New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-29

!
his friends found safety. but in the flight one OF
the English ladies who joined them was injured
in the upset and wreck of a carriage. Inc
| bravo woman made light OF the accident. and
through the long night uttered no complaint. al
though at noon the next day 1t was found that
her collar-bone had been broken. and she had
suffered nearly twenty -four hours OF agony.
She was not alone in courage and endurance
violent death or worse than death was the por-
ton OF many an English lady in India In that
eventfu year. but there is no instance OF feml-
nine selnshness or cOwardice remembered. Inc
story Of the siege Of Caunpore is one to make
the heart swell. rot only with pity. but with
pride in the Arglo-Saxon strain that breeds
women brave as we'll as gentle. Toward the
fatal end Of the siege those who survived might
we'll envy the happy ones who had sunk under
suffering The destruction Of the barrack, y
SAYS Mr.. Holmes. had robbed them even OF the
wretched shelter which they had had before,
and now their only resting-place was the nara
earth their only protection the crumbling mud
wall beneath which they lay. They were De-
grimed with dirt their dresses in rags,
their cheeks pinche1 and haggard and
their brows ploughed with burrows. There were
some even who. while stunned by horrid sounds
and sckened by foul or CHASTITY sights. had to
fants for whose future they could not dare to
hope A skilful pen might describe the acute
ness OF their bodily suferings, but who can
imagine the intensity Of their mental tortures?
They lacked the grim consolation OF fighting an
unyielding battle against desperate odds. which
may even then have sustained the heart of the
soldier Yet they never despairei They gave
the artillerymer their stockings for grape-cases;
they handed round ammunition TO the infantry.
and they cheered all alike by their uncompan-
ing spirit and their tender. gracious Kindness.
The return which the men made FOR their de-
votion was the most acceptable service that they
could have performed. They little children
around them dying Of thirst. and they resolved
to relieve them. There was only one well within
the intrenchment. and to reach 1t they had 10
pass over the most exposed part Of the position
But they could not bear to hear the children's
piteous cries. ard at the cost If many heroic
lives the labor of love was performed
Alas that so much that was noble went down
to so fearful death: Mr. Sherer. after the re-
capture Of Caunpore was among the flrst 10
visit the Beebeeghur. where all these defence
less women and children were butchered by the
natives. over the pavement. thickly caked with
blood and strewn with such sad relics as locks
of hair. some little shoes and straw hats. ne
passed down into the garden to the narrow
we'll where most of the victims were thrown by
the assassns. There at no great depth was a
CHASTITY tangle of naked limbs The Magistrate
heard a cry Of pain. and turned to see the burly
English trooper beside him almost crouchins
with a sckening anguish No wonder that the
troops who gazed upon that sight had little
mercy upon the mutineers afterward
Mr. Sherer makes naught of the romantic de-
scriptions OF Mana Sahib. who ordered this mas
sacre. The Mana. according TO him. was not a
scented sybarite. nor an extraordinary monster
of ferocity but simply heavy. stolid. dull.
self-indulgent man with grievance. The fact
that he was not permitted 10 have the full allow
ance which was given to the Peishwa. who had
adopted him. ranked in his mind, and rendered
him accessible 10 malignant advisers AS to the
vengeance which followed the massacre Sherer
SAYS that the condemned died with extraordi-
nary composure the Mahometans with
hauteur and an angry kind Of scorn. and the
Hindoos with an apparent Indifference altogether
astonishing" Some Of the latter treated death
exactly as If it were a journey. one man. who
was searched three or four minutes before exc
cution. peevishly demurring TO the giving ZIP OF
a few apples OF the jujube tree. The author re-
members only one who died craven.
This is not a record Of unLroken gloom: Mr..
Sherer has a sense Of humor. and now and then
sets down some recollection that evOkrs a smile.
Such is the incident of the Durbar. held by the
Viceroy when 1t desirable 10 make the
natives feel that the Government had con Iucred.
and that affairs were going on as OF cid. y
number OF the native princes attended In due
state.
One Of the small RajpoOt chieftains had
brought UP an old gray and tOothess Courtlcr.
who had got himself up In a ferociously wariike
manner. and carried portentous sword OF the
doc a
seen handled by the late Mr. W. II. Payne. wien.
with terrific mustaChe and a turban ~ many
colored folds he enacted the part ~ The cruel
Sultan in q Christmas piece. The old gentle
man brought this hcart-rcnding weapon 10 be
touched by Lord Canning and then IN loud
! voice began telling him that If his enemies ever
gave him any trouble ne had only 10 say the
word and this sword should be drawn In his de-
fence He had great deal more TO state, lut
fell at last into the hands II the Masters Of
the Ceremonies and was hustled out ~ the
presence not. however. before he had quite up
set Lord Cannings gravity. who held out for
some time but last burst into uncontro'laolc
laughter.