The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-11
WASSOODEO THE DACOIT.

BRAHMIN AND BANDIT-A MAHRATTAs LIFE
LONG HATRED OF BRITISH DOMINATION
sERvAJEE THE SECOND.
iBY CABLE TO THE HERALD.
LONDON. Nov. 10. 1879
despatch from Calcutta to tho Times says "A
leader of the Dacoits. who recently convicted
OF conspiracy to wage against the Queen and Of
collecting men aud arms and attempting to excite
sedtion and dacoity has been sentenced to transpor
tation for lfe Ten of his accompces sentenced
to ten years transportation. His name Is Wassoodeo
Bulwunt Phadke He headed band of outlaws In
the Poonah district last spring. and issued
revolutionary proclamations. He is believed to have
been implicated in the burning of the public build
ings in the city of Poonah. [Wassoodeo was known
as the "Scourge Of the Deccan" No East Indian
bandit Of modern days has caused half SO much
terror he to the peaceable natives or half as
much annoyance to the British authorities.
He common "lootwallah," no horse thief
or plunderer Of farm yards. He Mahratta
Of high race. q Brahmin and a man Of
considerable education. In presence tall and
commanding. In manner princely. in physique
incomparably strong and agile. he had every
quality which history associates with the names of
outlaw chiefs. and his lientenants called him
"Maharaj," and FRUSTRATED themselves when they
entered his tent. He hated the British with Q
fetocity that argued him. as the people believed
him to be. of Seevajees line. There had been
robbers before him in the neighborhood Of Poona;
Hurree Naik and his men had long been thorn in
the side of Sir Bartle Frere then Governor of Bonn
bay But Hurree Naik robber by profession
and his outrages had further political Importance
than that they gave the to Wsssood.o There was
evil disposed section of seditious Bralmins in
Poona, who had long dreamed Of dacoitv as means
of discrediting the British government. Of causing
confusion and spreading abroad the belief that
discomfort was rife. With these Wassoodeo
formed league. Together they collected the most
formidable band OF dacoits ever known in the West
ern Presidency. At first few Ramoshees were
induced to join them-an easy task in the Deccan.
where readily found for that kind
of enterprise-and thenceforth. day by day.
their numbers swelled Their method was to offer
the poorest classes much higher rate Of pay than
could be honestly earned in the labor market. The
common herd got seven rupees ($3 COY q month; the
leaders earned much as sixteen rupees $751; and
this scanty wage proved more than sufficient to at
tract Of the most reckless spirits in the
try. At the outset for purposes of training the
energies Of the band were confined to mere
looting Some village, having been marked down
for spoiaton, would be surrounded after dark by
q sufficient number Of dscoits, armed with swords
bludgeons and muskets. the dwellings of rich in
habtants would then be quietly ransacked fof cash
and jewolry. and if any viilager suspected Of
concealing valuables little impromptu torture
would be applied to extort confession. wassoodeo
never appeared in person at these preliminary excr
cises. Few OF his followers had even seen him. He
stayed In camp, and there. with Dowlut Rao. his
confdante, wove his schemes against the British
intruders. At last. when the first Afghan war
seemed to lag, as 1t Jagged last spring. and
when news arrived Of the Isandhluana disaster, the
Brahmin thought his time was come. Fires sud-
denly broke out in every quarter of Poona. govern
ment Offices were destroyed. bazaars Quilted and
banks burned to the ground. Sir Richard Temple,
the Governor. issued proclamation, setting price
on wassoodeo's head. Anonymous letters were re-
ceived saying that If the followers Of Seevajee the
Second were for the moment sleeping. they were by
no Dead and that ut the end Of the monsoon
they would recommence their work Of revolt. Major
Daniel and o troop of cavalry were sent to scour
tho country. The fugitives were allowed no rest.
Patcls and villages made to account for every
man who was suspected of having Joined the
dscoits. The robbers were driven to bay. They now
feared 10 attack even the smallest villages; they
could find shelter anywhere; the moment they
returned to their own houses they delivered
up to justice. Overwhelming bodies of police
patrolled the rural districts; skilled crackers were
employed; skirmishcs took place. IN which
both sides lost men ana norscs Wassoodeo
was taken while fordng stream ut niaht.
He fought desperately. and finding himself
outmatched turned his Arabs head down the stream.
preforrng. with true Drahmins instinct. to drown
rather than be soiled by foreigners touch. But
his pursuers succeeded in capturing him. He was
taken to the district Jail at Poona He refused to
defend himself. 81 am Seevajce's son." he said.
"Seevajee hated the English What will be will be"
Mother threats nor promises altered his demeanor
He had boon king among his men. ana would
rather die . thousand deaths than tsrnish the
Mshrstta name he bore.l