Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-09-07
TIE INDIAN MuTlNY.
An English Soldier Who Waded in Sai
powder With a Naked Light.

An En-ItSh SOtu1er VINO a10SA rs >sr..>>A
powder With a Naked Light.
Mr. Forbes Mitchell, author OF
"reminiscences of the Great Mntiny.
found himself, says the Youths Cosn-
panion, without an overcast after
one OF the battles at Lucknow. and,
being unable to sleep for the cold.
got up IN the night. went into 3
room OF the shah Nujeof-where his
regiment was encamped-took 3
lighted lamp from its shelf and.
shading it with his hand, walked to
the door of the great domed tomb,
or mosque. hoping to find a coat
when some Sepoy in his hurried de-.
parture had left behind him. He
peered inside. and then. holding the
lamp high over his head, walked in
until he was near the center OF the
vault. Here he felt his progress OBJ
ssructed ty a black heap four or five
feet high. which felt to his feet as II
he We're walking in loose sand. He
lowered tho lamp and saw Instant
" that he was up to his ankles in
loose gunpowder, About forty hun
dredweight of it lay in q heap before
his nose, while a glance to the left
showed twenty or thirty barrels also
full of powder: and another glance to
the left revealed more than hum
drek eight-inch shells. and all loaded
with the fuses fixed, and spare fuses,
slow matches and port fires lying in
profusion beside the shells.
II took in the danger at q glance, !"
he writes Here / was up to my
knees in powder, in the very bowels
of ,aagazine, with u naked light!
My hair literally stood on end. |
felt the skin on my head lifting my
bonnet off my scalp. My knees
knocked together and despite the
chilly night air cold perspiration
burst out all over me and ran down
my face and legs. ] had neither
cloth nor handkerchief in my pocket
and there was not a moment to be
lost. Already the overhanging wick
of the Indian lamp was threatening
to shed its SIN oldering red tip to the
magazine at my feet. Quick as
thought / put my left hand under
the housekeeping fame and clasped
it with a grasp Of determination.
Holding it firmly. i turned slowly to
the door and walked out with my
knees knocking against each other.
Ifelt not the slightest pain from
grasping the burning wick until ]
was in the open air, but when ]
opened my hand I felt the smart
acutely enough. | poured the Gil
out Of the lamp Intothe burned hand
and. kneeling down, thanked God fol
having saved myself and all the men
lying around me from destruction.
Then | got up, and, staggering rather
than walking to the place where Cap
tain Dawson was sleeping, and
shaking him awake, told him of my
discovery and the fright ! had got.
'"Bah, Corporal Miuehell!' was al
his answer. You have woke up out
of your sleep aud have got fright
ened at a shadow for my heart was
still humping against my ribs and
my voice was trem bling.
The upshot of the matter was tina
on seeing the corporars burnt hant
and the powder nearly half an incl
| thick sticking to his feet and oaml
| CATERS, the captain was almost a:
+! badly scared as Mitchell himself
The sleeping men were aroused, tn
| fire was put out as expeditiously a
possible, and sentry was posted a
! the door of the mosque to proven
anyone from entering.