The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1913-04-18
A NARROW ESCAPE.
Presence of Mind In the Face Of O
Terrible Danoer.

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."
J Mr. Mitchell, who was sergeant of a
highland re eyiment, had the misfor-
tune d9r.ng battle to lose tie
greatcoa. which every soldier car
ried 'ot,el IN what was known "a
g. "Crimeah 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 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, I 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 I 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 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 L
entered the inclosure | noticed
these apartments and asked permis-
sion to sleep in one of them, but
was refused. I 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 4 lamp was burn
ing, took it OF the Shelf and walked
to the doer of the great domed
mosque or tomb.
| peered into the dark, but could
see nothing, SO I 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
BY big black heap about four OF
i've feet high, which felt to my feet
ike loose sand.
l lowered my lamp and discover
ID was standing ankle deep in
ooss eGnpowder. About forty hum
lredvsight of it lay under my nose,
ma hasty glance around showed
ue twenty or thirty barrels of the
mae substance, over a hundred
tghtAnch shells, all loaded and
Tish fuses fixed, and profusion of
pare fuses and slow matches lying
bou<,
tosk In my danger at a glance.
there L was, up to my knees nearly
gunpowder, With a naked light
n my hand. My hair literally stood
n end, and my knees knocked to-
ether. Cold perspiration broke
Ut all over me. | had neither
10th nor handkerchief in my pock-
t with which to e1tnguish nv
ght, and the next moment might
@ my las, foT the oyerhangina
lick alreaG 'ened TO send the
noldering rel ,9p 20 my feet. with
onsequences toe dreadful to con-
emplate
Quick as thought l put my left
and under the down dropping
anne and, clasping it'frmly, slowly
armed to the door.
Fear so oyercame all other sem
'tion that / felt no pain of the
Urn until 1 was outside. Then il
as sharp enough. l poured thu oil
ON the lamp into my burned
and. Then knelt down and
lanked God.
Next I staggered to Captain Daw-
n and told him. He did not be-
eve me and told me I had walked
from a dream. showed him the
'wder still sticking on my wet
ct. he instantly reused the sleep
6 men and quenched every spark
fire on the premises.