The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1853-12-31
VOLUME XIv-NO. ia.
Who 4 Fest M0hs mlled.

enough ten years ago, Dut iaeeiy aiMoSt ioi gov
i ten There are doubtless thousands Of our
4readers, especially the younger Ones wondering
/ who Dost Mohammed is. We will tell them,
/ for it is a name that will, ) probably, live in
history.
northwest of British India, is mountainous
region, inhabited by bold and hardy tribes, !,
j whose blue eyes light ha5r, and dark counten-
anccs, show them to be of the best Circassia,p
I race Some years ago, the monareR of Ane
gllanistan dying, the ancient kingapm split KPH,
1 fragments, and among those who pAoitte
the occurrence was Dost Mohammed, q. - ;
Ier brother Of former vizer. The Britishuontl1s,
j essr, Che part Of Shah Shnjas q laaa be
q. :. s. :. 7! !I!e gs.ssi;
Cabul, the capital, aud hasing mad u srrisotler
of Dost Mohammed, sent him across tie Ineis<-
| to their territories where they retained
him in Il sort of honorable captivity. At the
same time Shah Shuja replaced on the
throne of Cabul. These events happened in
1889 and 1910.
For this interference in the affairs of Afghan
istan, the British had no excuse whatever. 1t
is true that the Persans were at war with
Herat and the British feared, if Herat fell, that
the Persans, instigated by Russia, would as
sail British India next 1t is true also that
Dost Mohammed was believed to favor the
Pcrsians' designs on Herat. But that Dost
Mohammcd was, at this juncture, hostile to the
British, has never been proved. Dearly how
| In November, 1s4l, insurrcction broke out
at Cabul against the British In the tumult
Sir Alexander Barnes, and several other dis
tinguished officers, lost their lives. This par
tial rising was followed by an insurrection over
the whole kingdom. The British for the first
time in India, since Lord Give began to lay
the foundations of their power, qualed before
the storm. Sir William McNaghten, the Brit
ish envoy at Cali agreed with Akber Khan,
the fivorite of Dost Mohasnmed, to evacu-
ate the country, Akber stpuating to escort
the British army to the frcnt ers, and Sir Will
liam pcdging that Shah Shuja should abdicate,
IN order to make room for Dost Alohammed's
return. At second meeting between Sir Will
liam and Akber, dssenson arising, probably
provoked on purpose by the latter Sir William
was shot dead by the Afghan chief. Akber,
however, agreed subsequently to carry out the
terms of the treaty.
Now began a retreat the horrors of which
only that of Moscow has equaled in modern
times.-Akbcr professed to escort the British
army, but secretly instigated, it is believed, the
saaseh So 80 Nss aai,y 9 sseno
cncumbered with large number of women and
children, besides vast body of camp followers.
Some died from exposure, and some We're lett
| to perish from sickness Oh the way side; but
| the greater quantity fell by the sword OF the
merciless mountaineers. Never but once in
modern times has more signal vengeance been
visited on invaders. The passes were filled along
the whole line of retreat With corIses, that c.
| ten were piled in heaps. Almost the only per-
sons who escaped We're some officers and their
| wives, who had placed themselves under Akber's
personal care, "a few marches from Cabul and
who, after months OF captivity, after terrible
privations and after long weeks of suspense,
more agonizing than the worst priyations, sue
cecded, by bribcs, i'll making their escape and
reaching the nearest British fort, having ridden
several days in hourly peril of their lives.
The British, meantime, had advanced in force
! from their own side of tie Indus, and had even
penetrated to Cabul; but the prisoners having
been thus recovered, and Shah SAuja having been
assassinute1, it resolved to leave the A If
ghans to themselves Accordingly Dost Mo-
manned, who had been retained in captivity. all
| this time, and whose participation i'll the late
evcnts though suspected, cuold not be proved,
was set at liberty. lie took possession at once
of the throne OF Cabul. The British simutane-
ously abandoned that capital, but not until they
had destroyed its famous bazar. 1t was in
November, 1872 that the last division re-cross-
ed the Indus, and the Afghan prince was re-
stored to freedom and escorted to the frontiers
Of his kingdom just twelve months had eiaps-
ed since the !nsurrection III Cabul But III that
single year a more fatal blow had been struck
1T tt British power, by destroying the idea of
British invincibility, than the whole ninety pre-
ceding years had witnessed, since the British
arms first began to make Roadway in the East
Dost Mo,lammed has % love Tor the EngIj
There is little doubt that lie secretly caesed the
massacre at Cabul and that he will, at the hrst
chance, se elk still further vengeance. In releas-
ine him. the British acted from fear more than
any other motve for they found they could
, not hold Alfghanistan, and they thought 1T
would concate Dost Mohammed to set him ct
, liberty-PhH Ledger,
+ A Coon ExcusE.-Uuring the revolutionary
war, when draughts were made from the militia
. to recruit the continental army, certain Cap
=, tain gave liberty to the men draughted from hiS
Il company to make their objection II they mao
anv against going into service; accordingly one
of them. who had an impeachment in his speech
came forward and made his bow.
Is What is your objection" said the captain
e ~ .oo-con,t go answered the man, L st-st-
, stutter' ~ 4horo
8; sStutter' said the captain, you don't go there
e to talk, but to fight
e sAy. but they'll pat me on gn-gu-9uaIo' an''
y man may go ha-ha half a mile before can Sd y
wh-wh-who goes there! . will ,1oce
sOh that is no objection, for they VIII place
i, another sentry with you-he can chailense anu
d. you fire. .1o, ord r,n
" We'll. bu-bu-but I may be taken an" run
C thronob the heart before l can cry 4u-qu-
y tquarters.' 4h .o,+o;n .f
Of This last plea prevailed, and the captain ai'
o. Ter a hearty laugh, dismissed him.
A FIRE in Philadelphia on the night OF the 2lst