The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-07-24
MANA SAH|B'S PROVOCATION.


Although native of India Mana
Sahib, maharajah of Bithoor, had en-
joyed the advantages of thorough
European education. His personal
attraetiveness and high-bred courtesy
had made him favorlte in society all
over the world, and the gayety of all
gay cities was enhanced by his mag
nifieent entertainments and his lavish
expenditure of money. 1t was in San
Francisco, when all the world was in
q fever of excitement over the discov-
cry Of gold, that he first met Margaret
O'Sullivan, beautiful Irish blonde,
for whom he conceived an affection
that was almost idolatrous in its inten-
sity. and whom subsequently, he made
his lawful wife.
OF this girl there is little known. ex-
cept that she came OF q respectable
family that had become financially dis
tressed, and that, accompanied by her
brother, she had left home In some
what adventurous spirit. hoping to re-
trieve their fortunes. On his return to
India Mana was accompanied by Lady
Margaret and her brother Edward, the
latter having become a favorite of the
prince, and occupying a high office in
his service. The marriage with the
beautiful Irish girl 1t was. and not
sympathy with his fellow-Hindoos,
that led to Mana Sahih's assuming the
leadership in the Sepoy rebellion. Had
the facts which are about to be mar
rated never happened, it is probable
that Mana would have remained faith
full to the British.
One of the officers in the employ of
the East India Company, stationed in
Cawnpore, whom we may as well call
Major MYERS as by his real name, be-
came very much enanored OF the
beauty Of Lady Margaret. and deter
mined to remove her from the palace
at Bithoor and have her conveyed to
his own zenana at Cawnpore.
In Nana's absence Edward O'Sulli-
van was charged with the protection
of his sister, whom he was on no ac-
count to leave unguarded.
MYERS knew this, and in order to
separate the two he took occasion at a
banquet soon after Nana's departure,
when tiger hunt was being arranged,
to taunt 0'Sullivan with having no
taste for the dangerous sport. The
young man, who had been drinking
freely, arose and offered to bet f100
that he dared, armed only with table
knife he displayed, penetrate tigers
lair and fight the beast singlehanded.
MYERS, with malicious smile, accepts
ed the bet.
The day set for the hunt arrived,
and the cavalcade set out for the jun
gle. The news OF O'Sullivan's mad
bet had spread quickly among the En-
glish residents at Bathoor, and an
enormous party had assembled, most
OF them sympathizers OF O'Sullivan,
for MYERS, man respected for his
courage, was strongly unpopular.
First came fifteen elephants, 100 feet
apart. and forming crescent. Each
carried his mahoud and howdah,
wherein was seated one of the promi-
nent participants.
The great animals advanced slowly,
trumpeting as they broke through the
bushes. Suddenly there was heard a
roaring that caused the air to vibrate.
Then another roar proceeded stimuli
taneously from two throats. Two of
the elephants, young and unaccus-
toned to the sport, became unman-
ageable and fed. Scarcely had the
first gone 100 feet when shot was
heard and the animals mahoud was
seen falling to the ground. The owner
Of the beast, q native nobleman, en-
ragged at the shame of its fight. had
blown out his innocent servants
brains. Then the reeds and bushes OF
the jungle were violently agitated and
two magnificent tigers, side by side,
sprang out among the hunters. A
volley shot was fred, but with SO little
precision that no damage was done,
save to hasten the animals attack.
An elephant bearing the rance Of
Jhansee was nearest the tigers. The
larger of the two sprang for its head,
but, being met by crushing blow OF
the elephants trunk, was sent flying
and stunned through the air back into
the Jungle. In the meantime the other
seized the opportunity and sprang on
the elephants head, burying Its claws
and fangs deep in the trunk and tear
ing away one eye and cheek.
Completely at the tigers mercy the
poor animal, trembling violently, gave
forth pitiful sounds.
The rance, o woman of notable
courage, presented her rifle at the
tigers head and fired. But sudden
movement of her agonized brute dis
concerted her aim and the ball only
cut deep track in the tigers fur.
Hastily reaching backward to her
attendant for q fresh rifle she felt the
girths that held the howdah in its
place give way. This probably saved
her life, for just then the tiger made a
spring at the howdah, but an instant
too late, for it and its living contents
had Just slipped down the elephants
side and the tiger shot through the air
and landed some distance behind,
where he was dipatched by well-di-
rected shot from the gun Of Euro
pean hunter.
Suddenly Edward O'Sullivan stepped
forward, holding an ordinary table
knife in his hand.
A complete silence fell over the entire
company, for in the excitement Of the
foregoing the desperate bet had been
forgotten by all others. Only MYERS
made great show of begging Edward
to consider the bet as "off," but in
such a way that had it been possible
for the danger to be increased ten
fold Edward would still have persist
ed.
The rance, who had received no in
! jury. in her fall, pressed upon him the