Wichita eagle., 1889-08-13
THE SEP0YS' DEFENSE.

CrSt meeting among native troops occurred
The English have been hastily criticised that
the civil and military officials in the several
provinces were not better posted, and that
more vigorous measures were not taken at the
outset to crush the rebellion. No European,
no matter what his position or how keen he
was could have foretold the widespread mu-
tiny, and in most instances the native troops
50 greatly outnumbered the European that
the military authorities were poweriess to
quell mutiny. Long enough before the first
mutiny occurred everybody knew that the
country was restless, and that incendiary
addresses were being made and rebelhous
documents circulated, but the natives played
their parts so well as to deceive military men
born and reared with them.
Soon after my arrival at Seetapore, in the
territory Of Gwalior, the signs Of an out
break became SO nenacing that made pre-
parations to depart, but was induced to re-
main by the representations Of the British
officers. They declared their utmost faith In
the native soldiery and to this was added
the protestations Of the body servant who
bad been With me for half a year. He was
an intelligent, well educated Sepoy, who had
Travelled extensively with Europeans, and
who was wen posted In the manners and Gus
toms Of tho natives He solemnly assured
me that the outbreaks at Delhi, Agra. Nus.
seerabad and other places were owing en-
tirely to local causes, and that no general
disafection existed. As / afterward cams
to know, this fellow, while telling me this,
was not only acting as a SPY for the NAL
contents, but had carefully appraised my
personal proparty and made his calculations
to XIII me and take possession.
There were oyer 5000 native soldiery in
camp at Seetapore, and nothing in their con-
duct up to the lst of June gave rise to the
slightest suspicion that an outbreak was In
tended On the morning Of the I'd revolt
was ripe. The conmapdant was informed
that thu entire body Of native soldtery had
determined to thfow of the yoke and join
the rebellion, but that all Europeans would
have an opportunity to leave the place in
safety Lucknow was only fifty miles away,
ard oil could reach that place. Strangely
enough, this warning was ridiculed by tho
military, although discipline in the canton
lnent was at an, end and one-third Of the ma
tive soldiery were intoxicated. 1 saw this as
rode out to the camps from the town, and
although assured that there was not the
slightest cause TO run away, returned to
the house Of my cousins who was in the civil
service, and at once made preparations to
leave. My servant used his utmost efforts to
prevent my going, but when l found that
two thirds Of the citizens were also making
preparations to leave, determined to take
the safe side.
When I set out from Seetapore on the high
way for Lucknow It was in a carriage, In
which were my cousin, his wife, another civil
official named Roberts and his wife, and
young man named Chester, who was clerk
In Roberts' employ. The driver was a native
who had been IN the service Of my cousin for
fifteen years Wehad our rifles and pistols
and plenty Of ammunition, and all the small
valuables about the house were packed in the
carriage. Two miles out we overlook SINH
lar outfit, which contained three civil officials,
two of whom were married men and had
their wives and children along. As all were
acquainted it was agreed to travel together,
and the journey during the afternoon was
entirely safe and pleasant. We passed many
natives, all headed for Seetapore, most Of
whom saluted US courteously, and an hour
before sundown, when we had made seven
teen miles and drew up at a government bun
galow to refresh ourselves, we felt rather
cheap at having run away SO soon. There
were no other travellers at the bungalow, and
after resting for an hour we were discussing
the idea Of a return to Seetapore, when
native woman, whose presence none Of Us had
showed herself to my cousipss wife
She proved to be a woman who had been in
the iady's employ for several years, and had
left her to get married, and now lived near
the bungalow. She stated that theP Psoldiery
at Seetapore would rebel on the morrow and
sack the town and slaughter s1 Europeans,
and that body OF natives over a hundred
strong had thatstternoon rendezvoused with
In half a mile Of the bungalow and than pro-
ceeded to a point <hree miles down*he road,
where they proposed to stop and slaughter all
Feringhees seeking TO escape TO Lucknow.
They had reached the spot selected by this
time. and our escape by the highway was
thus cut Of
This native woman refused to SEQ any of
the men OF, the party or to speak with any of
the other ladies besides my COUSINS wife, and
was gone before we knew Of her warning
No one doubted her information, and for some
time We were.unsble To decide on q plan of
action. It was finally decided TO drive on
about two miles and there take a cross road
known to exist, and thus flank the force gath
cred for our destruction 1t was dark when
we left the bungalow, and We reached the
cross road without adventure. After passing
up this road for mile or two we began TO
look for an opportunity to head TO the east
again, but we drove three miles before we
found It. Then it was blind road, leading
through a heavy jungle aud over very rough
ground. HAD 1t not been bright moonlight
night we could not have Travelled ten rods
upon this rovse With everything In our
favor we made but slow progress, and, after
the road for about two miles, we
found that it ended at an old quarry, and
beyond this was jungle which ono could
scarcely penetrate On foot Everybody ct
once realized that we we're in q fI II was
now midnight, and TO return TO the highway
was 70 place ourselves at the mercy Of ths
first band Of uarauders ag1r. We could no.
20 ahead, and how were we 10 remain In that
desolate gpotf
As tie Indian wars Of America have FUR
nishsd unnumbered instances Of tee heroisn
Of American women, 10 did that outbreak In
India prove 20 the world the courage Of bun
ireds Of English females ct Ell ages, from
20 rbsidena as we stood ee-
spe the carriages IN that lonely syo. co1lszle-
nz as 20 what should be doce, 10. q woman
zpo1s a word 20 SHOW eovar6.os or despair
L yss By the advise Of Arx Robe1ts TIA.
he so-Ses were detached from tn -ehic}~s
nd ws sat dsvn 20 patiently wait until day- /
,resk should r1ore cleariy reveal our satu.-
ion. Twice during that wait tiger came I
,rowtiny aboat u, and Just before dayiigh. /
great hyena would have dashed q. crs os I
he horses had not a pistol shot frightened /
TN Of
Daylight battered or sitaA.soa somewhat.
r HE IL st oace put AZ end 90 the hope that !