St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-05-05


the bridge? He could not say. All OF
these answers he gave with a stolidity
of features that would have imposed
upon any one not thoroughly acquainted
with the habits and manners of the
natives.
Power Of Money.
The provost marshal, Maj. North,
solemn-faced and stern-looking man,
was the querist. He ordered the pris-
oner to be shot, and told him so in his
own tongue. A file or men and non
commissioned officer were told Off and
marched to the rear with the prisoner.
The cartridges of the rifles of the es-
cort were screwed out from the rifles
before the prisoners eyes and the rifles
loaded afreSh.
The men stood about some ten or fif-
teen PAGES from the prisoner. capped
the arms and were ready to come TO the
present and fire, The prisoners feet
and hands were tied, the latter behind
his back. A very slight lividness was
the only change in his face. The pro-
vost marshal approached him and said,
in the native language, that unless he
would give the information asked of
him he would be instantly shot, his
bOOy OfOl w IhO biCOhAOo Wv
caste men, ScavengerS, etc., who would
sew it up in cOWskin and bury it in
the public road.
The man was a HindoO, and this was a
fearful doom that was threatened. The
whole teachings of his life, his preju-
dices and feelings would be all outraged
by this treatment, and the bowling,
dark regions of a hereafter would be his
doom. Yet he was true to his people
under these dreadtul-tO him-circum-
stances. His answer was: II know
nothing" The provost marshal was
puzzled, and he showed it. He held
down his head for moment as IT in
thought, looked sharply up into the
prisoners face, put his hand into mis-
Waist-pouch. pulled out handful OF
rupees Silver coins valued at two shlll-
ings). and held them with outstretched
hand in front of the mans face and
said: 'These are yours"
There was an instantaneous change.
The mans eyes frightened. the stolld-
ness vanished from his features and he
became at once handsome, Intelligent
looking young HindOo. His hands and
feet were united. he got the rupees
thirteen-anG he knew all that was
wanted, and, more than that, he guided
1880 of us with six guns to shallow
ford five miles down the river that night.
The Warning Rocket.
Our men crossed it. and at 4 in the
morning brilliant rocket shot up
toward the heavens and burst in a
shower of beautiful sparks, and we
knew that our men had arrived close to
the right and rear of he village. The
enemy knew this about the same time.
and it seemed to demorallZe them. for
their fire slackened at once. We took
them in both TANKS and in the rear. for
1000 of our men with guns got across
the river on pontoons, constructed by
our engineers during the night. cap
tured thirteen heavy guns in their bat
teries, the village, a considerable
amount Of treasure, plenty of provis-
ions. many standards and the "Nana's"
richly furnished and luXuriously fitted
palanquin, but unfortunately not the
royal person.
The sights in the village were horrl-
BILE to look upon. The bodies of women,
children, men and cattle lay about,
torn and rent to pieces by our shells
which had burst in their midst. The
batteries and their surroundings also
presented dreadful scenes, which will
not try to describe.
Our loss, considering our small force,
was terrible. At the bridge alone
the killed amounted to S6, with 100
wounded. Altogether, we lost $40 killed,
with $50 wounded.
We were unable to follow the enemy,
in consequence Of not having more than
half enough conveyances for our wound
ed. even after we had secured the sur
rounding country for ''bandieS'' and
bullockS to draw them. 1t was also abb
solutely necessary to have some days
rest amt feinforcements. For four days
we lived in a comparative paridlse in
the beautiful TOPICS around us, with
plenty to eat and drink.
At the END of the fourth day 1t was re-
ported by some of the natives of the
outlying villages that the people were
cruelty prosecuted by the raids of some
sixty or seventy budmasheS occupying
mud fort seven or eight miles from
where we lay.
Welcome Supplies.
Now, as the enemy were cleared Off,
the villagers were beginning to bring US
in supplies of fresh eggs, milk, flour,
fowl, fruit, ETC., for which they We're
honestly paid in coin. These articles
were most urgently required for the
wounded and the others as we'll, and
after being thoroughly tested by the
doctors they were used. Early next
morning 100 Infantry, twenty cavalry
men and two nine-p0under guns were
detailed to march out and attack the
budmashes. Being just able to mount
nv horse at this time. asked Col. Oh
pherts to allow me to go in charge of
the two guns. Permission being grant
ed. we started at O'Clock, and after a
smait march arrived at sunset within
musket shot of the small fort under
guidance of two men of an adjacent
village.
They did not expect US, for some Of
them were out on the grassy slopes OF
the glacis of the forts milking camels
and goats. They had one light gun
mounted on the rampartS and fired it at
once, but with bad aim, for the shot
passed yards over our heads. We re-
piled, and dismounted their gun with
our fourth shot. We then moved
quickly around to the front gate, send
ing detachment of infantry around to
the back gate to cut Off their retreat II
attempted. But they fought it out in
the square and easements of the fort,
which surprised us, for it was always
remarkable OF them that, after killing
as many as they could. they invariably
made great efforts to escape with the
loot which they always managed to col
Iect in their thieving raids. They did
make an attempt to shut the gates and
draw up the bridge. but we had cur two
guns loaded with grape and canister,
and we poured deadly shower of those
missiles right through the open arch
way Of the gate and into the square
just beyond it, clearing everything in
front.
A Cavalry Charge.
The cavalry now charged across the
bridge and into the square, forty infan-
try close after. l told my senior SER
geant to take charge of the guns and 1
rode in also. A curious sight met our
eyes. Some fifty or sixty half-naked,
stalwart, strengthening men, with fury
showing in their features. with six or
seven Pindarees among them, brought
up to be murderers and robbers from in
fancy, known by their long lances or
spears in their hands, had tightly
| folded bundles in their left hands, with
the hardly ever absent tulwar in their
right. They were clustered around a