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Leader (1850-1860), 29th August 1857, Edition 1 of 2, Page 821, Untitled Article

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      in After restoring some little orJer at Benares , on went the gallant Fusiliers towards Allahabad ; thermometer above one hundred degrees ; thirty , and even forty mile marches ; no supplies to be had ; living on flour and water . On reaching Allahabad at night , the whole cantonment was in a blaze . The regiments had already mutinied , and slaughtered their officers with unheard-of cruelty . The Sikhs had not actually mutinied , but they assisted the rebel regiments in pillaging the houses of the Europeans . The Sikh regiment plied the fatigued Fusiliers with liquor , and the scene of

      dirt , drunkenness , and wretchedness baffled all description . The officers of the Fusiliers went to the Sikh lines and bought up all the liquor they could , to prevenf ; the men from getting it , and they bought chests of champagne , beer , &c , at four and eight annas ( 6 d . ami Is . ) a bottle . Now I hear the indefatigable Colonel Neil is beginning to bring about some degree of order , and is hanging scores and scores of prisoners . But we get very little official tidings yet . I atn longing to hear more , for I do not hesitate to affirm that each day of delay places all our lives in some jeopardy . "

      In a letter from Azinguvh , dated June 23 rd , and written by an officer , we read : — " We arrived here last night—a pretty civil station ; it has been looted , the houses burnt and destroj'ed in the most disreputable manner—the work of demons rather than of men . The Sepoys were content to plunder the Treasury , but the villagers around destroyed the furniture , broke what was useless to them , dismantling the whole place , even the public gardens , baths , &c . The civilians left on the first appearance of danger ; the prison was opened , admitting to the world about eight

      hundred characters of infamy . An indigo planter , whose property in the neighbourhood has suffered in the same degree , remained concealed until some assistance arrived , and now , while the civil officers are in security in Benares , is reclaiming the district from disorder as far as he can ; he goes put to administer retribution in burning villages , in rescuing people and property ; his name is Venables , and he deserves the highest praise . So timid are these infamous scoundrels that , having conducted themselves as fiends when they had none to meet , they now fly in all directions from his small band . "

      A Civil Servant , writing from Allahabad on the 28 th of June , gives some particulars of the rising there on the 6 th of that month : — " We were told off on our guard and had laid ourselves down on our beds ( those who were not on watch ) , when , about half-past nine , we heard firing'in the station , and on the alarm bugle being sounded we ran up to the ramparts in breathless silence . The firing grew heavier , and we all thought that the insurgents had entered the station , and were being beaten off by the regiment , so steady was the musketry , regular file firing ; on , on it continued , volley after volley . ' Oh , ' we all said , ' those gallant Sepoys are beating off the

      rebels , ' for the firing grew fainter in the distance , as if they were driving a force out of the station . But before long the sad truth was known . Harward rode in , bringing the tidings that the wretched Sepoys had risen , had seized his guns , and had marched them up to the station . He had escaped , and had run up to poor Alexander ' s camp , who jumped on his horse and rode up towards the lines , with as many of his men as could be got ready ; he had been caught in an ambush by a body of Sepoys lying in wait in an empty tank , and had boen killed by a musket being placed to his side , blowing out his heart . His poor body was brought in later in the night , and I gave his hand a last shake , and shed tears over his last bed .

      " The officers were at mess when the wretches sounded the alarm bugle to bring them to the parade , and shot them down right nnd left ! Wretched murderers , may they receive their reward ! Nine poor little ensigns . doing duty with the rcgimont were bayoneted to death in the mess-room , and three of the officers who escaped heard their cries as they passed 1 Poor boys , who had never given offence to any native , nor caused dissatisfaction to the Sepoys . Five oflicere were shot belonging to the regiinont , besides the nine poor boys . Birch and Innos , with the scrgoantmerchants

      inajor , in all seventeen military men , many , and others , were most cruelly butchered—in all fifty Europeans foil that night by the hands of the murderous Sunoys . The Treasury was plundered , the prisoners ruleaaed from gaol , and the work of destruction commenced . The whole station was destroyed , house after houso plundered and llred . What n night ! Each moment wo expected tlio Sikhs would turn on us , and then 1 .... But the Almighty mercifully decreed otherwise Wo disarmed the Gth guard , at the main gate , mid found the villains with loaded nnd capped nuiskots , roady to turn oat !"

      The Sikhs proved faithful , though thoy plundered a good deal , and got very drunk . Tho same writer continues : — 14 When wo could onco got out of tho fort , wo wore all over tho place , cutting down all natives who showed any signs of opposition ; wo enjoyed those trips vory muoh , so pleasant it was to got oat of that horrid fort for a few hours . One trip I enjoyed amazingly ; wo got on board a steamer with a gun , while tho Sikhs and FuelUera

      marched up to the city ; we steamed up , throwing shot right and left , till we got up to the bad places , when we went on shore and peppered away with our guns , my old double-barrel that I brought out bringing down several niggers , so thirsty for vengeance was I . We fired the places right and left , and the flames shot up to the heavens as they spread , fanned by the breeze , showing that the day of vengeance had fallen on the treacherous villains . ... " I have been appointed chief of a commission for the trial of all natives charged with offences against Government and persons ; day by day we have strung up eight and ten men . We have the power of life and death in our hands , and I assure you we spare not . A very summary trial is all that takes place . " . — — a "^

      Lieutenant Adolphus de Kantzow thus describes , in a letter from Mynpooree , an exploit performed by him for which he has received the special and warm thanks of the Governor-General in an autograph

      communication : — " I was returning from reconnoitring , when information was brought me that five troopers of the 7 th Light Cavalry were coming along the road . An immediate pursuit was of course ordered by me , and my thirty-nine troopers tore away at full speed after me . I was just coming up to them , and had already let drive among the murdering villains , when lo ! I came upon two hundred of their comrades , all armed with swords and some with carbines . A smart fire was kept up at a distance of not more than twenty-five yards . What could thirty-nine do against two hundred regular troopers well horsed and armed , particularly when walked into by the bullets of one hundred of the infantry ? I ordered a retreat , but

      my cavalry could not get away from troopers mounted upon good stud-bred horses ; so we were soon overtaken , and then commenced the shindy in earnest ; twelve troopers surrounded me ; the first , a Mahommedan priest , I shot through the breast just as he was cutting me do % vn ; this was my only pistol , so I was helpless as regards weapons , save my sword ; this guarded off a swinging cut given me by No . 2 , as also another by No . 3 , but the- fun could not last . I bitterly mourned not having a couple of revolvers , for I could have shot every man . My sword was cut down and I got a slash

      on the head that blinded me , another on the arm that glanced , and only took a slice off . The third caught me on the side , but also glanced and hit me sideways . I know not how I escaped . God only knows , as twelve against one were fearful odds , especially as I was mounted on a pony bare back . Escape , however , I did , and after many warm escapes too numerous to mention I got back here . Fourteen of my brave fellows were killed , four wounded , six missing ; total , twenty-four out of thirty-nine . Good odds , was it not ?"

      A public meeting , convened by tho Lord Mayor , for inaugurating a subscription in aid of tho sufferers by the revolt , was held at the Mansion House , City , on Tuesday ; his Lordship in the chair . The Lady Mayoress was also present . Colonel Henderson moved the first resolution , and mentioned , from private information , that the cases of distress in India are numerous and most painful . He observed that there sire many nople charitable institutions in India , which are now doing their best to alleviate the misery caused by the insurrection , and that Lord

      and Lady Canning and the rich merchants , &c , are also acting with promptitude and generosity ; but , he added , this is not sufficient , and the mother country is bound to assist . Tho other speakers were Mr . Dent , Admiral Sir Stephen Lushington , tho Rev . J . Leifchild ( who , while warmly execrating the barbarities of the mutineers , hoped that , when they are vanquished , we shall not repay atrocity with atrocity ) , Mr . Theobald , Mr . 1 > , Smith , of Glasgow , Captuiu Lynch , General Tulloch , Mr . Justice Halliburton , Sir Moses Montefiore , &e . Mr . Halliburton observed : —

      " I hnvo no mawkish sensibility in my nature . I don ' t cry out ' Shame ! ' against the punishment of thone wretches who have surpassed in cruelty all that history can produce . ( Cheers . ) I am myself by birth and by education a British subject—a native of North America , and I am conversant with tho history of that country from its first discovery by Columbus to tho present day . I have known tho aborigines , nnd have mixed with them , and have read of tlicir wars with tho white man ; but nothing in tho whole history of British North America has equalled that which is recorded of tho proall tio

      cmlinga in India at this day . All tho tortures , | violence of thu red dcviln , as thoy may bo called , of tlic American forest , nro merely childish when compnrod with the outrngcH that are committed in India ; therefore I trutit , although thoro may not bo blood-thirnty punishments , that tho punishments will bo adequate lo the enormity of the crimes committed . ( Cheers , ") Hut that is not now tho subject with which wo have to donl . Thoro are thousands of our follow-oroatuu'S in distrosH , and an appeal is made , to us for aid , ( Hear , hear , ) It la an appoal which I take upon myself , as a native of British North America , to any will be heartily responded to in that country . When the sufferings of our trooj a in tho Crimea wore made known In Canada

      subscriptions were raised , and every means were adopted to express our sympathy for the sufferings of our troops . Nor was it confined to that—an offer was made to raise two regiments , and to appoint officers to lead them to the Ciimea in aid of the British forces . ( Cheers . ") A grand mistake , however , was made . The Canadians addressed their offer to the wrong office , and it was sent back unanswered . ( ' Oh / ' and cheers . ") But I tell you that the people of Canada are ready now to do the same thing . They are ready not merely to give their money , * _ ^ 4 ' ' ^ ¦ _ _

      but to send their troops to fight side by side with the British soldier . " ( Cheers . " ) Resolutions in accordance with the object were unanimously carried , and subscriptions amounting to abont 300 / . were announced before the meeting broke up . It was determined that the subscription list be kept open at Messrs . Smith , Payne , andCc ' s , the Oriental Bank Corporation , and the Agra Bank ; that the amounts , as collected , be despatched by each mail to the Governor-General of India ; and that distributors be employed in that country .

      The sum of 20 , 000 rupees was forwarded by the Lord Maj'or to the Governor-General by Wednesday nights' mail , as a first instalment resulting from the meeting at the Mansion-house .

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      THE ORIENT . PERSIA . Somk recent Persian intelligence has been communicated to the continental papers in a letter from Teheran , where we read : — " When the Indian mutiny became known in Persia , several Ulemas preached in favour of the insurgents , and this , propagandism would have assumed a serious character had it not been for the energy displayed bj r the Government in arresting its progress . At the latest date , the country was tranquil , and the new Minister of War , was reorganizing the army . The Court had quitted Teheran for Elbruz , where it encamps

      every year during the hot weather . The Shah , was determined to execute honourabl 3 the treaty of peace , and the best understanding existed between him and Mr . Murray , the British minister , whoso health would force him shortly to quit the country . Herat was to be evacuated " bj' the Persian troops . This would have been dpne ~ sooner had it not been for a civil war that was raging among the principal tribes of Affghanistan , of which each pretends to the possession of that important fortress . It was known at Teheran that the British troops were about to quit the Persian Gulf . "

      Other accounts state that Mr . Murray and the Shah are not on the best terms , and that the former suspects the latter ' s designs with regard to Herat . It has been stated that the Shah is not only maintaining his army at its late strength , but actually increasing it .

      JERUSALEM . The turbulent factions in tho country about Jerusalem , taking advantage of a temporary absence of the Turkish Governor , rose in insurrection about the end of last month , and fought with great desperation at the gates of the city . Several men and women were killed . The whole of the peasant population is in a state of considerable agitation , and it is feared that the rising will spread . Abou Gosh , an influential chief , is raising men to act against tho Turkish authorities . '

      CHINA . Lord Elgin arrived at Hong-Kong on the 2 nd of July . He was to proceed northwards in the Shannon , accompanied by six gunboats . At Foochow , confirmatory reports have been received respecting tho injury sustained by the tea-plant , owing to its not being thoroughly picked . The decrease in shipments of tea from China to tho . ' 10 th of Juuu was 27 , 5 fiO , 000 pounds . The Chinese have not permitted Admiral l ' ontiatinc and his mission to enter by Kiakhta . IIo will consequently descend the Aiuoor , and will present himself at Shanghai .

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      IRELAND . Kic-AnnicsT of Si'om-kn . — . Fames Spnllon was rotirrostcd lust Saturday night , on a charge of robbing tho Midland Great Woatern ICailway Company of the sum of 350 / . on the 13 th of last November , tho ni & ht of the murder of Mr . Little . Ho was examined at Capol-street polico court on Monday , and committed . He declined to say anything in answor to the charge until ho had had an opportunity of consulting counsel .

      A MaCUSTUATK TUIINICD POMOKMAN . —Mr . J . Uosnard , J . I * ., was proceeding down Mai'kot-stivot toward * tho Bridewell , Cork , last Saturday , when ho observed n notorious thief thrust his hand into a lady ' s pocket . Tho lady inefluetunlly ondoavoiiroil to soize him , but ho escaped . Mr . Bosnard immodiatflly pursued him , ami , aftor a run through four stroots ho , hiring hanl [ traaaod , turned into Hariiur ' s-luno and dianppcared . Calculating

      from tho distance between thoin that ho oould not hnvo roachod the second houso , Mr . liounnrd sonrolicd tho firaf , nnd thero found thooxhaustod delinquent hid bohind tho door . Having arrosted him , ho proceeded to biiiig thu prisoner to tho pollue-ofllco , and while upon hia way / in immense crowd collected , manifesting , of course , tho warmest sympathy for tho thiof , and ovoiy disposition to prevent hia bolng taken . Enoouragod by such a maul ¦

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      No-388 , Atoust £ 9 , 1857 /| THE LEADER , 821 ^^^^^^^ Bttt ^^^^^*^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^_ ^^^^ j ^^^^^^^^ M ^ Mg ^^^^^^ B ^ M ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 29, 1857, page 821, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2207/page/5/