The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-15
THE MASSACRE AT cAwNpoRE.
Extraordinary Developments.


bic massacre at Cawnpore, gathered by the
special correspondent of the London Times
If the details here stated be true, it is only
another proof that there is soul of good
ness 10 things evil for even the much abused
Sepoy refused TO obey orders leading to
butcbery aud death. The narrative is as
follows:
As time rolls on, aud the events of 1857
become historical, the details of the dreadful
scenes enacted at Cawnpore, Delhi, Futte
ghur, and other places, which must ever
sound sadly and horribly in English ears, are
brought before us more clearly, and be view
cd more distinctly, if not more calmly. The
narrative of Mrs. Murray may BE- regarded
as fiction founded on fact the former be-
ing the work Of the gentleman who put
her narrative into shape" But there is now
in course of investigation the story Of anoth
er survivor and eyewitness Of the massacre
of Cawnpore. Some time ago hal.csste
Christian, named Filchett, presented him
self for admission into the police levy before
the local authorities of Meerut. The usual
inquiries into his character led to the deve,
opnent Of his tale, which is as follows
When the mutiny broke ont he was musi..
clan in the band of one of the native infant
ry regiments at Cawnpore, aud in the gems
eraI massacre he saved his Ike by proclaimlng
that lie would become Moham nedan, which
he did by an easy process almost on the
spot. lie remained in Cawnpore, and was
enrolled in the Nana's force, with which be
did duty.
On the afternoon Of the 18th of June,
when it became known tina. the British were
advancing, council of war, or of delibera
tion, WAS held by the Mana, at which it was
resolved the women and children at the
3eebeeghur, numbering about 205, were to
be murdered. The news went rapidly through
the town, and the men of the mntlnous 9th
Native Infantry entering the enclosure pro-
ceeded to take from our unfortunate coun,
trywomen any articles Of value or triukeis
which they retained on their persons. When
the Mana heard of this he was vely much
dispIeased, aud he sent down body OF
Sowars, wi'li strict orders to permit no one
10 enter but the executiouers.
1t so happened that oy some means not
clearly ascertaiued, four English gentlemen
were at this time living with tile women and
children in the enclosure. Three have been
identified beyond doubt, namely: Mr.. Thorn
hill, magistrate and collector of Futtoghur
Colonel Smith, 10th Native Infantry, and
Brigadier Godie, of The clothing depart
imeat; the identity Of the fourth has not
been established, but it is probable that he
was one Of the Greenways. Shortly before
half pas four O'clock, message was brought
10 these gentlemen Than Brgadier Jerkiu, a
native officer Of the mutineers, desired to
see them and they lett the house to rer air
to his quarters. They walked quietly along
the road, suspecIIng nothing in The direction
indicated to them, and when they had got
AS far as the Assembly Rooms they Were
suddenly attacked from behind, cut down,
and murdered on the spot.
Meantime preparations were being made
for the execution Of the orders OF the Mana
and his council. There was some di fhculty
about getting instruments for this horrible
butcbefy The Sowars wished to save them
.
fantry were equally averse to the task-but
at last some soldiers of the 9th Native In
fantry were compelled to 60 in, with orders
to fire on the poor, helpless crowd. They
fred in the air, or did so little harm that it
was evident the views Of the assassins could
not be accomplished in that manner. They
sent into the town, therefore, and the Sowars
brought out two Of the common butche,s of
the bazaar-two Bnooreeas, men OF Wild
miserable, gpsy like caste land vilaiytee,
who were armed with hatchets and tuwsrs,
aud ordered to 90 in ard kill every soul in
the house aud enclosure, while all egress was
strictly watched by the Sowars outside.
4 1t was long and dreadful butchery.
Fitchett who was near the place, declares
that the assassins entered the enclosure
about $50 P. NJ, and that it was 10 P. NJ.
before they came out to announce that their
work was accomplished. Once, he says,
butcher appeared with his sword broken in
two, received sabre from Que Of the Sow
ars, and returned to continue his hellish La
Dor. The Mana was in the hotel, close a.
hand, and when he heard that all were dead,
he gave or,lers that lhe doors should be closed
for lbeuighl, and guards put over the place.
That night the Mana gave uautch--a kind
of dance aud ball-to his friends,
Early in the morning of the 10th, the
Mana gave orders that the doors should be
opened, and that all the bodies should be
flung into the we'll within the. compound !;
but; as it was far loo smastoAconlaln so
many bodies, it is probable that some we're
dragged away to other places, or were thrown
into the Ganges. On the 10th, Fdchett
fled with his new friends to Futteghur, and
here occurs most interesting part of his
story. He declares that he frequently saw
Miss Wheeler, the daughter Of the General,
at Futteghur, and that she travelled with a
Sowar, who had taken her from Cawupore-
nay, more, that he was shown into the room
where she WAS, and ordered to read extracts
fron English newspapers, which the rebels
received from Calcutta, he being employed
by them for the purpose Of translating the
news, in which, particularly that relating to
the progress Of the war with China, they
took great interest She had a horse with an
! English saddle, which the Sowar had procur-
t ed for her, and she rode close beside him,