The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-04-01
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Presence OF Mind In the Face OF .
Terrible Danger.

iniscences Of the Great Mutiny..
! Mr.. Mitchell. who was sergeant of a
{ highland regiment, had the misfor-
tune during battle to lose the
greatcoat which every soldier car
ried folded in what was known as
"Crlmean roll" and strapped to
the shoulders in such manner that
! il crossed the breast:
Many man owed his life to the
4 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 togeth-
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
ence IN temperature. and when
was relieved from patrol duty and
wanted - nc down to sleep | felt
the cod. wet grass ANYTHING but
comfortable. for a kilt is not the
most suitable article of dress on a
cold November night in upper In
dia.
My company was encamped in
and about the tomb of the first king
Of Oudh. A large Enclosure 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.
| pecrcd into the dark. but could
see nothing, 30 | advanced slowly.
holding the lamp over my head.
looking cautiously around until |
was in the center of the great vault,
where my progress was obstructed !
BY a big black heap about four or I
i've feet high, which felt to nv feet :
Ike loose sand.
lowered my lamp and discover ,
d | was standing ankle deep in !
Dose gunpowder. About forty hun 8
iredweight Of it lay under nv nose, 4
md a hasty glance around showed l
ne twenty or thirty barrels of the
anne substance, over hundred u
ight-inch shells, all loaded and !.
nth fuses fixed, and a profusion OF
pare fuses and slow matches living :,
bout. .
took in my danger at a glance. q
here was. up to my knees nearly O.
gunpowder, with a naked light IL
d my hand. Ny hair literally stood n
n end, and my knees knocked to-
ether. Cold perspiration broke y
ut all over me. | had neither y
10Th nor handkerchief in nv peck :.
with which to extinguish nv n
ght. and the next moment might A.
e my last, for the overhangina W
lex already threatened to send the ra
red top to my feet, with of
too dreadful to con-
mplate. ca
Quick as thought / put nv left II
md under the down dropping >,
ime and, clasping it firmly, slowly pI
rned to the door.
Fear so overcame all other sem 70
ton that felt no pain of the ru
I'm until / was outside. Then it &c
as sharp enough. poured the oil
ON the lamp into my burned n,
md. Then | knelt down and az
anked God. ~
Next / staggered to Captain Daw- III,
n and told him. He did not be-
Eve me and told me | had walked FOL
from dream. / showed him the MI
wider still sticking on nv wet to
ct. He instantly reused the sleep ins
e men and quenched every spark oc'
fire on the premises. "a, "a,