The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1891-02-20

.w,,, lekILleutS, 10 re-
volted during the year and 81 were dis
banded. The cause Of the rcvo.t-thc i'm
medlate cause-was the adoption of the
Enheld rifle for Indian troops, which would
involve IN loading the biting of the creased
paper OF the cartridge with the teeth. The
grease of pigs being unclean to the Mus
sulman and that OF cows sacred to the
Hlndoo, the incident was seized upon by
Willy leaders to inspire IA revolt, and that
Under the circumstAnces-th fiery nature
Or the sepoys and the small number Of
loyal troops-could but be attended with
bloody massacre
ne whole country was ready for the up-
rising. The all powerful Hindoo astrolo-
gefs had Tor half century predicted that
the hated rule Of the East India company
would come to al end in 1857, ana popular
superstition, combined with private malice.
ambition and greed, worked together to
ian each trifiing spark into d flame Be
ginning with March of that year revolts
ana n1assacres were Of frequent occurrence,
On June 4 several thousand sepoys re-
VOTED vt CaWnpore, Il military station On
the Ganges across from the newly annexed
Kingdom Of Dude. Throughout Dude there
was widespread discomfort, and Gavin
pore was filled with refugees from British
rule IN that country. The native troops
AZ CaWnpore consisted of three regiments
OF infantry, one Of cavalry and a company
Of artillery. The British troops were
about 200, under Gen. Sir Hugh Wheeler.
When the mutterinss Of the storm reach
ed him Gen Wheeler fortified Il lregiment,,l
barrack and gathered around him the En-
gllsh residents and also the families Of the
Thirty-second English regiment, then sery-
ing at Lucknow. A peridious raial, Mana
Sahlb, attempted by friendly assurances to
delay the preparations for defense, but
finally threw aside the mask, and with an
orcrpoWering force of bandits and rene
gndes attacked the barracks. An heroic
defense followed, The position of Wheeler
WAS completely surrounded Water for
the troops and citizens could be drawn
Only under cover of darkness Cannon
and rifles played On aha ticfenses from aIl
sides, and blrning summer sun added to
the suffering Of the beslesed AT que time
the barfstcll 9i the wounded was Fred by a
shell, and q horde Of sepoSs rna1e,. nf to
They were repulsed with lfstYy loss, the
defenders losing many men.
Finally q European prisoner of Mana
SAINT ssYotsttilt TO Gen. Wheeler i propo.
sti3ts Ifttf1 fiA rAjah t6 tlte effect thar safe
conduit fFaali be furnished to al OF the
British vic you'd lay down Their arms.
On the 9Th Gen. Wheeler finding his rasc
hopeless, agreed to he terms, and the gar
rison with the civilians marched out ana
were placed upon boats in the Ganges At
Il signal the Indian crews deserted the
vessels and masked bodies Of sepoys opened
upon them with small arms and artillery.
Four men escaped from the boats, and the
other survivors, including women and chill
drcn, We're returned to Cawnpore as pris-
onerS.
4 few days after the tragedy of the boats
the news reached the military station at
Allahaba1 l25 miles distant, where was
gathered the nearest relieving force Of the
district. Sir Henry IIarclock a general
noted for his Christian principles and high
courage, had just arrived to lead an cxpe-
ditlon for the succor Of the stations under
siege by the scpoys. Iavclock set out for
Cawnpore with l,o3l Europeans and about
200 native cavalry. After marching nearly
half the distance to Cawupore the column
overlook ;tii advance party of 200 mcu, and
with II total of 400 men lIavelncl1 found
himself Gonfroato;l by $500 rebels in a
strong position ut Futteporc. The enemy
pushed the attack, and IInvelock, though,
anxious to give his weary men some rest
decided to accept the Challenge In ten
minutes the action WAS decided. the enemy |
rctreating in disorder before the deadly
Enfield rifles aud the cannon.