The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-12-05
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 vii.
liam Forbes Mitchell in his Rem
iniscences of the Great Mutiny."
Mr.. Mitchell, who was sergeant of a
highland regiment, had the misfor-
tune during a battle to lose the
greateoat which every soldier car
ried folded in what was known as
a "Crimean rolf and strapped to
the shoulders in such a manner that
it crossed the breast:
Many d 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 togeth-
or by the stroke of a keen edged
tulwar, which was intended to cut
me.
As the day was warm, 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 - lie down to sleep | felt
the co.. vet grass anything but
comfoI @, for a kilt is not the
most suitable article Of dress on a
cold November night in upper In
dia.
Ny company was cncamped in
and about the tomb of the first king
of Oudh. \ 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 Enclosure [ 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 I'M
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.
I peered into the dark, but could
see nothiR so | advanced slowly,
holding lie lamp over my head,
looking cautiously around until /
was IN the center Of the great vault,
where my progress was obstructed
by big black heap about four or
J 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
dredweight of it lay under my nose,
and a hasty glance around showed
ne 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.
/ took in my danger at a glance.
There l was, up to my knees nearly
in gunpowder, with a naked light
in my hand. Ny hair literally stood
on end, and my knees knocked to-
gether. Cold perspiration brooks
out all over me. l had neither
cloth nor handkerchief in my peck
ct with which to extinguish my
light, and the next moment might
be my last, for 1.-THE overhanging
wick already threatened to send the
smoldering red top to my feet, with
consequences too dreadful to con-
template.
Quick as thought 1 put my left
hand under the down dropping
fame 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 l was outside. Then it
was sharp enough. l poured the oil
from the lamp into my burned
hand. Then l knelt down and
thanked God.
Next l staggered to Captain Daw-
son and told him. He did not. be-
lieve me and told me l had walked
up from a dream. showed him the
powder still sticking ON my wet
feet. He instantly reused the sleep
ing men aud quenched every spark
of fire on the premises.
Are all your boys making money
: mo; only three. Two were shot b.
U the baron while he was hunting, aRs