Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1889-06-19
Robbing an Hindoo Idol.

/ VI WHICH IC NOuCuCos AAO says bho'
it was related to him by distinguish
ed officer of the Madras army. The
facts have never appeared in any
newspaper, nor are they to be found in
any of the police records Of that
country. 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 Jew
els of Juggernaut and of the vengence
of the great god.
"Many years ago." said my friend
81 was quartered at Fuzarabad, an
important military station about 15C
miles from the Madras coast. Unfor-
tunately, at the time / was there
gambling and betting was much in
vogue, and many men plunged and
came to grief over their debts Of hon.
or. 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 Marwarrees,
and got deeper and deeper into the
mire of debt. At length he told the
narrator that he intended to 60 to
England to raise money. will you
come away with me P he asked. Give
out that we have taken ten days leave
for some shooting and see me down to
the coast. If 60 alone shall be
stopped by those cursed Marwarrees.
After some hesitation l agreed. He
sent in his application for leave to 20
to Europe on private affairs, and |
gave out that was going on ten
days shooting expedition.
"a week later, with couple of ton
gas, we had started on our long and
wearying journey to the coast, where
my poor young friend hoped to pick
up a steamer to take him to Europe.
On the second day out we met crowds
of people tramping along. In reply
to our inquiries we were told they
were all returning to their homes from
the great festival of Juggernaut held
at Puri. now only threee days jour
ney from where we were. The tonga
wall kept us interested with graphic
description Of the festival and the
great god, which was especially re-
markable for the wonderful jewels it
possessed two emerald eyes Of inest-
Unable value, it lips formed of the fin
est rubies in the world, and a neck
lace of priceless pearls. The sun
was sinking as at last we neared the
town Of Puri, and we could see the
pinacles of the temples rise above the
trees which surround the place. Half
a mile the other side of the town stood
the travellers bungalow, where we in
tended putting up for the night. A
more uncomfortable meal | never ate
than the dinner which was served up
to us that evening, and was quite
thankful when the poor lad said he
was dead beat and would 60 off to bed.
My own room was on the other side
of the bungalow, and took my pipe
and sat smoking in the verandah.
The moon was just rising, when l
thought l saw the figure of a Europe
an stealing along the wall of the COM
pound. Strange, l thought, and won
dered what other European there
could be here at the same time. An
idea struck me and | went across to
my companions room. There was
nobody in it, the bed was undisturbed
l threw down my pipe and rushed out
in the moonlight. A few seconds lat
er | was out in the road and turned
instinctvely in the direction of the
temples"
He could not see the young officer
but ran on until he reached the wall
of the temple compound-an enorm-
Gus court yard of paved stone OH
which were lying number of priests,
their white garments wrapped round
their heads and bodies. "In the back
ground was placed temple after tenn
pie, but in the very center stood one
solitary shrine, raised on three sepa-
rate flights of steps. and inside
could see the great black god raised
on three other flights of colored mar.
bic steps The moonbean,s shone di-
rcctly on the god and lit up the emer-
aid eyes and ruby lips, while the pearl
glowed OH his huge black
bosom. To my unutterable horror |
saw my companion walking right
across the courtyard. My tongue
Glove to the roof my mouth. dared
not shout even if l could have raised
my voice. A ghastly horror took hold
Of me as the idea struck me that in
his madness my poor friend intended
to save his honor by the greater dis
honor of robbing the idol. Speech
less | saw him mount step after step