The New York herald., 1879-09-11
THE CABUL DISASTER.
The Massacres and Troubles
of 1S41-42.
A GREAT LESSON DISREGARDED.
How Major Cavagnari and the Embassy
Entered CabuL
4 PEACEFUL AND UNEVRNTF1h JOURNEY

II is hardly possible as yet fully to estimate the
Importance of the events which have taken place IN
Mghanistan. The massacre of Major Cavagnari ana
his associates, together with the small pooy Oh
chosen troops which accompanied the mission "iii
take its place as one of the great tragedies Of his
tory. Such event is well fitted to revive the nor
rble of 1857 whom English blood was spilled
like water and Cawnpore and Lucknow were very
shambles 1t recalls again and presents in vivid
and striking resemblance the sad scenes which were
Witnessed in the region toward the close or
l341 and the commencement of 1872 The butchery
of Cayagnari and his associates is but repeuuon OF
the massacre of Sir Alexander Burnes and OF Sir
william AIacnaghten SO striking is the resem-
blance between the events which cast gloom
over the winter of 1912 and so important is the
bearing which they upon the present situation
that it seems duty to reproduce them. Then as
now it is necessary to bear in mind the Ango-ndian
government had successfully waged war against
the ruler OF Afghanstan, and mad concluded peace
which it was hoped, might be lasting. Then,
now the actual occupant of the throne OF Cabul
owed his position TO the generosity OF the con-
querors of his country. Then, now. the Afghan
was trusted and then. now. the Afghans proved
treacherous.
MoHAMMED
istan. On the 1st of October, 1885, Lord Auckland
issued order. dated from Simla, in which he
manded the assembage OF British force for service
across the Indus and explained also the motives of
his policy :-"Dost ATohammed," he said chad made
a sudden and unprovoked attack our ancient ally
Runjeet Sing. He had also when the Persian army
was beseging Herat given undisguised support to
the designs of Persia. Great Britain regarded this
advance of Persian arms in Afghanistan act of
hostility toward herself The Governor General had,
therefore, resolved to support the claims of Shah
sorjah-ool-Mook. whose dominions had been
usurped by the existing rulers of Cabul and who
had found an asylum in British territory" Mr.. (af-
erward Sir w. Macnaghten, secretary the gov.
ernment of India appointed to be envoy and
Minister the Court of Shah Sorjah, and Sir Alex
ander (fcrmery mentioned) withdrawn from
the Court OF Dost Mohammed and ordered to act
under the direction OF Macnaghten. Some thirty
thousand men were soon on their march from diff
terent parts OF India the direction of Candahbar
Cabul and Herat. and these were to be joined by
forty live thousand men furnished by Runleet Sing.
Dost Mohammed was compelled to give way. After
bold stubborn, and sometimes most brilliant
sistance the invading forces approached Cabul Dost
Mohammed at the head Of few horseinen, aban-
aoned his capital ana He'd across the Indus. shah
5orjah entered Cabul amid but few demonstrations
OF delight the part OF the people, and, sustained
by foreign bayonets. remounted the throne OF his
ancestors. Soon after, believing that no danger
to be apprehended the Anglo-lndian army Withdrew,
leaving behind only some eight thousand men and
the hirengs of the Shah. IL seemed, the time,
If the work We're done. and If Shah Sorjah
as safe on his throne as the Queen of England her
self
THE MASSACRE OF BuRNEs AND MAoSAGHTEY.
1t was not long before Dost Mohamned made his
appearance in the territory of his former domin-
ions. His former subjects in crowds hocked to his
standard. IN several engagements he encountered
the combined forces OF the Shah and OF has British
ally. In the famous battle Of PurwaDdurrah he
fought like hero ana literally covered himself
with glory None were more willing to give him
praise than the British officers themselves. 1t was
made abundantly apparent on this battlefield that
the beloved of the army and of the people not
Shah Sorah, but Dost Mohammed. On the evening
after the brilliant exploit OF that day he rode up to
the headquarters OF Sir w. Mscnaghten. and
meeting the envoy, who was returning from
his evening ride, he rendered him his sword
and surrendered himself a prisoner. His
was generously returned to him, aud he
ceived and treated with all honor. Dost Mohanmcd
had justly concluded that, although it might not be
impossible to prolong the struggle, the issue
not doubtful and must be against him. In few
days he sent OF under escort to India. where
residence and revenue were provided for him.
The withdrawal of Dost Mohammed did not estab-
lish peace secure the reign OF Shah Sorjah.
November 2. 1s41, an nsuirectlon broke out in Ca
bul. Burns. it appeared. lived in the city; Mac
naghten and Anjor General Elphinstone in
environments at some little distance. Burns resi-
dence was surrounded. He could not believe that
he had become the object of Afghan hatred He
tempted to address them, reminding them that he
was their old friend This seemed arouse rather
than calm them 1t was their belief that he had be-
srayed them.
AN AFGHAN MOE.
The fury of the mob became uncomfortable, and
Burns his brother and all those who with him
were cut to pieces. The citadel attacked. Shah
Sorjan made prisoner in his own castle.
The encampments were attacked and the British
were compelled to abandon their forts in which
were stored their provisions. In such circum-
stances resistance implied starvation The stra-
ton was rendered more alarming by the incapacity
Of the commanders. General Elphinstonc old,
nfirm and broken in mind and body. Sir W. Mac
naghten seems to have become stupeded sby the
events which were taking place around him. now
hgure happened upon the scene. 1t was Akbar Khan,
the fayorite son OF Dost Mohammed. Placing him
self at the head of the insurgents no
with the British on the terms OF unconditional sur
render. Macnaehtcn objected. and finally 1t was
agreed that the British troops should quit Afghan
should be sent back; that Shah Sorjah should be
allowed to take himself of to india where he
would, and that some British hostages should he
lett in Cabul as pledges Tor the iufilment OF the
conditions. In the meantime. and before any por-
ton of this treaty had been carried into effect
other catastrophe had happened. In terms of
appointment Macnaghten went out to the banks
OF q heighboring river 10 meet AkDar Khan.
They be thinly attended. Macnaghten had
with him three officers and small escort. Akbar
had large following of friends and retainers. 1t
was evident that mischief was intended. Almost
Immediately an alteration ensued. High words
were used, and at a given signal the British envoy
hnd his attendants seized from behind. There
was hand to hand struggle between Macnaghten
and Akbar when the latter, snaching from his beta
pistol shot the envoy through the body. The pistol
by which Macnaghton lost his life was. strange to
say, one of i pair which the envoy had some time
before presented TO tho assassin. or the three
officers who were with the envoy one was killed on
the spot; the two others escaped on Afpaar horses
Macuaghtens mutilated body was aftcrward paraded
through the streets.
TIRE nErREAr THROUGH THE PASSES
On the LIST vi January 1872. tho British agreed
to cvacuato the country. ON January they
marched out. 4,5OO combatauts aud 1900
camp followers. Tho Kurd-Cabu Pass became
the grave OF nearly the whole of that army.
few only escaped slaughter, and of these few
only mau--Dr. Brydom--reached Jelalabad to
tell the horrid tale. one out of some sixteen
thpusandl In the whole range of history there is
no similar picture TO be found none moro thrilling
with the suggestion of an awful catastrophe. the
"A