Mariposa Democrat., 1857-09-24
DETAILS OF THE CAPTURE OF DELHI


Delhi has always been considered one of the
most important cities of India; one English,
and eight indostanee journals are there pub
lished, and the city contains a population Of
about l6O,O 900. Being the great central point
of Hindostan, the great master-stroke in every
effort to shake off the yoke of Britain is to OBJ
tain possession of Delhi, as a first triumph
not, of course, decisive, but highly important
from the decided impression it will produce on
the minds of the natives. The following ap-
pears in London paper, purporting to be the
details, by an eyewitness, of the capture of
Delhi:
"On the morning of the 1lth of May, par
ty of the Sd Light Cavalry, variously stated at
from twenty-five to two hundred and fifty,
made their appearance at Delhi. They had
come over from Meerut during the night, and
were evidently prepared toperpetrate the most
awful crimes, as they were fully armed, and
apparently wild with rage and excitement.
They entered the Calcutta Gate without oppo-
sition from any of the police, and made their
way towards Derowgunge, shooting down, in
their progress, all Europeans they met with.
Among the first victims were, Mr.. Simon Fra
ser, the Governor Generals Agent; Captain
Douglass, his assistant; and Mr.. r. Nixon,
chief clerk in their Office Notice was imme-
diately sent up to the Brigadier, and a regi-
ment 0he oath N. NJ with two guns from De
Testers battery were sent down. The Off
GERS were, with the exception of Col. Ripley,
nnarmed. The Colonel shot two of them be-
fore he fell; but with this exception, and one
said to have been shot by Mr.. Fraser, none
fell. After butchering all the officers of the
Both, the troopers dismounted and went among
the sepoys of the 54th, shaking hands with
them and, it may be supposed, thanking them
tor their forbearance in not firing upon the
snurderers Of their officers. The troopers were
perfectly collected they rode up to their VIC
tins at full gallop pulled suddenly, fired their
pistols, and retrcated. The countenances Of
the troopers wore the expression of maniacs.
One was a mere youth, rushing about, -four
isking his sword, and displaying all the fury
of man under the influence of bhang. They
were in full uniform, and some had medals.
Had the officers of the 2sth, 54th, and 18th
Native Infantry been armed with revovers,
they might have shot some of them; but had
they done so, it is still doubtful question
whether their own men would not have bayo-
netted them. The 54th made some show OF
firing their muskets, but the shots went, Of
course, over the heads of the troopers, who
had evidently full confidence in the reception
they were to meet with. Their plans must
have been well matured. Meanwhile the peo-
pie of the city were collecting for mischief
several bungalows at Dareowgunge had been
fired; and as the day advanced, the Goojurs
of the villages around Delhi became alive to
the chances of loot, and were ready for action.
The whole city was up in arms, every Euro
pean residence was searched, the troopers de-
elared that they did not want property, but
life; and when they retired, the rabble rushed
in and made clean sweep, from the punkahs
70 the floor mats,