The Nevada journal., 1858-01-01
WHOLE NUMBER 3o5

from India there is repeated auusion to
the punishment of being blown from
the guns" inflicted by the British upon
the captured rebel Sepoys. This mode
OF execution, in the estimation of the
hlndoos is merciful end in comparison
with being hanged. The rebel Brah.
minis fear more the loss of caste and rc.
ligious damnation by the touch of the
'hangman, than they dread what appears
to our ordinary notions the terrible
death of being blown from the guns:
In English journals received by the
last mail we find some interesting
notices of this extraordinary mode of
capital punishment. The following on
the subject is an extract from letter
written by young officer of the 52d
Native Infantry, at Jubbuipore:
Sept. 18th. Tam afraid our regiment
won't stand. A rajah and his family
near here have been tampering with our
sepoys. He has been caught, however,
with all his family, and is confined in
the jail. We have just heard rescue
is to be attempted, SO we are all ready.
18th. l have just come back from
seeing the rebel rajah and his sons
blown from guns. Is was an awful
sight; but they richly deserved a far
worse fate. Faney-it has been found
out that we were all to be roasted alive
when caught! He prayed, as he was
being lashed to the gun, that his surviv-
ing children might be spared to burn us.
We'll, we went down to where the two
guns were drawn up, with detachment
of infantry and cavalry to prevent sur.
prlse-the cavalry rushing about, keep
ing the people back from the front of
the guns. Soon afterward the prisoners
arrived looking very pathetic and non.
chalant; their fetters were knocked off
pm the ground. l was quite close to
them, as we officers were inside a circle
close to the guns, into which the crowd
was not allowed to come. They were
then bound to the mouths of the cannon.
The way is this You stand with vour
back to cannon mouth, which is point
ed to the back of the heart-you have
now very good idea of it. The artil-
lery officer, when all was ready. gave
the command in a loud clear voice.
division ready! f.e!" A boom
a thud as of body faIling-and all
was over. / am afraid we are all yery
b!oodtdirsty, as almost every one had q
smile of gratifed revenge on lis lips.
We all were thinking of Cawnporc.
You know have very soft Heart, and
would most likely have tainted or got
sick at home if / had seen the same
oefore these massacrcs; but I can as
sure you that although l felt the awful
solemnity of two souls going, with n
prayer for murder on their lips, before
heir God, yet I went up afterwards
With almost gratifed feelings to look at
heir faces, still thinking of Cawnpore.
Delhi Meeiut, Jhansi, Bareilly, Fyza-
bad. The old mans face was quiet and
severe (he never had moved a muscle
the whole time before), as was also the
young ones IA man of forty). Their
legs and arms fell clese to the cannons'
mouths, they being tied the head and
part of the body being blown about
fifty yards in front. Quite untouched
their faces were, and quite quiet. 1t is
very quick death, as they can feel no
pain' the region of the heart being at
once blown away. Those massacres
have quite changed me. 1 believe /
could walk over recently fought battle
field quite unmoved.
The Bombay Gazette gives, from the
relation of medical officer of its Pres
idency, who was conspicuous for his bra
very and gallantry during some of the
late disturbances, the following terribly
graphic description of an execution
parade"
The first parade was horrible sight
but the blowing away from guns is most
appalling. After the explosion, the
grouping of the mems remains in front
OF each gun was various and frightfuI
One mans head was perched upon his
back, and he was staring around as if
looking for his legs and arms. All you
see at the time is cloud like dust
storm, composed of shreds of clothing
burning muscles, and frizzing fat, with