Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-11-07
A DRINK FOR LIFE OR DEATH.

a small Indian station with being
quartered even at Malta or Gibraltar,
and either Of these places will seem
like Paradise; though the Rock is by
no means popular, and is always
called prison by the troops for the
time being garrison there.
Well, we found Arcot horribly dull,
ind it was with great satisfaction that
we heard an order had been given for
our company to march TO Vedore to
strengthen the garrison there, which
had been very much reduced by
cholera.
1t was then about the middle OF
March, and consequently later than is
usual for moving troops, as the days
began to get very hot on the plains in
the Carnatic about that time Of the
YER. But ours was special duty; and
as we should oniy march in the very
early morning we did not fear the in
convenience of the midday heat; but
looked upon the whole thing as rather
n lark, and welcome change from
the monotony OF garrison duty. As to
the cholera, not one of us gave it a
thought. Not likely it would touch
one Of us!
1t was on the second day after leav-
ing Arcot. that Private Thomas Atkins,
who was my right file, suddenly had to
fall out. expected him to rejoin the
ranks before long; but did not trouble
until we reached camp, and had finish
cd breakfast that l heard anything
more about him.
then learnt that he was buried!
KNEW cholera WAS awfully sudden
in its attacks and effects, but had not
imagined the possibility of its carrying
off a h althy man quite so rapidly. OF
course immediate interment must take
place in case OF death on the line of
march. had liked Atkins much, but ]
fancy his death and burial were SO
sudden that the rest of us failed to
realize the truth of what had happened
to our comrade, and half expected to
sec him turn up again. Anyhow, we
soon forgot the incident
Late in the afternoon / was listening
TO a description of Vellore by one OF
our fellows who had been there, and
specializing on the chance of seeing
the crocodiIes which Tippoo Sultln had
placed in the moat round the fort, as
the best possible sentinels to prevent
prisoners from escaping or any OF his
troops attempting to desert, when sud-
denly felt spasms and sickness.
'Holloa! old fellow, how blue you
loolS!' remarked a companion sitting
next to me; and as he spoke my COM
rades shrank, terror-stricken from
me- 1t needed no doctor to tell what
was the matter. Tho cholera had
seized me!
| was hastily conveyed to the
temporary hospital, where our assist
ant surgeon already had several cases
OF the disease under treatment and l
was laid on a charpoy. rapidly
passed from the first to the second
stage OF that malady, and by nine
o'clock at night tho incessant vomiting
and purging had reduced me to a condi-
ton of weakness approaching insensi-
bility. l was consumed by burning,
raging thirst, but the dresser Disregard
ed all my entreaties for drink OF wa
ter The system of treatment for
the patient nothing more than just to
have the lips moistened occasionally
with weak brandy and water; and this
supply aggravated the torture OF thirst.
Nowadays champagne is given, and
the sufferer is allowed to drink freely.
The hospital was, OF course, only
pandal, hastily constructed with
palmyra leaves, with a cuscus mat at
the entrances at each end. Two large
chatties of water were placed just out
side each entrance, from which coolie
from time to time threw pannikinful
on the cuscus faiths, so that the wind.
blowing through the wet mats, might
cool the temperature inside the pandal.
This result certainly was attained. but
at the cost of intensifying the pangs OF
the patients, whose thirst was tanta-
LIKED by hearing the splashing of the
water.
| had begged, sworn and menaccd
al intervals, but no one paid the
slightest heed to me; and / was sink
Ing into that condition of topor which
Is the immediate precursor of the third
and fatal stage OF cholera when I
heard voices in tho pandal. The
assistant surgeon was making his last
round for the night, accompanied by
the hospital dresser. With violent
effort reused myself, and eagerly lis
tened for their approach. WANTED to
hear my fate pronounced.
They stopped at length where lay,
and the doctor examined my body.
Notified" / heard him remark to
the dresser. was nearly deafcned by
the singing or rather drumming in my
ears, so / lay perfectly motionless, so
as not to let single word of what they
might say escape me, if possible.
lie Is insensible already" the doc
tor continued, land will not last long.
SO Wetherall will make sixn'
Make six?" said to myself; make
six what?" ''Six corpses, OF course,
Tor burial at Daylight to- morrow morn
ing,n a voice seemed to laugh out, with
fendish exultation.
could not distinctly hear, but the an
swer enlightened me as to the subject
they were discussing.
"Oh, yes, there will be room enough
In fact. for two more, If necessary"
They had gone. and the place was
in darkness save for the glimmer OF n
cocoanut-oil lamp. / heard the
scratching OF mumooties just outside
the pandal.
1t was the noise made by the camp
followers who were digging common
grave for six OF us, leaving room for
two more If necessary.
felt utterly stunned and quite in
different as to my fate, which, of
course, considered settled. after what
the assistant surgeon said. My tongue
was like piece OF dry leather in my
mouth, which had long since ceased to
yield any saliva to relieve the agoniz-
ing burning OF my throat and palate.
| could not have made any sound had
| attempted to do so; but ] did not try.
for the attendants were all stretched
on the ground fast asleep. felt l
was deserted left 10 die.
was beginning TO wander, think.
and VS. back again in the bright
green English meadows, picking
daisies with my little sister, and SO
should have passed away. But just at
that moment the coolies who had fin
ished digging the grave--my grave
passed the entrance TO the pandal; and
one OF them. with more consideration
than his class usually show, threw q
pannikinful OF water on the cuscus
tathi.