The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-08-07

In all that vast assemblage of 100000 hu-
man beings, whisper would have broken the
stiffness.
The English officers rode along the lines,
silent and severe of aspect The champ of
their horses bits, the clank of their sabres,
seemed loud and troublesome, as they Jared
the alI-pervading quiet.
AT five o'clock, the Brigadier rode in fro1t
of the death guns, and for moment the ST.
lence Of the grave prevailed. Ii was only in
terrupted when voice, audible to the most
distant of the listening multitude, read in
tones clear, solemn and firm. the sentence of
the court martial.
In the language of Iindostan, it smote the
ear and hearts of the convicts
Thus It was rendered to me-
"The court, having found you guilty of at
tending seditious meeting in Bombay, and
of having made use of highly mutinous and
sedltious language, evinciAg traitorous dis
position towards the government, tending to
promote rebellion against the state, ard to
subvert its authority, tthe above being in
breach of the articles of war; sentence YOU.
Drill Havildar Synesd Hoseen,' of the Ma
rine battalion, Native Infantry, and Private
Mungall Guddrew, of No. s company, Tenth
regiment Native Infantry, to suffer death by
being blown away from the muzzie of a can
non."
The two men were then ordered to divest
themselves Of their regimental jackets. This
was quickly done; they were then marched
between files of the European guard, each TO
a cannon's mouth, and there bound tightly
with ropes.
The culprit "Drill Havilder appeared
composad and assumed an attitude erect
and Ggnitied, until he found himself in the
grasp of the artillery men.
He gazed imploringy upon the regiment
to which he had belonged-expecting |
thought, that they might rush to his rescue.
He made a last appeal
"Oh' S,hib. captain-Sahib-pardon
-dear-dear captain :"
They stood before him nOtionless. and
that guilty breast where sanguinary resolves
mad arranged the midnight slaughter OF de-
fenceless men, women and children, now
heaved with the mental agony of the doomed
conspirator.
While the two men were being bound not
4 syllable was uttered by the assembled crowd
the suspense legthened seconds into min.
utes.
All eyes were turned for an instant from
the prisoners to the native regiments bu,
they moved not.
y rattling of steel along the line gave no
ticc that the Enfield rife was prepared to
visit mutiny with slaughter.
As the word prime fell upon the ear,
noticed the tenth native infantry shook, as
by an electric thrill.
1t was now quite evident they might hav,
feared that at the next moment the deadl,
rifles might be lcyelled against their front
simultaneously with the loading of the in
tantry, the guns to the right and left of tn,
criminals were pointed at the two native reg
iments, loaded to the muzzle with caniste
and grade-and there the gunners stood will
signal match lighted.
From the ramparts of the fort four sixty
eight Founders looked threateningly upol
the scene.
When the final summons WAS siven-th,
handouts and uniform jackets removed-ant
the English gunners were lashing the traitor
with their backs to the cannon's mouth, i
was really fearful to notice the wild. despair
ing expression in the face of the doomed
There was another pause again the silenc,
became oppressive-theusands and thousand
of eyes riveted their gaze upon the victims
and the heart of the strongest there stirre,
more quickly, when arose from captain Bol
ton of the Royal Artillery the command:
LET all retire from the suns-except IL,
men with the potfres.'
AT the word Fire apply the match /!
/ When the word Ready" was given b
Captain Bolton-the gunners in momen
lighted their matches-the prisoners and tn
artillery men stood immovabIe as statues.
The awful word - Fire rang out clear a
clarion note-the smoke rolled upwards il
sluggish clouds-the cannons spoke as il
tones Of thunder, and the air revealed b
many shastly witness that retri5ution hat
been terribly visited upon those who design
ed to revel and to dabble in the blood c
massacre.
First Shot in the Revolution.