The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-08-29
THE REBELLION In INDIA.
WONDERFUL ESCAPE on 4 LADK

massacre at Cawnpore and after undergoing heieupie
pryaon and unparalleled adventures, was restored 10
her friends The Times il has vouchers OF due
thorty for the despatch OF the story nom Calcutta and
It's receipt in England endorsement called for by
apparent discrepancy in two dates 1t has also
the young lady name and particulars of her family:
was lG years of age when accompanied my sister
and her husband TO cawnpore about six months before
the nutny broke out and suffered with the Christians
under General Sir Hugh Wheeler Accounts had reached
on the 18th of May OF the disasters Meeru and
then were apprebensive OF outbreak at Cawnpore.
We gathered into the barracks the 2lst Of the
month, and suffered dreadful priyaons from want
of provisions and water and from the frequent attacks
which made by The mutneers small body OF
men, about $50 altogether consisting partly Of officers OF
native regiments and 60 artillerymen.
An unfortunate treaty entered into between Gen.
Wheeler and the Mana Sahib the Gath of June the
latter by his gods and upon the Gungo To protect
and safely taken to Aliahabad in boats. We
tered these joyuly for moment expecting treach
cry, and taken quite by surprise when
fired The river in many places ia the middle had
than six feet water that most of the boats
aground Some of the small managed TO push
Ca and then with difficulty The firing at FIRST
Irregular but after while the balls whizzng past
rs - thick as hail. sinking many boats was on the
deck OF my boat seated supplied with terror and
nent when was further convinced Of immediate dan
ger by seeing party OF sepoys enter the boat in
seized in instant by the by OF these
agesior savages and rutians they looked asked
10 deliver all possessed money and jewels to the
amount OF 400 rupees tho sum managed TO take with
when proceeded 10 the barracks, snatched
from
On replying in the negative to questions whether had
money and valuabes by me, my person search
ed rudey. My senses had very nearly forsaken
in sort OF stupor. The search made on my
person while standing but, to speak exactly,
was made to stand while searched The rntiian,
ii to tantalize let off his gun my head and
shoulders in the most deliberate and cold booded
They afterwards shot two sweet little girls, sisters,
who were between the ages of six and eight The poor
creatures cingng to each other when they commit
ted this diabolical act Next they shot Eurasian
whose Kirkpatrick, merchant of Cawnpore.
How many others killed by the miscreants could
not know, for felt dizzy and sank the deck. For
what time remained in this state have no idea re-
turned consciousness by feeling myself suddenly and
rudely seized and thrown into the river.
The next moment was buffetng with the water /
managed with difficulty, to get to land and
bled shore crawled on my hands and knees till
reached tree about half mile from the banks and hid
myself as well as could My thoughts oh heavens
agonizing My sister, her husband, and children
had had not the slightest doubt been ruhlessly
dered. shuddered to think Of their dreadful fate My
thoughts next reverted to myself What was to dog
where could escape surrounded as all sides
by the dreadful revengeful and blood thirsty enemy
had no hope Of escape offered up fervent prayer to
God Gracious and merciful Father Thou wilt not de-
sert in the time of need! o Lord have mercy on
me and suchlike prayers burst forth from my inner
most soul.
fell BY degrees into sort Of drowsy fit occasioned
perhaps from weariness from which was aroused by
approaching steaithy footsteps In instant sprang
TO my feet but instead of the rufans whom expected
to see to my great relief the weknown face and form
of Miss Wheeler the Generals daughter before
In few words understood that she had been dealt with
in the same way as myself thrown into the water
by the men, who perhaps thought she not worth
bulletthat being nsensble, she would sink to the
bottom of the river. Our agitation and fear however,
were 30 great that had much of consolation to
offer each other. We had not been together than
an hour, should suppose, when party of the enemy
surprised us We were dragged in different directions
and of Miss Wheeler fate knew nothing till very late
y. was pushed and dragged along and subjected to
every indgnity
Occasionally felt the thrust of bayone and on my
protesting against such treatment with uplifted hands,
and appealing to their feelings men, struck my
head aud made to understand in language too plain
that had not long to live but before being put to
death that would be made 10 feel portion of the
degradation their brethren felt at Meernt when roned
and dsgraced before the troops After walk of about
four hours was brought to place about four miles from
Cawnpore very Bithoor, where some of the mutt
were encamped was almost in state of nudity
for my clothes had been torn pieces when had been
dragged along by the men, and had the modification
of being made spectacle before these heartess and cruel
wretches Clapping of hands and cries of g Khoob-
keaH well done burst upon my Supplied senses A
circle formed around sunk the ground and bur-
led my face in my hands Oh, the agony Of those
ments
tors Ia rather conciatory tome Spare the poor
tuIe, aud have compassion her let her alone, she
seems dead already" / looked up and African
There was something mild and compassionate in his look
He relieved me in great measure from the shame
suffering by throwing covering chuddur me. He
asked me to accompany him. Immediately followed
and was ushered into tent where desired by my
beneiactor to take rest He made me understand that
he would do all in his power TO have my life spared
thanked him for his kindness After while he procured
me suit OF native clothes, which he said should put
on You are very unwell, said he, your eyes
bloodshot, and face very much flushed" knew that
had strong fever me, aud felt exceedingly weak.
replied that little sleep would perhaps do good
laid my aching head on the mattress and fell fast asleep
Il i hard