The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-03-06
ROMANTIC TRAGEDY.
Chicago Tribune. |

army Of India-having, indeed, been more
than once favorably mentioned In the re-
ports OF Gen Lawrence and Lord Canning.
Gifted with enormous physical strength and
OF consummate skill with the sabre, he had
made himself great reputation In the Sepoy
revolt, and, a ballad of the soldiers of Pun
jab had it, Ais chargers foot
step shook the earth for miles
and miles around Unfortunately, I'M
der the system Of purchase OF grade, ad-
vancement Ia not rapid in the army Of her
gracious majesty. or what avail are
heroic bravery and services rendered at the
risk Of life IL one Is 10 remain forever at
the modest rank Of captaini Reckless and
passionate by nature, Morley had wasted
his whole fortune to satisfy the capricious
fancies OF the beautiful Lady Darlington.
Never, IL Is true, had a more beautiful
creature been seen In Calcutta Her ex-
quisite complexion, her golden hair SHIN
mering with amber reflections, her queenly
air, had driven tho rough soldier completely
wild. As for her-cold, naughty, disdainful
she never understood this passion of his In
the least One day on his return from
the capture OF Cawnpore, the cap
tain brought her a ring that looked as though
IL were set with garnets 1Look mt this" be
said, Helena, was wounded at the attack
on the city, and each of these garnets Is
drop Of my blood solidifed. Doyou care for
itp
90" she replied, dts rather pretty, but
should have liked a pearl ring better"
Such was the woman. So when Morley,
after the most needless extravagance, was
ruined, she coldly said TO him: any dear sir,
Iwill give you three months to mako your
fortune again Three months; do you
understand IL ut the end Of that time you
are not as rich as the vizier OF Dude will
never speak to You again"
Mercy was almost distracted. A revolt
had just broken out at Kohal that threatened
TO assume alarming proportions. A certain
Bathkhan, an old artillery soubadar, an In
teIligent man, and OF great influence In the
scots of the Wahatites, had raised the green
flag Of revolt In favor Of Prince Mira
Mogol There was the chance of conquering
a great empire and, In case Of success an
immense fortune to throw at the feet of Lady
Helena It is true that In this enterprise
one not only rsked his life, but lost his honor
and yet such was the influence OF this woman
on the captain that he went without hesita-
ton TO offer the help Of his sword 10 the
instruction, Of which he was ut once made
commander-in-chief
There he found the scum Of the bazars and
volunteers from all the provinces, brought
together by their hatred Of the foreigner, by
religious excitement and by their thirst of
blood and pillage And q motley crowd 1t
vast The uniforms were outlandish, shakos,
sleeveless vests, trousers ornamented with
fantastic embroidery-and the whole rabble
poorly drilled and badly armed. At the
head Of these hordes Morley fought for two
months with varying fortune. For two
months did he struggle desperately, still
seeing through the battle-smoke the splendid
creature for whose sake he had embarked In
this criminal adventure. Finally, one morn
ing he was surrounded with twenty of his
comrades In small temple Of Vishnow, near
Sourajopore. The artillery was summoned
but cannon-balls being found Intellectual
against the strong walls, they brought
bundles Of wood, which were heaped against
the temple and set on fire.
IL was finished. To escape suffocation the
wretches charged furiously upon the enemy.
Seven were killed, and thirteen others, with
Morley at their head, made prisoners. They
were shackled and chained together, and the
pitiful procession took the road to Delhi,
where Morley was thrown into prison.
Meantime the commerce OF Delhi had suf-
fered seriously from all these events. On
the marble steps of the mosques the cloth
merchants, fruit-sellcrs, and dealers in prec-
ious stones had sold almost nothing, while ON
the quays of the Jammouna stood quantities
Of merchandise for which the usual demand
was lacking. Tons Of cocoa and coffee and
.innumerable cases Of chocolate were heaped
in It's and th~saeoaod DO bv absolutely
lost Certain American dealers, among
others, ran the risk Of total bankruptcy
Curiousiy enough, the taking of the daring
captain did not cause half the joy that might
have been expected. There had been rumors
afoat OF the romantic cause of his crime IL
was known that IL was love that had driven
him into this hazardous expedition, and all
tho women were on his side Thus IL came
about that the news Of his being sentenced
10 death, although foreseen, because his had
been crime Of high treason, excited general
pity. From the three great divisions OF
India people fiocked TO Delhi TO witness the
execution, insomuch that the city was too
small TO bold them all.
At this point public curiosity was still
more excited by the sudden change that had
taken place. I'm the prisoners situation II
was learned that an American gentleman,
two weeks before the execution, had obtained
permission 10 soc the captain In his cell, and
had there a long conversation with him.
When this interview was finished Sir John
was removed from the cell and transferred
TO the mosque Of Jammouna. where, until
the final day, the jailers We'd with one an
other TO make him comfortable. Asfor him,
whom there were the best OF reasons for be-
heving ruined-he had drawn up a viii be-
queathing enormous sums to the military
hospitals OF the city and colossal fortune
TO the beautiful Lady Darlington.
Plainly there was mystery somewhere.
Meanwhile nothing had been left undone
70 give this execution immense publicity and
TO proclaim the event urbi ct orbi Immense
notices In five languages had been posted In
the principal quarters Of Bengal, Bombay,
and Madras, announcing the day, time, and
place Of the execution. The government, on
Its side, had wished to make this case an ex-
ample and TO surround the death OF the
guilty man with great military pomp.
The fatal day at last arrived The rising
sun showed the city Of the Moguls In all its
Oriental splendor. Ever since daybreak the
streets along the route OF the procession had
been blocked by an immense crowd, half
European and half Hindoo-the latter grave
and impassive; the Europeans, on the other
hand, noisy and bustling, excited by the
romantic mystery that shrouded the end Of
the adventurer's life.
The place chosen for tho execution was the
great forum OF Delhi The sepulchral
mosque, with its brown. enamcled walls,
made the background Of the picture; on the
left rose the palace Of the MogulS its
gorgeous facade bright with decorations In
blue and gold, while ON the right stood tho
lofty tower Of Selimgarth embowered In
roses and jesamine. In the center OF tho
place had been erected q platform on which
stood q cannon
At neon a salute of twenty two guns from
the fortannounced the arrival Of Lord Lytton,
the viceroy. The procession advanced, pre-
ceded by a detachment of The Seventeenth
hncers, Morleys old regiment; next came
twelve trumpeter on gray horsas. and
finally, surrounded by his bodyguard, the
viceroy on d gigantic elephant, four native
officers holding above his head canopy OF
red and gold. These were followed by .
squadron OF huxzars-the escort OF the
Indian council and the secretary Of the gov
crnment--and last came the native princes
mounted on elephants covered with gorgeous
trappings, around which were carried on
long red poles the two gilt fishes that are
symbol OF native royalty. Each person, ac-
cording to his rank. was placed in q semi
circle around the platform. In the midst Of
this crowd, busting hither and thither.
might have been observed tho American
gentlemaa who had had the last interview
with tho prisoner, apparently taking tho
utmost care that all the principal persons
should be 70 placed a. 10 hear and see every
thing to tho best advantage
Suddenly there was general movement