The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-08-22

mountains, lying beyond the fortress of
Jumrood- The garrison at Sealkote con-
sisted Of a troop of horse artillery, bat
terry of field artillery belonging to the East
| India companY's service, the Fifty-second
foot and the Sixth dragon guards of her
| Britannia majesty's forces, and two regi-
ments of Sepoys.
In the early part of June the European
portion of the Sealkote garrison was or
dered TO join force that had been organ
lied under the command of Brig Gen
Chamberlain, 70 be called The Punisub
Movable Column" its object being to bold
IN check the large force Of Sepoys qusrtered
ID the Punjaub and prevent Them from
marching to Delhi. We Joined that column
Be Annurkuliee, the old cantonment of the
khalsa army under RUnieet Singh
There were five regiments of Sepoys and
two of native cavalry then CHARTERED there
and shortly after our arrival some Skhs
who had been enlisted in one of the Sepoy
regiments gave Information that the native
officers were melting she men to Inutiny 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
L,
Chamberlain ordered drum head court
martial TO assemble for their trial They
were convicted OF melting TO muttny and
deserton and sentenced 70 be hanged.
It was conclusively proved before the
court by men rom their own regiment
both Hindoos, Mussulmans and Sikhs-
that they had assembled the man and
urged them to murder their officers and
march to Delhi
FINDING OF 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 as follows: "The findings and SEN
tence of the court martial, of which Lieut.
Col. Campbell is president, are approved,
but to show to the natives of India that
the British government has no intention
or desire to interfere with the prsjudices
of caste, the sentence of the court is changed
from that of being hung to being blown
from the mouth of a cannon, and the SEN
tence as modified will be carried out at sun
rise tomorrow morning under the orders
of the officer commanding the garrison.
The Punjaub movable column and tho
garrison will be paraded an hour before
sunrise to see the sentence carried into
effect"
The officer commanding the garrison di-
rected the officer commanding the artillery
to detail two guns TO execute the sentence.
and the two right guns of my troop were
detailed for that duty The troops wers
paraded as directed, and formed in three
sides Of a hollow square, the two guns
from which the culprits were to be blown
being at the base of the square; on the left
came the remaining four guns of the troop,
the battery of field artillery, the guns being
placed in echelon, SO that if necessary they
could sweep the right hand 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 it was not known but that there might
be some attempt at rescue, the guns Of
the artillery were loaded, dosble shotted
with grape, and the cavalry and infantry
had their carbines and muskets loaded.
Soon was heard band playing the Dead
March," and the procession appeared. The
prisoners marched up to the front of the
two guns at the base Of the square, their
irons were struck from them, and the pro-
court, together with the approval and
change Of sentence by the commanding
general, were read 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 OCT.
The commanding officer then gave the
order to the lieutenant commanding the
two guns to carry out the sentence. He
directed the prisoners to place Themselves
with their backs to the muzzle of the guns
up against each was thin plank,
about six feet long, against which they
placed themselves, the 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 msnner touching
their bodies, as to be touched by the hands
of an infidel was, in their eyes, worse than
death. The culpr}es were attended By lot
of BrahrniD priests, who kent on chanting
something, in which the prisoners Joined,
until the fastening was finished, when they
were told to withdraw, and The officer gave
the command 10 light port fires, and then
the command TO fire. Both flashes were
and when the smoke cleared
away nothing was left but mass o. Hesh
and bones. Hnrecognizable as the remains
Of two human beings. 4 cry ran along
the lines oS The native troops, in Persian,
God Is greatF' The parade was then dis
missed, the native troops marching back
10 their cantonnents.
Gen. chamberlain was severely criticised
at the tins By the European press for
having changed the method Of execution
from hanging Fir wss Influenced 70 make
the change by soldiers and civilian servants
Of the company, men who understood the
native character well, and also by many
prominent natives, on the ground that 1t
was generally believed that the mutiny
was brought about OF an impression which
seemed TO pEeysll among the Sgpoys THAI
The government intended in some way 70
destroy caste prejudice Had they besR
hung either soue low caste native or .
Earopsan soldisr would have had % 90 II.
aud would necessarily have had 20 lay
hands an the culpri:s Their caste would
have been destroyed and this would have
los. them all hopes Of their paradise, and
would have left the impression on the
minds Of their friends that they were IRE
vucahly lost-Sev Orleans Tfrnss- DsIno-
rTat.
An extraordinary ineiosnk took plaee re
szu,&lv an a EAd<f5r,v g. s. Sslzs' church