The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1910-02-04
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Presence Of Mind In the Face OF
Terrible Danger.

iAlsNSh'cS OF the Nreat Mutlny.
MIR. Mitchell, who was sergeant OF q
highland regiment, had the misfor,
} tune during a battle to lose the
greatcoat which every soldier car
ried folded in what was known as
a "Crimean roll" and strapped to
the shoulders in such 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 hap
pened tina. in the heat of the fight
my roll was cut right through where
the two ends were fastened toCeth-
er by the stroke of keen edged
tulwar, which was intended to cut
me.
As the day was warm, / was nath-
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 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 a
cold November night in upper In
6ia.
My company was encamped in
and about the tomb of the first king
of Oudh. \ 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 I
entered the inclosure / noticed
these apartments and asked permits
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 l went into one of
the rooms where lamp was burn
ing, took it off the shelf and walked |
to the door of the great domed
mosque or tomb.
l peered into the dark, but could
see nothing, so / 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
oy a big black heap about four or
i've feet high, which felt to nv feet
ike loose sand.
| lowered my lamp and discover
ID l was standing ankle deep in
Dose gunpowler. About forty hun
iredweight Of il lay under nv nose,
md a hasty glance around showed
ne twenty or thirty barrels Of the
anne substance. over hundred
ight-inch shells, all loaded and
th9uses fixed. and profusion of
pare fuses and slog matches lying
bout.
took in my DANCER at a glance.
here ] was. up to my knees nearly
4 gunpowder, with a naked light
a my hand Ny hair literally stood
n end, and my knees knocked to-
ether. Cold preparation broke
ut all over me. had neither
10Th nor handkerchief in my pock- I
{ with which to extinguish nv !
ght, and the next moment might
e my last, for the overhanging
lex already threatened to send the
red top to my feet, with
too dreadful TO con-
'mplate.
Quick as thought put my left
and under the down dropping
anne and, clasping it firmly, slowly
Irned to the door.
Fear so overcame all other sem
ton that | felt no pain of the
i'm until / was outside. Then il
as sharp enough. i poured the oil
ON the lamp into my burned
md. Then | knelt down and
anked God.
Next | staggered to Captain Daw-
q and told him. He did not be-
We me and told me had walked
from dream. showed him the
WIDER still sticking on my wet
It. He instantly reused the sleep
z men and uuenched every snart