Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-05-08
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Presence Of Mind In the Face of
Terrible Danger.

Terrible Danger
One of the strangest incidents OF
the sepoy rebellion is told by Will
liam Forbes Mitchell in his "Rem-
iniscenyes of the Great Mutiny.'
Mr.. Mitchell, who was sergeant Of
highland regiment, had the misfor-
tune during a battle to lose the
greatcoat which every soldier car
ried folded in what was known as
"Crimean roll and strapped to
the shoulders in such n manner that
it crossed the breast:
Many n man owed his life to the
fact that bullets became spent in
passing through these rolls. 1t hap
pened that in the heat of the fight
my roll was cut right through where
the two ends were fastened togcth-
er by the stroke Of keen edged
tulwar, which was intended to cut
me.
As the day was warm, l was rath-
er glad to get rid of it, but by 10
o'clock at night there was a differ
cnce in temperature, and when |
was relieved from patrol duty and
wanted to lie down to sleep | felt
the cold, wet grass anything but
comfortable, for a kilt is not the
most suitable article Of dress on
cold November night in upper In
dia.
Ny company was encamped in
and about the tomb of the first king
of Oudh. A large inclosure sur
rounded the building of the tomb
itself, and on the inside of this
were small rooms built for the ac-
commodation of pilgrims. When |
entered the inclosure | noticed
these apartments and asked permis-
sion to sleep in one of them, but
was refused. | had to make the
best Of my position, but was too un-
comfortable to sleep.
1t struck me that some Of the Sc
poys might have dropped their
blankets in their hurried departure.
With this hope | went into one of
the rooms where a lamp was burn
ing, took it off the shelf and walked
to the door of the great domed
mosque or tomb.
pecred into the dark, but could
see noting, so l advanced slowly
holding the lamp over my head,
looking cautiously around until |
I was in the center of the great vault,
where my progress was obstructed
by a big black heap about four or
five feet high, which felt to my feet
like loose sand.
| lowered my lamp and discover
ed l was standing ankle deep in
loose gUnpowder. About forty hun
dredwei hit 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 profusion of
spare fuses and slow matches lying
about.
I took in my danger at glance.
There ! was, up to my knees nearly
in gunpowder, with naked light
in my hand. Ny hair literally stood
on end, and my knees knocked to-
gether. Cold perspiration broke
out all over me. | had neither
cloth nor handkerchief in my pock-
ct with which to extinguish my
light, and the next moment might
be my last, for the oyerhanging
wick already threatened to send the
smoldering red top to my feet, with
consequences too dreadful to con-
template.
Quick as thought I put my left
hand under the down dropping
flame and, clasping it firmly, slowly
turned to the door.
Fear so overcame all other sem
sation that l felt no pain Of the
burn until I was outside. Then it
was sharp enough. poured the oil
from the lamp into my burned
hand. Then ] knelt down and
! thanked God.
Next I staggered to Captain Daw-
son and told him. He did not be-
lieve me and told me I had walked
up from a dream. l showed him the
powder still sticking on my wet
, feet. He instantly reused the sleep
ing men and quenched every spark
Of fire on the premises.