Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-06-21
A TRUE STORY OF THE SEPOY
REBELLION.

The first outbreak in India occurred in
February, 1857, at BerhampOre, succeed |
ed, during the month of May, by the mu-
tiny and massacre at Mecrut, Delhi and |
Lucknow, and the proclamation of the !
Mogul Empire. Then, with appalling
swiftness, followed the atrocities of
Cawnpore, Delhi and Lucknow, by which
time England. in the white heat OF her
wrath, had thrown her legions into the
Hindostan jungles, and the swarthy dew
lis were sent bowling TO the mountains,
or distributed over the surrounding cOun-
try from the Threats of her cannon, while
Mana Sahib slipped across the northern
boundary, into Thibet, where he seems to
have vanished forever from human pur-
suit.
1t was during the early summer of 1857,
when the lurid fires of instruction famed
for hundreds of miles along the Upper
Ganges, that the banking firm of Bore
man & Brother, of Calcutta, became
much exercised over the non arrival of a
messenger of theirs that had started from
Allahabad, in the month of May. This
city lies on the Ganges about 500 miles
from Calcutta, in the very heart of the
mutinous district.
Foreman IL Brother had purchased the
famous Singee diaI lOnd in Allahabad, at
an enormous price, the draft having been
forwarded by their messenger. In the
early part of May a telegram was re-
ceived from the parties from whom the
gem was purchased, saying that the draft
was in their hands, and the diamond had
been turned over to Nuddee, the messen-
ger, who had started hOmeWard on the
day preceding.
This was we'll enough, though their man
was fully fortnight late, due, no doubt,
to the disturbed state of the region through
which he was travelling. Just one week
later came a dispatch in cipher from
Nuddee, stating that he had reached
Bcnares, and would leave again in the
course Of a few hours, the diamond being
safely in his possession. This telegram
was delivered to BOreman & Brother so
soon after being sent that they Immediate
ly replied, advising their agent in case he
found himself in personal danger to con.
Ceal the jewel in some secure place, telc-
graphing them at the same time cipher
directions how they should find it.
This message was returned from the
Calcutta Office with the information that
it could not be forwarded as the telegraph
wire had just been cut east Of Benares,
which was in the hands of the mutineers.
Some months must yet elapse before any
Roadway could be made against the Sc
poys, during which it is we'll known that
they were guilty OF massaCreS and atrOci-
ties unparalleled in savage warfare.
Foreman Il Brother could only wait in
the hope that the shrewdness and cunning
of their agent would bring him and his
jewel through in safety. There was so
much anguish and apprehension in Cal
cutta, and indeed through all England at
that day for the thousands exposed to the
fury of the mutineers, that it was not
likely the bankers would have received
much sympathy, great as was the financial
stake involved.
Nuddee carried two-thirds of their en-
tire wealth about him in the shape of that
wonderful brilliant diamond, and it was
natural that they should feel solicitous
There seemed to be good reason to hope
for the best The agent was native, who
had travelled up and down tie Ganges for
the preceding ten years in the interest Cf
the bankers, and no one could be more
familiar than he with his own country and
people.
The peril lay, perhaps, in this very fact
Nuddee had been in the business so long
that there must be many who knew it.
aware, too, that he frequently carried the
most valuable kind Of property about
him. Beside this, he was a devout Hin
100, wherein lay the unknown quantity
as it may be called. 1t was not at all i'm
possible that he would be swept away by
the rush and swirl of the Instruction, in
which event the diamond would be sure to
go with him.
Benares lies 400 miles from Calcutta
and in the state Of broken com
munication and the rebellion surround
ing the city, the bankers concluded that
fortnight, at the utmost, ought to bring
him home, especially as fully half that
distance could be made bypublic convey
aRce.
But three weeks had come and gone,
and not a word had been heard from
Nuddee, who, they began to suspect, was
robbed, killed, or drawn into the ranks Of
the mutineeTs.
CASH, the Splendid-as the name
BenareS signifeS--haS been regarded for
ages as the hottest of the holy cities of the
Hindoos, and its stationary population
twenty years ago was over half million
During certain festivals it is three and
four times as great. Here is the famous
temple, Eisweswar or Bisesar dedicated
to silva, the destroyer, before whom for
ages the most bloody sacrifices OF idol
airy had been made. The European pop
ulation mainly dwell in the suburb of
Scroll, several miles from the main citv
There was no trouble with the troops
of Benares through the month of Nav.
Early in June, however, there was mutiny
in the Loodiana (Sikh) Regiment, which,
fortunately, was suppressed. About the
same time number of incendiary fires
broke out in the environments, a short dis
lance from the city. Col Neill attempted
to disarm the insubordinate Thirty seventh
Regiment on the 4th, when a bloody con-
filct occurred. Without attempting, how
ever, 10 give an account of the siege of
Benares, we have only to say that il was
at the very gloomiest period that Mud
dee, the messenger, made his way out the
city and resumed his journey toward Cal
cutta.
As matter of precaution he assumed
the character OF amember of the Loodiana
Regiment, mounted on horse stolen from
murdered English officer, and carrying
secret message from Mana Sahib to Pat
ma, where he hoped to make trouble. He
counted on his intimate knowledge of the