Smyrna times., 1858-05-27

the esplanade. AS the parade was formed, i
occupied three sides of Il square. In the centre
OF what may be called the base line were the
Artillery, with five hundred sailors of the Hon
orablc Conpany's Navy on their left, and a abou
the same number of Her Maiesty's Ninety-tiitl
Regiment on the right. The right and lct
sides of the square were composed ofthe Sepoy
regiments of the garrison, against which were
placed six guns, three on either side, loaded
levellcd and laid; the artillcry-mcn having theiI
matches lighted, ready to blow the three native
regiments to pieces, had finger but been rais
ed. Between the six guns were placed, al
right angles with the basement of the square
the two guns to which the prisoners were to be
fastened. Tue gamers we're all men of the
Royal Artillery, aud the position of each seem
ed gaugcd TO hairs breadth. 1t was evident
that they were new to the work; but their quiet
and composed manner showed that they were
quite prepared immediately behind the two
guns, the guard, with the prisoners in the cen.
tire, was stationed.
AS the hour Of five struck the stiffness be-
came awful; every feeling and faculty was
strung to ITS utmost tension, and the beating OF
hearts became audible. The spectacle was one
ofquiet horror, there being none Of the excite
mcnt which is to be met with at public exc
cutlon in any other part OF the world. The ma
tlves OF india are not a dcmunsratlve race, and
they looked on with an appearance Of stolid in
difference. The hand-lul Of stern and deter
mined Europeans had, moreover, ovcr-awcd
them, and there was but one feeling predom-
nant-tcar. Amongst all the assembled thou
sands, murmcr could not even be heard-a
whisper would almost nave broken the Stiffness
The officers rode along the lines resolved aud
silent So nOistlcss was the motion, that even
the champ OF their horses bits ana the cIank of
their sabres jarrcd upon the ear. While the
clock was yclslr.king, the Brigadlcr command
ing the garrison rode in front of the two execu-
tive guns and it seemed for moment as if ali
sound had died away.
The sentence Of the ourt-mar,ill was then
read to the prisoners in The lliudusteni lam
guage, after which they were ordered to pre-
pare fOr death. They were stripped Of their
regimc"tal jackets, and marched between files
Of their European guard to the muzzlrs Of the
two guns. The drill havIIdur one Of the two,
was noble-oukIug man III the noon of man
hood tall and stately. Ills uIcn was erect
aud dignIlied until the n.cu OF the Royal hrillc-
ry laid hands on him. Then he seemed to feel
that his hour had come. "a shuddcr shook hle
frame, his jaw fell aud his ivory. white teeth
were disclosed.
While the two men were being bound not a
syllable was uttered hy tie assembled crowd,
but rattling of steel along The Iluc gave notice
that the Enield ride was preparing for action
AT the word "prme "-aud Whcn the omlnous
click Of the lock fell upon The car, the Tenth
Native Infantry visibly shook. 1t was evident
that they did not know bat that next moment
the rifle might be brought to shoulder, and lev
eled against their front.
simultaneously with the loading of the In.
fantry, the guns to the right and left Of the
criminals were turned straight upon the native
regiments. They were loaded to the muzzIe
with canister and grape, and the gunncrs stood
by the touch holes with their matches lighted
On the ramparts of the fort four sixty-eight
Founders were also laid and ready.
By this time the prisoners were secured to
the two guns. There was a moments pause.
which was broken by Captain Bolton Of the
Royal Artillery, calling out, with loud voice
" Let all retire from the two guns except the
two men at the por-fiIes: al the word Ere,
apply the match" There was probably pause
oftwo seconds duration; then the word "Ready"
was given by Captain Bolton.
The gunners took but moment to blow up
their matches, but 1t seemed long, long time.
The two prisoners and the two artllerymcn
stood out in bold relief, immovable as statues.
The awful stiffness was at length broken The
word Fire !" rang out as clear as clarion
note from the lips Of Capt. Bolton. Next mo,
ments the earth shook as if a volcano had OPEN
ed our feet. The guns were envelopcd in thick
clouds of smoke, through the white wreaths OF
which little PARTICLES OF a crimson color were
falling thick as snow flakes The particles
were the prisoners blown into atoms.
When the smoke cleared, score or two of
half naked men, each with broom and a small
basket, were scattered over the plains. They
were the sweepers, picking up the fragments
for interments, and rObblng the crows Of their
morning repast AS the sun dipped in a sea of
gold the artillery llmbcred up, the military
marched to their lines, and the crowd dispersed
Those who witnessed the impressive scene
will never forget it. The Europeans were
scarcely one to a thousand-in fact, they could
hardly be seen amongst the myriads of Asiat-
les; but all appeared as cool and confident as il
they had been at a review in Hyde Park. And
yet there was scarcely man present who had
not been sleeping with a revolver in his bed.
chamber for months, or who would have ex-
pressed the least surprise it his slumber had
been broken any night by the rattle of musket
ry, and the roar ofartillery. So long had VIC
been sojourniDg in the valley Of the shadow o.
death
AS distance lends inchaniment to the view
it is possible that the spectacle have endeav'
ored to describe may be denounced by class
of Englishmen as cruel and inhunan; but they
ought, before condemning, to pause and reAec