Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-18
BLOWN FROM A CANNON.
THE HORRIBLE EXECUTION or TWO
MUTlNoUs sEPoYs.

a "Reminiscences OF the Early Days Of
Eng1and's Rule in the Indian Empire.
The Method Was Substituted for Hang.
ing Because Of the Brahmin.
In the springof 1857 Twas quartered with
my troop at Sealllote, in the Punjaub, with
IN sight Of the snow capped Himalayan
mountains, lying beyond the fortress of
Jumrood. The garrison at Sealkote con-
sisted of troop Of horse artillery, bat
terry OF field artillery belonging to the East
India company7s service, the Fifty second
foot and the Sixth dragon guards of her
Britannia majesty's forces, and two regi-
ments Of Sepoys.
In the esrly part OF June the European
portion of the Sealkote garrison was or
dered to join force that had been organ
ixed under the command of Brig. Gen.
Chamberlain, to be called 'The Punjaub
Movable Column" its object being to hold
In check the large force of Sepoys quartered
in the Punjaub ard prevent them from
marching TO Delhi We joined that column
at Annurkullee, the old cantonment Of the
Khalsa army under Runjeet Singh.
There were five regiments of Sepoys and
two Of native cavalry then quartered there
and shortly after our arrival some Sikhs
who had been enlisted In one of the Sepoy
regiments gavv information that the native
officers were melting the men to mutiny and
TO march to Delhi An investigation was
ordered, and it was found that two of the
officers had deserted. They were captured
by some of Hodson's Guide corps and
brought back to the cantOnment, and Gen
Chamberlain ordered drum head court
martial to assemble for their trial. They
were convicted Of melting to mutiny and
desertlon aud sentenced to be hanged.
1t was conclusively proved before the
court by men from their own regiment
both Hindoos, Mussulmans and Sikhs-
that they had assembled the men and
urged them TO murder their officers and
march to Delhi.
FINDING or THE COURT MARTIAL.
The finding and sentence of the court
were approved by Gen. Chamberlain, who
issued an order, the reading of which was
about rs follows: 1.-THE findings and SEN
tence OF the court martial, of which Lieut.
Col. Campbell is president, are approved,
bat to show to the natives of India that
the British government has no intention
or desire to interfere with the prejudices
OF caste, thesentence of the court is changed
from that of being hung to being blown
from the mouth Of n cannon, and the SEN
tence rs modified will be carried out at sun
rise tomorrow morning under the orders
OF the officer commanding the garrison.
The Punjaub movable column and the
garrison will be paraded an hour before
sunrise to see the sentence carried into
effect"
The officer commanding the garrison d.
Teeted the officer commanding The artillery
20 detail two guns to execute tina sentence,
and the two right guns Of M troop were
detailed for that duty The troops were
paraded as directed, and formed in three
sides of hollow square. the two guns
from which the culprits were to be blowI
being Mt the base Of the square; on the eft
came the remaining four guns Of the troop,
the battery Of field artillery, the guns being
placed In echelon 80 that if necessary they
could sweep the right nand side of The
square. Next came the Sixth Carbineers,
her majesty's Fifty-second foot, and a
squadron of Hodson's horse; on the right
were stationed the native troops, two regi
ments Of cavalry, and five of infantry, and
as IL was not known but that there might
be some attempt mt rescue, the guns of
the artillery were loaded, double shotted
with grape, and the cavalry aud infantry
had their carbncs and muskets loaded
Soon wns heard "A band playing the Dead
March, +" and the procession appeared The
prisoners marched up to the front of the
two guns mt the base of the square, their
irons were struck from them, and the pro
ceedings, findings and sentence of the
court, together with the approval and
change Of sentence by the commanding
general, were rend by the interpreter of
one Of the native regiments, In English and
Persian. The interpreter was an English
officer, one being attached to each Sepoy
regiment.
TIE SENTENCE CARRIED OUT.
The commanding officer then gave the
order TO the lieutenant commanding the
two guns 10 carry ont the sentence. He
directed the prisoners to place themselves
with their backs 10 the muzzle of the guns.
Standing up against each was thin plank,
about six feet long, against which they
placed themselves, tho guns having pre-
viously been loaded with the usual service
blank charge Of powder. A rope was then
passed around their bodies, the gunners
having been cautioned that it was TO be
done without in any manner touching
their bodies, az to be touched by the hands
al gn iniidcl was, in their eyes, worse than
death. The culprits were attended by lot
Of Ijrnbmin priests, who kept on chanting
something, IN which the prisoners joined
until the fastening WAS finished, when they
were told to Withdraw, aud the officer gave
tho command 90 light port fires, and then
the command 90 fire Both flashes were
simultaneous, and when the smoke cleared
away nothing WIS loft hut IA mass of ilesf
nnl BONES, unacceptable "a the remain'
Of two human beings. cry ran along
ths lines OF tho native troops, In Persian
God Is great" The parade was then dis
missed, ihr native troops marching back
90 thclF cautuuiucnts.
Gra. Chamberlain was severely criticised
al the time by the European press fol
having changed the method of execution
from hanging lic wns influenced 10 MAKE
the ehauge by soldiers and civilian servants
Of The company men who understood thu
native character WELL and also by man!
premlusnt natives. ON the ground that 4
Wa generally believed that the muffin,
vas brought about hynu impression whicl
ae.mei 10 prevail among he Sepoys tina
the government intended In some way L
destroy caste prejudice Had they beer
hung either some low custe native or I
lutousau soldier would have had 20 do IL
Aud would necessarily have had 70 la.
hand. on the culprits. Their caste woul'
have hccn destroyed, and this would hay
lot them an hopes ot their paradise, AM
wuuM have lcn the impression on th
minds ~ their friends that they were IRE
voaally lust.-NCw Orleans Times Demo
GRAFT
An extraordinary incident took place n
srnttg a. a wedding no 81. Silas' church