The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-04-12
Historic al.
The Black Hole of Calcutta

W e frequently hear aliuslOnsln OratlOnS,
articles, and ordinary conversation, to the
Black Hole of Calcutta, but there are few
of our younger readers, probably, who are
are acquainted with the particulars of the
scenes of horror which transpired in that
abode of death, in its most painful form.
We therefore give the story:
For some years previous to the taking
Of Pondicherry, in l76l, from the French,
by the English, Calcutta had been advan-
cling in prosperity with rapid strides under
the friendly aid of Aliverdi Kahn, an Af-
CHAN chief of great talent, who had wres-
ted the viceroyalty or nabobship of Bengal
from its legitimate ruler, weak and
impotent prince. Upon Aliverdi's death,
however, he was succeeded by his grand
son Surajah Dowlah-or, as sometimes
spelled, Sura- a-jud- Dowla-a dissolute and
tyrannical prince, who, stimulated by the
exaggerated reports of the great wealth
amasscd in the factory, seized the first
plausible opportunity for coming to rup-
ture with the settlers, and commencing
hostilities. The pretext laid hold of for
putting his designs into execution, was
the erection of various fOrtifications,
which were then in progress for the de-
Tense of Calcutta, in case of any attack
being made on it by the French, butwhich
Suraiah Dowlah chose to construe into
preparations against himself He imme-
diately collected his army, marched against
that place, plundered the English factory
of Cossimbazar by the way, and making
the governor and members of council pris-
oners The garrison Of Calcutta at that
time did not muster above 514 men of
whom only LA were Europeans, totally
undisciplined and attempts were, there
fore, at first made to come to reasonable
terms with the nabob, but the fate of Cos
simbazar dispelled all hopes of peaceful
accommodation. The attack on Calcutta
commenced on the 18th June, 1856 and
on the same day the whole of the outworks
and external Notifications fell into the
hands of the Indians. Though all hope
of a successful resistance was now gone,
it was agreed, in a council of war, to hold
out till the following night, in order to
get time to convey the woman and chill
| dren on board of ship, which was safely
accomplished the same night. At day
| break next day the attack was renewed
and while the situation of the besieged
| became every hour more distressing, they
| had the modification to see all the English
IA well as neutral vessels then lying in
the Hooghly, weigh anchor and proceed
down the river. TO complete the wretch
ed dilemma of the troops, Drake, the Gov
ernor, was seized with a panic, threw
himself into the last remaining boat, and
! left them to their fate Mr.. Howell was
chosen to FIJI his place, who endeavorcd
to open negotiations for surrender; but
| the troops, in the confusion, having gain,
ed access to the liquor, were soon in
state of complete intoxication, and the en-
emy learning how matters stood, step
ped into The fort without further resis
| tance.
| OF the narrowing event which took
place in the fort on the night succeeding
its capture, the following narrative, which
originally appeared in a native East In
dia publication, is at once the most correct
and striking that has yet been given tt
| the world:
! "At five o'clock the nabob entered the
fort, accompanied by his general, Nicer
.Jaffcr, and most of the principal officers