The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-04-23
A MARROW ESCAPE.
,ssence Of Mind In the Face ef .
Terrible Danger.

A~NAfSN~
One Of the strangest incidents 0f
e sepoy rebellion Is told by VIII
m Forbes Mitchell in his Rem
sciences Of the Great Mutiny.'
p. Mitchell. who was sergeant OF a
hland regiment, had the misfor-
ne during a battle 10 lose the
eatcoat which every soldier car
"a folded in Whist was known as
~Crnnean rolf and strapped to
shoulders in such a manner that
crossed the breast:
Many a man owed his life to the
ct that bullets became spent in
-sing through these rolls II hap
ned that in the heat Of the fight
roll was cut right through where
e two ends were fastened togeth-
bv the stroke Of a keen edged
lwar. which was intended to cut
..
IS the dav was warm. was rath-
clad 10 get I'D Of il. but by 10
clock az night there was a differ
Ice i'm temperature. and when |
as relieved from patrol duty and
nted to lie down 10 sleep felt
e cold. wet grass anything but
'mfortable. for a kilt j. not the
iost suitable article Of dress on a
I'D November night IN upper In
Ia.
Nv company was encamped in
nj about the tomb Of the first king
+ Oudh. \ large inclosure sur
ounded the building OF the tomb
tself. and on the inside Of this
rere small rooms built for the ac-
ommolaton Of pilgrims When ]
ntered the inclosure : noticed
hese apartments and asked permits
on to sleep in one Of them. but
-as refused. ! had to make the
lest Of my position. but was too un.
.0mfortabIe-o sleep.
1t struck nee that some Of the Sc
povs might have dropped theil
blankets in their hurried departure
With this hcDe | went into one o
the rooms where a lamp was burn
inc. took il of the shelf and walke'
to the door Of the great dome'
mosque or tomb.
peercd into the dark, but coul'
see nothing. so ] advanced slowly
holding the lamp over my head
looking cautiously around until
was in the center Of the great vault
where my progress was obstructe'
bv a bic black heap about four o
FIVE feet high. which felt TO ny Zee
ike loose sand.
/ lowered my lamp and discover
ed | was standing ankle deep j
loose gunpoWier. About forty hun
dredweight Of il lGy under my moss
and a hasty glance around shove
me twenty or thirty barrels Of IN
same substance. over a hundre
eicht-inch shells. all loaded an
with fuses fixed. and a p.ofusion Q
spare fuses and slow matches lynn
about.
] took in my danger at a glance
There 7 was. up TO my knees nearl
I IN gunpowder. with a naked ligh
lin NV hand. Nv hair literally stOo
on end. and my knees knocked {
gether. Cold perspiration brOk
out ali over me. / had neithC
cloth nor handkerchief in my pocl
ct with which 10 extinguish n
light. and the next moment migE
be nv last. for the overhangin
wick ALREADY threatened TO send II
smolder,ng red top to my feet. vat
consequences too dreadful 10 col
template
/ Qrick as thought / put my le
hand under the down dropplr
} fame and, clasping 1t firmly, slow
; turned to the door.
Fear 90 overcamc all other Sc
+ sation that ! felt no pain Of Il
burn until | was outside. Then
was sharp enough. / poured the {
from the lamp into my burn'
hand. Then / knelt down al
thanked God
Next | .arrered n Captain Da'
: son and tod him. lie did not b
heve me and told me had wax
M from a dream. | showed him Z
powder still sticking on my "
feet. He instantly reused the slee
. Ing men and quenched every spa
4 rf cpa On tho urornfunz