The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1858-06-23
The Black Hole at Calcutta.
A THRILLING SKETCH.

+ we copy from Blackwood's Magazine /
The Governor of Fort William, at Calcu
t ia, having imprisoned merchant--the we
: known Omychund-the infamous Nabob c
t Bengal, Surrajah Dowlah, on the lookou
for a pertext, marched against Fort William
With considerable force, beseiged and tool
it, and imprisoned the surviving part Of tn
garrison in the barrack-room named Ii
Black Hole. The letter in which Mr.. Uol
well, the officer in command, describes th
horrors Of this imprisonment is printed il
the Annual Register for 1853, and from
tho following extracts are made -
Figure to Yourself the situation of hun
dred and forty-six wretches, exhausted b,
continual fati que and exhaustion, crammec
together in a cube ofeighteen feet,o close
sultry night in Bengal, shut up to the east
ward and southwark (hs only quarter;
whence air could reach us) by dead walls
and by a wall and door to the north, open
only TO the westward by two windows, strong
" barred with iron, from which We could
receive scarce the loas. circulation ot
fresh air. i We had been but few
minutes confined before every one fell into a
Iperspiratiou SO profuse, you can form no idea
Of It, This brought on a raging thirst, which
WAS increased in proportion as the body was
drained Of its moisture. Various e4pedients
aero thought Of to give more room and air.
10 gain The former, it was moved TO put off
their clothes this was approved as happy
lmotion and in a few moments every one
was strpped-myself, Mr.. Court, and the
two young gentlemen by me, excepted. For
a Ettlo while they fattered themselves with
having gained mighty advantage; avery
hat was put in motion to gain 2 circulation
OF air, and Mr.. Dailie proposed that every
man should sit down on bis hams. The ex
pedient was several times put in practice,
and at each time many of the poor creatures,
whose natural strength was less than that of
tothers. or who had been more exhausted,
and could not Immediately recover their legs
when the word WAS given to rise--fell to rise
no more, for they were instantly trod to
death or suifocated. When the whole body
sat down, they were so closely wedged to-
gether that they were obliged to Use many
efforts to get up again. Before nine O'Clock
every mans thirst grew into!erable, and res
pira,ion difficult. Efforts were made TO force
the door, but in vain. Many insults were
used to the guard to provoke them to fire on
US. For my own part, hitherto felt little
pain or uneasiness, but what resulted from
my anxiety for the suferings of those with
in. BY keeping my face close between two
of the bars, I obtained air enough to give
my lungs easy play, though my perspiration
was excessive, and thirst commencing. AT
this period SO strong 4 urinous volatile etilu-
via came from the prison that was not able
to turn my head that way for more than
few seconds at time.
"Now every body, except those situated in
and near the windows, began to grow out
rageous, and many delirous. Water! wa-
ter! became the general cry. An old Jem-
mantdaar, taking pity, on us, ordered the
people to bring US some skins of water
This was what dreaded. 1forcsaw it would
prove the ruin Of the small chance left to
us, and essaved many times to speak to him
privately to forbid it being brought; but
the clamor was SO loud, it became impossi
bic. The water appeared. Words cannot
paint the universal agitation and raving the
Sight of it threw us into. tatterel myself
that some, by preserving an equal temper of
mind, might outlve the night; but now the
reflection that gave me the greatest pain
was, that saw no possibility of one escaping
to tell the dismal tale. Until the eoater
came I had not mysef suffered much from
thirst, achich instantly grcw erces$ire. We
had no means Of conveying it into the pris-
on but by hats forced through the bars
and thus myself, and Coles, and Scott sup
piled them as fast as possible. But those
who have experienced intense thirst, or are
with the cause and nature of
this appetite, would be sufficiently sensible
it could receive no more than a nlomentary
alienation; the cause still subsisted.-
Though we brought full hats through the
bars, there ensued such violent STRUGGLES and
frequent contests to get it, that before it
reached the lips of any one, there would be l
scarcely a small tea-cuplul left in them. The {
supplies, Ike sprinkIing water to the fire,
only seemed to feed the flame. Qhl my
lear sir, how shall give you just cohcep-
ion Of what felt at the cries and cravings t
Of those in the remoter parts OF the prison, :
could not entertain probable hope Of /
obtaining a drop, vet could not diyest them q
selves of expectation, however unavailine, t
calling me by the tender considerations Of {
Election and friendship The confusion s
row became general and horil. Several t
quilted the other window Che only chance
hey had for lle) to force their way to water, ,
snd TIE throng and press upon the window !;
Was beyond bearing; many, forcing their q
way from the further part Of the room, 3
pressed down those III their passage who had .
ess strength, and trsmpled them to death. ;,
Prom about nine to eleven | sustained :;
his cruel scene, still supplying them with =
water though M legs were &:mols broke =
With The weight against them. by this
ilne myself was near pressed to death, and
nv two companions, with Mr.. Parker. who e
, Eo~onJ hi7,salf ia .he window were yaai- L