Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-30
YBg SIEGE OF SUNDA GUNGI,
Temple Bar.


the little British station at Sunda Gunge
had been bcsieged by tho insurgent
Sepoys.
The station was divided into two por-
t;ons: Che lower, consisting Of the In.
dian village and the upper. part OF
which. including the magazine and the
British rcsidency, was strongly fortified.
Within this portion the English residents
had retired on the first signal OF ap-
rroaching danger. The rebeis fortu.
ratcly possessed only one small piece OF
cannon, which had proved quite ineifcc-
tual against tho walls OF tho enclosure
Provisions were not scarce I; and up u
tho present moment the garrison had
entertained strong hopes of beng able
10 hold out until relief arrived.
Suddenly new and unexpected dan
ger had arisen.
The buildings enclosed within the for.
,ifcations formed an open square. In
The middle OF the square was the well
which supplied the garrison with water
About 8 o'clock in the afternoon group
az soTersl persons were standing within
the shelter Of an nrchwsy which opened
into the square, and gazing with looks OF
CONSERVATION and dismay in the direction
Of the well.
The cause Of their alarm was singular.
The town was situated at the foot OF a
range Of hills, and from one particular
point upon tho slopes outside the walls
tho well in tho middle Of the square was
visible. This the Sepoys had at length
discovered. Their single piece OF can
non was at once posted at this point
and brought 10 bear exactly on the
well within tho town. The result OF
this proceeding is self-eyident, III one
Of tho garrison should now venture into
the square for the purpose OF fetching
water no would run an imminent r1'k OF
being blown 10 atoms by voney OF
FTspeshot
The group OF spectators looked in 81
lence OF tho we'll. Tho same thought
occupied the minds OF all. There were
women in the garrison-delicate English
ladies. girls. ard children-and within
tho room SGT apart for the purpose OF a
hospital wounded men were moaning tol
water Water, ut oil costs. must be
had-even in face OF vigilant enemy
md loaded cannon. But howP
Over a fringe Of mango trees and the
roofs Of some low bungalows TO the right
Of the square knot Of dusky figures
could be deserted at q certain point on
the hillside. The dark point marked the
ppot where the cannon was posted.
ven as the spectators looked toward il
tho cannon boomed-there came puff
Of smoke and flash Of fre--aud at the
same moment tho ground about the
month of the well was torn mp by O
fierce hail Of shot The Runners were
irving their range, and what is more, II
was only too evident that they had
found IT,
The spectators looked significantly M
ono another. Four Of the group were
English soldiers the rest we're natives.
OF the latter two were water-carrers,
each Of whom carried about bis waist
large. hollow belt Of skin. capable Of
containing several gallons Of water. The
duty Of these men was IN ordinary
times one of no particular danger. But
now the case was altered. There they
stood trembling, their dusky faces turn
inr 10 q sickly yellow rs they stared at
the SPACE Of shattered ground which the
storm Of shot had torn up all around the
mouth Of the well. The other natives
we're all Sikhs, md these. with the I'M
passive courage Of their race, looked on
calmly and betrayed no emotion.
OF the EnRlishmen, two were private
f0ldiers the other two were officers
Colonel Dunlns. the officer in charge o.
the garrison, and n young lieutenant
So. George Nane. The Colonel was Z
hll, gray man, grave, stern, and martial
The Lieutenant was a young man oI
lot more than five or six and twenty,
with blue eyes, fair moustache, and care
less, handsome features, much bronzec
by exposure 20 the sun.
The Colonel was the first TO speak.
"This is an awkward business, Nane,
Do said. "We might drive thcs'
towards to the well, but they will Ger
taiuly be blown to pieces, and we shal
g,t no water. And at night with TIN
moon it is as light as day. One coulC
see mouse stirring"
"Trne." said Vane, rejecting, "yet-
stay one Of us might 60 out alone anC
try 10 bring in water II they hit him
fs they most likely will. three or foul
others can be- ready to rush ont anC
may bring him in, and the water "a well
before they have time TO load again,
and he looked iuquiringly at the Colo
nels face. olccr TO learn what he thought
Of the proposal
"4he cannon is not the only danger,
raii the Colonel. "They have rifles
there as we'll
True, sid Vanc, "but a rifle a
that range would most likely miss
shower q grape is different"
The Colonel hesitated. Nocommandel
likes Oh send brave men on desperat,
ventures But he could see no othel
scheme which would not involve mucl
greater risk Of life, with still less prospec
Of success. And they must reach the wei
in some way-the necessity was vital L
onco their supply of water was cut of
their chance was gone. They could MOI
last twelve hours.
Vano had kept his eyes fixed on The
Colonels face.
LET me try" lie said, eagerly
"Giye mo few men-a score vii
yomntoer-and we will laugh at these
black scoundrels yet
The Colonel hesitated-but only fol
Amoment There was no man in the
garrison whom no valued and trusted
more than ST. George Nane. He knew
we'll the danger OF the proposed advsn
turo and he knew well, also, that Vane
II he were allowed 10 undertake it, would
never rest until his task succeeded OF
lac himself we're killed in the attempt
But in warfare private feeling must give
way to the general good. After q moment
the Colonel laid his hand on the young
mans shoulder. and said briefly;
"Try !"