The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-04-12

to the principal apartment of the factory
where he sat in state, and received the
of his court and attendants
in magnificent expressions Of his prowess
and good fortune. Soon after he sent for
Mr.. Howell, to whom he expressed much
resentment at the presumption Of the En-
glish in daring to defend the fort, and
much dissatisfaction at the smallness of
the sum found in treasury, which did
not exceed $4,000 rupees. Mr., Howell
this subject before seven o'clock when the
nabob dismissed him, with repeated assu-
RANGES, on the word of a soldier, that he
should suffer no harm.
"Mr. Howell, returning to his unfor-
tunate companions, found them assembled
and surrounded by strong guard ; sew
eral buildings on the north and south
sides of the fort were already in flames,
which approached with so thick smoke
on either hand, that the prisoners imag-
ined their enemies had caused this confa-
grafton in order to suffocate them between
two fires. On each side of the eastern
gate Of the fort extended a range Of cham
bers adjoining to the curtain, and before
the chambers a veranda or open gallery
it was Of arched masonry, and intended to
shelter the soldiers from the sun and rain,
but being low, almost totally obstructed
the chambers behind from the light and
air ; and whilst some Of the guard were
looking in other parts OF the factory for
proper places TO confine the prisoners du-
ring the night, the rest ordered them to
assemble in ranks under the vcranda, on
the right hand of the gateway, where they
remained for some time, with so little sus-
picion Of their impending fate, that they
laughed among themselves at the seeming
oddity of this disposition, and amused
themselves with conjecturing what they
should next be ordered to do About
eight o'clock, those who had been sent to
examine the rooms reported that they had
found none fit for the purpose; on which
the principal officer commanded the pris-
oners to 90 into one of the rooms which
stood behind them along the veranda. 1t
was the dungeon of the garrison, who
used to call it 'Ethe Black Hole" Many
of the prisoners, knowing the place, began
to expostulate, upon which the officer or
dered his men TO cut those down who hes
itated-the prisoners then obeyed but
DelOIc all were NlIHlll, tile TOOln Was 50
thronged that the last entered with diff
Guilty; the guard Immediately closed the
door and locked it fast, confining one hun
dred and forty-six persons In a room not
twenty feet square, with only two small
windows, and those obstructed by the We
randa. 1t was the hottest season of the
year, and the night uncommonly sultry
even at this season. The excessive pres
sure of their bodies against one another,
and the intolerable heat which prevailed
as soon as the door was shut, convinced
the prisoners that it was impossible to live
through the night in this horrible confine-
ment, and violent attempts were immedi-
ately made to force the door, but without
effect, for it opened inwards, on which
many began to give looose to rage. Mr..
Howell, who placed himself at one of the
windows, exhorted them to remain COM
posed both in body and mind, as the only
means of surviving the night; and his re-
monstrances produced short interval of
quiet, during which he applied to an old
jcmautdar, who bore some marks Of hu-
manity about him, promising to give him
1000 rupees in the morning, if he would
separate the prisoners into two chambers.
The old man went to try, but returning in
a few minutes, said it was impossible +;
when Mr.. Howell offered him larger
sum, on which he retired once more, and
returned with the fatal sentence, that no
relief could be expected, because "hte no-
bob acds asleep, and no one dared to aoohe
him" In the meantime, every minute
had increased their sufferings. The first
effect of their confinement was continued
sweat, which soon produced intolerable
thirst, succeeded by excruciating pain in
the chest, with difficulty of breathing little
short of suffocation Various means were
| tried to obtain more room and air. Every
one stripped off his clothes, every hat was
put in motion; and these methods afford
| ing no relief, IL was proposed that they all
| should sit down on their hams at the same
| time, and, after remaining little while
in this posture, rise all together. This
fatal expedient was thrice repeated before
! they had been confined an hour, and ev
erv time, several, unable to raise them
! selves up again, fell, and were trampled tC
death by their companions. Attempt;
were again made to force the door, which
failing as before, redoubled their rage;-
but the thirst increasing, nothing bu
Mater! Water :" became soon after the
general cry. The good .jen,autaar imme
| diately ordered some skins of water to b'
brought to their windows but, instead o
! -clicf, his bcnevolence became a more