered into the dark, but could see
nothing, so I advanced slowly, holding
the lamp over my head and looking
cautiously around until I was In the
center Of the great vault, where my
progress was obstructed by big black
heap about four or five feet high, which
felt to my feet like loose sand.
I lowered my lamp and discovered I
was standing ankle deep in loose gun
rowder. About forty hundredwe!ght
of it lay under my nose, and hasty
glance around showed me twenty or
thirty barrels Of the same substance,
over a hundred eight-inch shells, all
loaded and with fuses fixed. and pro-
fusion of spare fuses and slow matches
lying about.
I took in my danger at glance.
There I was, up to my knees nearly
in gunpowder,, with naked light In my
hand. My hair literallyy stood on end.
and my knees knocked together. Cold
perspiration broke out all over me.
had neither cloth nor handkerchief In
my pOChtI Will W OAtaho 1850 s.NS
light, and the next moment might he
my last, for the overhanging wick al
ready threatened to send the smoldsr-
ing red top to my feet, with conse-
quences too dreadful to contemplate.
Quick as thought put my left hand
-,nder the down dropping flame, and
clasping It firmly. slowly turned to the
door.
Fear so overcame all other sensation
that / felt no pain Of the burn until
was outside. Then 1t was sharp enough.
I poured the oil from the lamp into my
burned hand. Then I knelt down and
thanked God.
Next staggered to Captain Dawson
and told him. He did not believe me
and told me I had walked up from
dream. / showed him the powder still
striking on my wet feet. He instantly
reused the sleeping men and quenched
every spark Of fire on the premises.
- l L.