The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-05-18
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Presence Of Mind in the Face of a
Terrible Danger.

One of the strangest incidents OF
he sepor rebellion is told by William
wForbes Mitchell in his "ReminiS-
cences Of the Great Mutiny." Mr..
Mitchell. who was sergeant OF
highland regiment. had the mlsfor-
tune during a battle TO lose the great
coat which every soldier carried fold
ed in what was known as a "Cr-
4 mean roll' and strapped to the shoul-
U ders in such a manner that it cross
med the breast.
Many man owed his life to the
fact that bullets became spent III
passing through these rolls. 1t hap
~ pened that in the hear Of the fight my
roll was cut right through where the
Y two ends were fastened together by
1 the stroke of a keen edged tulwar,
A which was intended to cut me.
As the day was warm, was rather
II glad to get rid Of it, but by 10 O'Clock
u at night there was difference in
temperature, and when I was relieved
from patrol duty and wanted to lie
down to sleep I felt the cold, wet
grass anything but comfortable, for
kilt is not the most suitable artl-
Gle of dress on cold November night
in upper India,
Ny company was encamped in and
about the tomb of the first king OF
Oudh. A large inelosure 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
noticed these apartments and asked
permission to sleep in one Of them,
|. but was refused I had to make the
&best Of my position, but was too un-
III comfortable to Sleep
It struck me that some OF the Sc
" poys might have dropped their blank
q cts in their hurried departure. With
7 this hope I went into one OF the
rooms where lamp was burning,
took it off the shelf and walked to the
door of the great domed mosque or
tomb.
I peered into the dark, but could
see nothing, 50 I advanced slowly,
holding the lamp over my head and
looking cautiously around until I was
in the center of the gerat VAULT,
where my progress was obstructed oy
a big black heap about four or i've
feet high, which felt to my feet like
loose sand.
I lowered my lamp and discovered
I was standing ankle deep in loose
gun powder. About forty hundred
weight of it lay under my nose, and
a. hasty glance around showed me
twenty or thirty barrels of the same
substance, over hundred eight-lneh
shells, all, loaded and with fuses liked
and a profusion Of spare fuses and
slow matches lying about.
I took in my danger at a glance.
There I was, up to my knees nearly
in gunpowder, with naked hight IN
nv hand. Ny hair literally stood on
end. and my knees knocked together
Cold perspiration broke out all over
me- T had neither cloth nor hand
kerchief in ray pocket with which to
extinguish ny light, and the next mo-
\ ment might be my last for the over
il hanging wick already threatened to
7 send the smoldering red top to my
feet, with consequences too dreadful
to contemplate.
Quick as thought I put my lett
hand under the down dropping flame
and clasping it firmly, slowly turned
to the door.
Fear 50 oyercame all other sensa-
tion that l felt no pain Of the burn
until I was outside. Then 1t was
sharp enough. I poured the oil from
the lamp ;rto my burned hand. linen
I knelt down and thanked God.
Next I staggered to Captain DaV-
son and told him. He did not believe
me and told me I had walked up from
a dream. I showed him the powder
still striking on my wet feet. he IN,
stantlv reused the sleeping men and
ouenched every spark Of fire on the
premises.