The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-01
An Adventure With sepoYs.

| United States sloopsof-War Advance, aI
anchor in the magnificent harb0r OF Rio,
was dressed in countless yards of bright
4 bunting, which tluttered from her gilded.
trucks to the waters edge.
The officers were entertaining their
friends from shore in the ward-room,
whence issued shouts of laughter min
gled with the clink of glasses and the
lpopping of corks.
In the cabin the commander, gray
haired, middle-aged man, surrounded by
| a few gentlemen friends of his own age,
| were more quietly amusing themselves.
| He was a tine+loOking, officer, with
IstrOngly marked features, and no gentle
man in the service was more deserVedly
popular among all grades than Tom
| Haywood, as his friends call him.
''Let me see, Hay wood" remarked one
of the guests, 'if my memory serves me
right, you were married in India, were
| you mott"
eyes, Crockett; and 1t was owing TO
the Sepoy rebellion, too."
| ''Eo the rebellion. How is thatT'
| swell, it is something of a. yarn, which,
II you all have the patience TO listen to-,
I will relate"
| eighteen years ago was on the East
Indian station, and through The kind
ness Of the Commodore was appointed
to the command of Banshee, large
| scho0ner-ya that had once been q
pirate In the China seas, and had fallen
| into the clutches Of one of our cruisers
| by some fortunate circumstance.
| "The Banshee was manned by picked
men, every one OF whom took pride. in
our beautiful craft, which acted as ten
| der and dispatch boat to the flag Ship.
"The great revolt in India was yet un-
| developed, but the indications were I'M
mStakable; so much SO that was or
| dered to drop up the Ganges, just below
| Rampore, whore a number Of Americans
We're located, and to bring them to q al
cutta before the tempest which was
brewing should burst upon their devoted
heads.
my crew had been reduced by drafts
made upon me by the flag-ship,Y where
the cholera had waged sad havoc, so
started on the expedition short-handed.
1t was strange aud novel sight-an
ever changing panorama-salling up the
mighty Gauges, the sacred river which
the poor Hindoos believe to flow from
the root Of the bujpuJra tree, and which,
llor over twelve hundred miles, rolls
Idown through vast plains teeming with
verdure, through forests, where the say
age tiger and leopard prowl, the abode
lof gaunt fever, the deadly cobra and the
lsacred alligator. .............
"We passed ruins of Qualifications
built beyond the memory Of man, grace
full temples graded with marble SLAMS to
the banks Of the river, Where,, at sun
rise, the pretty HlndoO girls battle like
SO many naiadS or syrenS; then some
Iistupendous column would rise from
amid mass OF luxurious foliage, raised
in memory to some potentate long since
, lpassed away. Mosques, pagodas and
Yariegated temples met my eyes con-
tinuaIly until anchored, close in shore,
at point l supposed to be occupied by
the imperiled Americans.
"A few houses were discernible, half
concealed by groves Of palm and tama-
rind trees, but no sign of a human being
lcould | discover through the glass.
"The thunder OF The sunset-gun failed
to rouse any one out, so on the morrow
l resolved to go on shore and explore for
myself; but was saved the trouble,
THAT night ten of my best men were
taken down with ohills and fever, which
the assistant surgeon told me might re-
suit in something worse unless great
care was exercised.
Il had just men enough left now to
man the pivot gun, and work ship after
fashion, so you may imagine now anX-
ious l was to drop down the river again
TO a healthy location. .
81 was eating breakfast, when the rat
tie Of an irregular volley OF musketry
caused me to start to my feet, at the
same time my executive officer, passed
midshipman, reported to me that a dozen
OF SO OF Sepoy cavalry were in hot pur
suit of white man, who was riding di
rect for the vessel. . ....
''The country was perfectly level, the
3 view unobstructed, SO when long tor
| du I fni
to throw a grist OF grape at the copper
| colored devils, who reined in their horses
with jerk, uttered a few yells, SHOOK
r their fists at the Banshee, in fit O
i rage, and turning, galIoped off at Guri
Gus pace.
"a boat was sent in for the fugitive
who had dismOuuted from his pantinl
, bay, and as he ascended the side, there
t was no mistakiDg the tall, erect, fine
/ muscular tgure and martial bearing ol
the stranger.
"He was an officer in the British
d Army, Captain i'll the Third Irregular
. | Native Cavalry, and had been stationed
at post about seven miles back in the
/ country.
"'My name is Marshman, Fred
| Marshman,' he said, as he grasped my
< hand, and it's deVilish glad | am to SEE
! you. L heard your gun last night, won
dered what it could mean, and started
: to ride over this morning, when my
command revolted, numbering every off
t Ger but myself. [ should have falel
! also but for the timely aid you rendered
b Delhi has fallen into the hanus of tht
: conspirators. The Sepoys are every
!, where revoiting, and the air is full of tht
e most horrible rumors OF violence ant
e blo0dshed.'
}, "Thank God you are here, and neve
t before did | so love your Stars ant
= Stripes. In the name Of humanity yol
d must assist me-. There is family re
> siding about ten miles from here ex
posed to the fanatical and savage fur,
e of these demons. There is no one t
|, lprotect them, for even the father is all
It sent at Calcutta on business. Tn
II mother and two daughters are alone
t, am engaged to the eldest, so you ca
d in measure understand my feelings
J. There is not a moment to lose, or if 20
|, can not aid me, must 60 alone, and tina
IS at once.'
SIN very few words explained t
1.-THE poor fellow how was situated, ant
lalthough 1 could not consistently en-
;, danger Uncle Sam's property, and tn
y poor disabled fellows in the sIck bay,
x VoIuntparal NV individual aid tNhia