The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-01
THE sIIROY MUTINY.
An Old Story of Massacre and Carnage Retold.

|
II shudder yet when think about
remarkable story related to Com
mercial-Gazette reporter by Mr.. Will
lam Bentley OF No 91O Duquesne way.
This gentleman is one OF the few sur
viving European officers who witness
I'D the blood-curdling terrors of the
Sepoy mutiny in India in 1857 and
1858. II was lieutenant attached
to the corps OF engineers in the Bengal
army" he continued. "We were sta
toned at Meerat. 1t was the 10th Of
May, 1857, that the uprising OF the
Sepoys occurred there. That was Sun
day evening. saddled my horse togo
and see friend who was an officer OF
one OF the native regiments of the
infantry. The Sepoys in this regiment
belonged to the disatfected troops, but
were not suspected. OF course I had
no suspicion. l had just arrived at
my friends bungalo when the natives
broke open the bells OF arms and be-
gan the slaughter OF officers, who had
just arrived from their quarters.
each was killed on sight. One
whom spoke with few moments be-
fore was Colonel Finnis, the brother
OF the then Lord Mayor of London.
My friend told me to look sharp and
save my life. l at once galloped of
E, The natives, however, saw me and
gave chase, but escaped with only
bullet in my leg. took refuge with
the officers OF the sixth carbineer regi-
ment, and when they turned out
on parade shortly afterwards l
was requested to remain in their
lines. l staid there all night. The
massacre OF the officers and their la
dies continued throughout the night,
and the scenes among the killed and
wounded were frightful beyo ond descrip-
ton. For instance on the stage of the
theatre at Meerat | counted thirty-six
corrses. The following morning re-
turned to my regular quarters. All the
dead were brought on artillery wagons.
At this time the Bengal army consisted
of 22,6aS Europeans, and l1s,663
natives.
These were nothing in comparison
with the scenes at Cawnpore-awful
scenes which at this long distance OF
time | am quite unable to wholly ban
4 ish from my mind when it reverts to
that country and time. 1t was here
that, by orders OF Mana Sahib, Briga-
der General Wheeler and his brave
soldiers were slaughtered in trenches
and fired upon by masked batteries.
The Mana put to death all the women
found in the town after cutting their
feet off and subjecting them to further
outrages.
"Miss Wheeler, the lovely daughter
OF the general, rather than submit to
i the gross violence, leaped into deep
we'll. The Mana at once seized upon
this horrible idea and as fast as the
European ladies were massacred their
bodies were flung into this we'll. At
the edge of this famous well OF Gavin
pore l stood within week after it
was filled with its human contents.
The stencil arising from it was some
thing that is sickening even to think
OF now. Over that site now rises one
of the most magnificent pieces of arch
itecture to be seen in all India 1t is
a fine octagon marble building around
the we'll, without roof, and inclosing
an elaborate tomb. 1t is near the
| theater and close to the bank of the
finest canal in the world, the ganges.
Memorial gardens have also been laid
out around the scene OF the massacre
and q beautiful church erected.
"Children's brains We're dashed out
against the walls of buildings. When
l reached Crawpore the we'll was guard
ed and rallied in. On the walls OF
dwellings we saw signs OF fearful
| slaughter. There were tatters ofcloth-
ing, clumps Of hair clotted thick with
blood, while the 'slaughterhouse' was
smeared with blood and flesh Thirty
pairs of feet We're found in one place.
The two days OF the massa ere, out OF
| 900 Europeans, at least two thirds
were butchered, and in September 200
more were massacred.
"In the fearful retribution which
| followed saw the mutineers strapped
to the mouths OF cannon and blown
| to pieces;others were hanged anywhere
scores of them were belIeaded, and
Others shot down with volleys of mus
kerry.
81 have seen the Mana, too. Before
themutiny he was one Of the best men
at our mess; after the rebellion he es-
capped and we had several chases after
him. 1t was thought that he was hid
den in the Nepaul hills, and l have
good reason to believe that he died in
| the Jungle.
CAT the siege and capture Of Delhi l
was present and formed one of the
party to blow open the Cashmere gate
when Lieutenant Howe, Sergeant Car
michael, and two Others were killed.
| assisted to carry out of the ditch,
mortally wounded, the brave and good
John Nicholson under heavy fire from
| the walls and bastions of the city.
"At the capture OF Lucknow | was
employed on the engineers staff, and
with Lieutenants Donald McNeill and
| Vincent Eyre, OF the artillery, / dis
covered and rescued two OF our ladies
from the custody of one of the rebels,
who had them closely confined in q
very small room. In the Rohllcund
campaign and battle and capture OF
Bareilly, where we fought under Clyde
from a. m. till sunset, we lost more
brave men by sunstrokes than by
casualties. After the action the men
| bivouacked on the field and sank
exhausted. Many were found to have
fallen asleep in the very act OF raising
the food provided for them to their
mouths. Scores and hundreds were
found dead in the morning"
Mr.. Bentley, who is q professional
translator OF foreign languages at
present, possesses a British civil SER
vice medal, with clasps, for his SER
vices in India in 1857.
| VNl,o Old Mo-, ,x-o e I'M, I,o,,y-c,.r