The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-10-16
A MARROW ESCAPE.
Presence Of Mind In the Face Of .
Terrible Danger.

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 n battle TO lote the
greatcoat which every soldier car
ried folded in what was known as
a "Crimean roll" and strapped to
the shoulders in such a 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-hsat. of the fight
my roll was cut riShythrough where
the two ends we're fastened togeth-
sr by the stroke of keen edged
tulwar, which was intended to cut
me.
As the dav was warm, l was rath-
er glad to get rid Of it, but by 10
O'CLOCK at NJ ht there was a differ
lence in telnperatures and when |
was relieved from patrol duty and
wanted to lie down to sleep l felt
the cold, wet grass anything but
comfortable. for a kilt is not the
most suitable article of dress on
cold November night in upper In
dia.
Ny company was encamped in
and about the tomb of the first king
of 0udh. A 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 1 noticed
these apartments and asked permis-
sion to sleep in one Of them, but
was refused. l 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 hopeI went into one of
the rooms where a lamp was burn
ing, took it of the shelf and walked
to the door of the great domed
mosque or tomb.
/ peered into the dark, but could
see nothing, so l advanced slowly, 1
holding the lamp over my head,
looking cautiously around until |
was in the center Of the great vault,
where my progress was opstructed
by big black heap about four or
i've feet high, which felt to my feet
like loose sand.
/ lowered my lamp and discover
ed | was standing ankle deep in
loose gunpowder. About forty hun
1redweight Of it lay under my nose,
md hasty glance AROUND showed
ne twenty.or thirty barrels Of the
lame substance, over hundred
sight-inch shells, all loaded and
Fithfuses fixed, and a profusion Of ,
pare fuses and slow matches lying ,
about.
took in my danger at a glance.
There l was, up to my knees nearly
n gunpoHder, with naked light
n my hand. Ny hair literally stood
IN end, and my knees knocked to- |,
,ether. Cold perspiration broke
'ut all over me. l had neither ,
10th nor handkerchief in my pock-
It with which to extinguish nv -,
ight, and the next moment might :
'e my last, for the overhangine
Tick already threatened to send the
red top to my feet, with .
onsequences too dreadful to con- ,
emplate.
Quick as thought / put my left I
and under the down dropping c
anne and, clasping it firmly, slowly ]
urned to the door. {
Fear so overcame all other sem ,
alton that i felt no pain Of the a
urn until / was outside. Then il
Tas sharp enough. i poured the oil /.
rom the lamp into my burned
and. Then l knelt down and
banked God.
Next staggered to Captain Daw-
On and told him. He did not be-
eve me and told me / had walked
p from dream. | showed him the
owder still sticking on my wet
set. He Instantly reused the sleep
lg men and quoached every spark
I fire on The premises.