Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-08-08
THE FAITHLESS SERVANT.

had been in India ten months when
the first meeting among native troops
occurred. The English have been harshly
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
mutiny, and in most instances the native
troops so greatly outnumbered the Euro
pean that the military authorities were
powerless to quell mutiny. Long enough
before the first mutiny occurred every
body knew that the country was restless,
and that incendiary addresses were being
made and rebellious 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
outbreak became so menacing that
made preparations to depart, but was in
duced to remain by the representations of
the British officers. They declared their ut
most faith in the native soldiery, and to
this was added the protestations of the
body servant who had been with me for
half year. He was an intelligent, we'll
educated Sepoy, who had Travelled ex-
tensively with Europeans, and who was
well posted in the manners and customs
of the natives. He solemnly assured me
that the outbreaks at Delhi, Agra,
Nusseerabad and other places were
owing entirely to local causes. As /
afterward came to know, this fellow,
while telling me this, was not only acting
as spy for the malcontents; but had
carefully appraised my personal property
and made his calculations to kill me and
take possession.
There were over 5000 native soldiery in
camp at seetapore, and nothing in their
conduct upto the first of June gave rise
to the slightest suspicion that an out
break was intended. On the morning of
the I'd revolt was ripe. The command
ant was informed that the entire body
of native soldiery had determined to
throw off the yoke and join the rebellion,
but that all Europeans would have an op-
portunity to leave the place in safety.
Lucknow.was only fifty miles away, and
all could reach the place. Strangely
enough, this warning was ridiculed by
the military, although discipline in the
cantoment was at an end, and one-third
of the native soldiery were intoxicated.
saw this as / rode out to the camps
from the town, and although assured that
there was not the slightest cause to rur
away, I returned to the house of my
cousin, 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 I found that two
thirds of the citizens we're also making
preparations to leave, l determined tt
take the safe side.
When set out from Seetapore on th'
highway for Lucknow it was in car
riage, in which were my cousin, his wife
another civil official named Roberts ant
his wife, and young man named Ches
ter, who was a clerk in Roberts's employ
The driver was native who had been il
the service of my cousin for fifteen years
We had our rifles and pistols and plent,,
of ammunition, and all the small valua
bles about the house were packed in th
carriage. Two miles out we overlook
similar outfit, which contained thre
civil officials, two of whom were marrie'
men and had their wives and childrel
along, As all were acquainted it wa
agreed to travel together, and the joar
ney during the afternoon was entirel
| safe and pleasant. We passed many ma
tives, all headed for Seetapore, most o
| whom saluted us courteously, and a
hour before sundown, when we had mad
seventeen miles and drew up Govern
ment bungalow to refresh ourselves, W
felt rather cheap at having run away $
soon. There were no other travellers s