The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1911-06-02
A NARROW ESCAPE.
oresenes Of Mind In tho Face Of .
Terrible Danger.

OIN VI AlN EAlnAAktEN Va
the sepoy rebellion is told by Will
liam Forbes Mitchell in his 'Rem-
iniscenccs If the Great Mutiny.'
Mr.. Ni.cNcil. who was sergeant of a
highland regiment, had the misfor-
tune during a battle 10 lose the
greatcpat which every soldier car
ried iollcd in what was known as
a "Crimcan roll" and strapped to
the shoulders in such a manner that
il crossed Tie 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 togeth-
er by the stroke of a keen edged
tNlwar, 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 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
dia.
My company was encamped in
and about the tomb Of the first king
of 0udh. \ 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 permits
sion TO sleep in n of them, but
was refused. | had to make the
best of my position, but was too I'M
comfortable to sleep.
II struck Inc 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.
peered into the dark, but could
see nothing, so | advanced slowly,
holding the lamp yer my head,
looking cautiously around until I
was in the center of the great vault,
where my progress vas INSTRUCTED
by a big black heap about four or
five feet high, which felt to my feet
ike loose sand.
/ lowered my lamp and discover
ed I was standing ankle deep in
loose gunpowder. About forty hun
dredweight ofsit lay under my nose,
and q hasty glance around showed
me twenty or thirty barrels of the
same substance, Owe a hundred
eight-inch shells, all loaded and
with fuses fixed, and a profusion Of
spare fuses and slow matches lying
about.
took in my danger at a glance.
There / was, mp to my knees nearly
In gunpowder, with a naked light
in my hand. Ny hair literally stood
On end, and my knees knocked TO-
Eether. Cold perspiration broke
out all over me. / had neither
cloth nor handkerchief in my peck
ct with which to extinguish my
light, and the next moment might
be nv last, for the overhangine
wick already threatened to send the
smoldering red top to my feet, with
consequences too dreadful TO con
template.
Quick as thought / put my left
hand under the down dropping
fame and, clasping it firmly, slowly
turned TO the door.
Fear 90 overcame all other sen
sation that l felt no pain Of TIT
burn until l was outside. Then i
| was sharp enough. I poured the OF
! from the lamp into my burned
hand. Then I knelt down ant
thanked God.
: Next l staggered to Captain Daw
son and told him. He did not be
Ilieve me and told me / had wake
up nom a dream. l showed him tn
powder still sticking on my we
feet. He instantly reused the sleep
, ing men and quenched every spar