Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-19
STEALING FROM JueGERNAuT.
"A Curious Yarn Told Of an Indian
A rlny IffiC IT.

Army iIffC II.
The true and tragic tale which l am
about to relate was told to me many
years ago by distinguished officer OF
the Madras army, says writer in the
India Times, the facts have never APP
peared in any newspaper, nor are they
to be found in any of the police records
of the presidency. For obvious reasons
the names have been altered; but to
this day by the camp fires of the great
festival held every year is told with
bated breath and listened to with rapt
attention the terrible tale OF the jewels
of Juggernaut and of the vengence of
the great god.
"Many years ago." said my friend, 81
was quartered at Fuzara bad, an import
ant military station about $50 miles
from the Madras coast. There was a
large number OF troops there of all de-
scriptions, and certainly for half the
year the life we all led was gay and
high enough.
"Unfortunately, at the time I was
there gambling and betting were much
in vogue, and many men plunged and
came to grief over their debts of honor.
OF all that gay company nobody was
more popular and better liked by both
men and women than young Fitzroy;
but, unfortunately, he lost money at the
| races, tried to recover himself at the
whist table, but failed, got into the
hands of the Marwarees, and got deeper
and deeper into the mire OF debt. You
| could see by his carewOrn and troubled
expression of face that the poor young
fellow was in IA real bad way. / WAS not
| surprised, then, when one day he came
to me and said: Major. Pm done for.
I'm utterly broke. l can't get any more
money in the bazaar, and they'll run
| me in unless l can get away for bit. |
must get tn England and see If | can
raise the wind there, but goodness
knows said the young fellow bitterly,
how / can dare ask my poor old COVER
nor. Major continued he, Il must get
away; it's simply killing me. You were
great friend of my father and prom
ised to help me. / wish l had stuck to
your advice, but it's too late now. Will
we have taken ten days leave for some
shooting, and see me down to the coast.
| Ii go of alone | shall be stopped by
those cursed Marwarees.'
after some hesitation agreed. He
sent in his application for leave to
Europe on private affairs, and gave
out that / was going on ten days
shooting expedition. A week later,
with couple OF tongas, we had started
On our lOHS anu WedryluB journey UO
| the coast, where my poor young friend
hoped to pick upa steamer to take him
| to Europe. On the second day out we
met crowds of people tramping along
men, women and children-and the
next day still greater crowds. In re-
ply to our inquiries we were told that
| they were returning from the great
festival of Juggernaut, held at Puri,
now only some three days journey from
| where we were. The tonga wallah kept
| us interested witha a graphic description
of the festival and Of the great god,
which was especially remarkable for
the wonderful jewels it possessed-two
| emerald eyes of inestimabie value, ITS
| lips formed of the finest rubies in the
| world, and necklace of priceless
| pearls.
Tine sun was sinking as we neared
the town OF Purl, and we could see the
| pinnacles of the temples rise above the
| trees which surrounded the place.
| Halt mile the other side OF the town
stood the travellers bungalow, where we
Intended putting up for the night. Dur
ing the last twenty-four hours my young
companion had kept silence, and was
| moody and almost sullen whenever |