The Press.
London, England, 1857-10-17 00:00:00

THE CAWNPORE SURRENDER RELATED
BY SURVIVORS.

The Calcutta Englishman publishes the deposition
of Mary Ann, ayah, in the service of Mrs. T. Green-
way, Cawnpore, who was a witness of the fearful
crimes enacted there. The ayah, after describing
the extremities to which the garrison was reduced,
thus narrates the surrender :—" Mrs. Jacobi, who had
fallen into Nana Sahib's hands, was sent into camp
with a letter to General Wheeler. The contents of
this letter were—'lt is far better for you who aro
alive to go at once to Allahabad, unless you wish to
continue fighting. If so, you can do so. Let Cawn-
pore be given up, and you shall he saved.' On reach-
ing the intrenchment General Wheeler went to meet
Mrs. Jacobi, and, after having read the note, said—
I cannot agree to anything sent this way by letter.
If the Nana has any proposition to make, tell him to
make it in person.' Mrs. Jacobi took this reply back
to the Nana, who said—' If the Europeans will cease
firing I will go; and sent back a reply. The
general said—' Let both sides cease firing during the
conference.' It was agreed to. On the following
day the Nana, his brother Baber I)utt (?), and
nephews, and large party of soldiers, came up to the
intrenchment. General Wheeler was ready to meet
them. The Nana said—' Take away all the women
and children to Allahabad, and if your men want to
fight come back and do so. We will keep implicit
faith with you.' General Wheeler said—' You take
your solemn oath according to your customs, and I
will take an oath on my Bible, and will leave the
intrenchment.' Tha Nana said—' Our oath is, that
whoever we take by the hand, and he relies on us, we
never deceive; if we do, God will judge and punish
us.' The general said—' If you intend to deceive
me, kill me at once; I have no arms.' The Nana
replied—' I will not deceive you, rely on us. I will
supply you with food, &c., and convey you to Alla-
habad.' On this the general went inside the in-
trenchment and consulted with the soldiers. They
said—' There is no reliance to be placed on natives,
they will deceive you ;' a few said—' Trust them; it
is better to do so.' On this the general returned and
said—' I agree to your terms; see us away as far
as Futtehpore ; from thence we can get easily to
Allahabad.' The reply was—' No, sir, I will see
you all safe to Allahabad.' On this twenty boats were
ordered, with covers to them. Whet the Nanasaw all
was settled, he said—' Don't let the treasure be taken ;
send that to me.' The general said—' You may have
the money.' There were three lacs in cash at this time.
The Nana said, ' You breakfast on board the boats
at ten a.m. to-morrow, and dine on board, and leave
the intrenchment clear by eleven a.m.' The general
assented to this. They were all ready, when a
message from the Nana came, saying, ' The boats
will not be ready to-day, you must leave to morrow;
leave in the evening.' The general said—' I won't
leave at night, as you may play us false.' The Nana
said—' Very well; leave at four p.m.' On tho follow-
ing day the Nana took away all the treasure. At this
time the delay again took place in their departure.
All the ladies and children were dressed and ready. '

The general asked the Nana, Are all our servants
to go with us, or do you supply us with servants ?'
The reply was, Yes.' On the following day, though
suspicions were entertained of the faith of the Nana's
party, still they hoped all was right. The Nana sent
on Sunday to say the servants were not to go, as the
ladies and women could look atter themselves. On
this being heard they were all alarmed. At seven
a.m. the mutineers surrounded the intrenchment,
and all the Englishmen in their power; the servants ran
away, and were cut down ; a few escaped ; all were
alarmed. The rebels reached (?) the intrenchment,
and said, Come to the boats, all is ready.' Ladies
and child' en were sent on elephants, dhoolies,
and the men marched to the river, and then embarked
in the boats. When they all saw food prepared, and
all comfortable, they were delighted. When a few
had gone on board, and others were waiting to embark
on the river side, a gun opened on them with canister
tthis gun and others had been masked); one lost
took fire, and then another gun opened, and four
boats were fired ; on this, those who escaped the fire
jumped into the water. The sepoys also fired
muskets, the sowars entered the water on horseback,
and cut numbers down. Fifteen boatloads of English
were massacred ; 108 women and children escaped
this massacre, but many of them were wounded.
The Nana said, Don't kill these, put them in prison.'
One boat, in which General Wheeler was, was pulled
off by the soldiers. The poor people, on the
burning of the boats, and when in the water,
were calling on God for help. A daughter of
General Wheeler's wit? taken off by a sowar, and put
into his house along with his wife, near the church.
The girl remained t►ll nightfall ; and when he came
home drunk, and fell asleep, she took a sword and
cut off his head, his mother's head, two children's
heads, and his wife's, and then walked out into the
nißlit air, and when she saw other sowars, she said,
Go inside, and see how nicely I have rubbed the
Ressaldar's feet.' They went inside, and found all