Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-01

PARTNER ln0la, ana the GATE OF the nara
tive commences with September, 1857
The SepOys had risen in arms, and were
bidding open defiance to the power OF the
English armies. The native EnglishmeT
who had gone 10 India in the delusiOn o.
suddenly becoming independently ricl
were hewn to the ground by the relentles:
swords and battle axes of the natives
Wives and ba bIes were tied to the stake
and made to undergo the most sickening
fortunes. The. DIFFERENTIATION continued un
til hardly an Englishman was left in the
country. AIfew took refuge in the jungles
where the wild beasts of the forests We're
less to be feared than the inhuman cruel
ty of the natives. With this state of af
fairs in one of her recently obtained do
miniOns, England began preparations fol-
war. Besides the regularly enlisted army
there were thousands who volunteered to
90, and among them some of the best
blood in England. Whenever it was
practicable the officers would take theil
families, and when the fleet was ready tC
sail it seemed as if all England was going
to empty her population into India.
The one whom this story mostly con
Germs was Sir Edward Courtney, a rela-
tive of the illustriOus General Francis
HavelOck, the great English commander
Sir Edward was young, then in his TWEEN
ty-fOurth year, but brave and gallant
man, and afterward a noble officer, full OF
judgment and courage. After tempestu-
Gus voyage, during which many died, a
landing was made on the southern coast
OF India. and the next day the forces OF
the English were drawn up on the shore
and the march for the interior com
menced. The route led through rugged
mountain sleeps and low marshy valleys,
on every side the journey was beset with
attacks from the enemy concealed in am
bush. After wandering over hills until
provisions were almost exhausted, Z
council of war was held. Sir Edward
Courtney was present, and advised thai
the army be broken up in divisions and
subdivisions, and raid made on every
town in the country. He himself would
lead one of the companies.
The plans We're adopted, and the army
separated in divisions. Sir Edward rode
in command of 1000, and led an attack OF
Calcutta. Early in the day he was car
ried mOrtally wounded from the battle
field. 4 heavy missile had struck him
unconscious to the ground. He was
taken to a camp near Calcutta, and after
ward removed to one of the ships, where
he breathed his last just twenty hours af-
ter he had received his wound.
1t was his dying wish that his body
should be taken to England for burial
His relatives and friends lived there, and
he had promised his mother, one Of
the royal ladies of the court, that he
would return to England either dead or
alive. 1t was hard to comply with the
request. The enemy had put forward a
stubborn and bold front. All of the men
were needed in the engagements. TWAS
however, agreed that a small craft should
be fitted up to carry the remains to Eng
land. 1t was to be manned by sixteen
I DGCirnA6 tho
ton and care of the body during the voy-
age. Two days later everything was ready
to sail. The remains were safely packed
in gin and spices, and enough provisions
were on board to last during the trip, pro-
Vided we did not lose our course or become
disabled at sea. We set sail one bright
sunny morning, with Captain Heddine
in command. | shall always remember
that man for the heroic nerve he displayed
in an instance which occurred about two
months after we had left port.
The Southern ocean seemed to smile
from its blue, coral depths, and everybody
agreed that the voyage had been begun
under favorable circumstances; and not
withstanding the sad mission of our sea
journey, the best of spirits prevailed. All
was well until on the night we reached
the Cape of Good Hope. The clouds were
charged with thunder and lightning. The
wind rOared in our masts. Nothing could
be done. 1t was a fearful night and nc
one on board even hoped to see the light
of another sun. After the storm had
cleared away we drifted, God knows
whittier without rudder to guide or sails
to prOpel. Three of our men had been
swept overheard and swallowed up in the
gurgling sea. We We're alone on the
ocean. helpless, and with but a limited
supply of provisions. Our craft drifted
westward and to the north. Our only
hope was to hail some passing steamer,
and thus be saved from the fate OF starva-
tiOn and a watery grave.
The most thrilling part Of ny narrative
is to come yet. We had probably been at
sea a month. No sign of land and no god
send in the way of steamer had iiecked
the horizon. The provisions grew scanteI
bv the day. Finally nothing was left but a
few crusts of bread. | had private fund
of edibles, which had packed securely in
my chest, and of which the sailors knew
nothing. Starvation knocked at our
doors. Two days we drifted, with nothing
to satisfy the terrible hunger Of our
stomachs. Matters reached a desperate
turn. Something must be done, or we
would all perish with hunger. The Cap
tain and / tried to put on bold front.
We encouraged the men to resist the gnaW-
inc in their stOmachs a little while longer
and looked forward to a brighter day. 1t
was a sad picture to see those men perch
ed upOn the elevations on the boat gazing
in vain over the briny deep in search OF
something which might bring them the
lOng-hOped for relief. One day we noticed
that the men said nothing. We knew they
were pinched almost to death with hun
ger, ana wondered why they had ceased to
complain. That night the mystery was
explained. A few hours after l had re-
tired | was aroused by vigorous knocking
at my door, and upon awakening inquired
the cause of the unusual noise.
I'VE want the keys to the chest in
which Courtney's body is preserved" was
the response.
arose from my bunk and hurriedly
dressed and came out to ask what il all
meant.
1T MEANS" said one of the men, ''that
we are dying with hunger, and have de-
termind to eat the remains of the dead
passenger" | demonstrated, and called
the Captain. He threatened his men with
punishment. and drew along sabre to de
Tend the keys to the chest where Court
ney's remains were encased, with his life,
But il was of no use. The men were de-
termIned and l was forced to deliver oven
the KEYS.
The Captain and | stood by and saw the
=
drew the gin which covered the body.
This was strained and put away into
jars, to be used with their victual Of hui
man flesh. The body was divided between
them. The Captain and | were each prof
fered an arm. The poor creatures de-
vOured the meal YOraciOuslv. When the
flesh had been gnawed from the bones
they were 6laced in the chest. to be
buried after we reached our destination,
if such a hope could be entertained. Two
days elapsed and starvation again visited
our little ship. The flesh of the dead
Courtney had been consumed, and not a
fragment remained as an evidence. !
shuddered when l thought that the next
step would be to draw lots to determine
who should be slaughtered to satisfy the
common hunger. The step, however, was
never taken. After sailing, as we thought,
almost an age, we drifted in sight OF an
English trading vessel. We hailed her,
and two hours after we were all on board.
We had drifted almost 1000 miles from
where the storm first came upon us. We
arrived at our destination safe. and each
man attended the solemn mass which was
said over the bones Of the gallant Edward
Courtney, whose flesh had been devoured
to satisfy the rapacitY Of hunger, and had
saved the lives of sixteen men.
\ Young Polar Bear,