New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-22

q
these we all crowded. Some officers leaped
without hesitation into the ditch, drop OF some
twenty-five feet, and then scrambled Up the
counterscarp. Poor Osborn's look Of despair I
shall never forget. az he bound up his wound In
his leg with q handkerchief and then dropped
OF the parapet into the ditch. / heard him
shout out to US TO follow, and The next moment
saw him climbing the opposite bank. Myself
and the rest were in the act OF following his
example when despairing cries for help we're
heard proceeding from some ladies who had
taken shelter In the officers quarters situated
on the top Of the baston. Running back at once,
We found them IN state bordering on distrac-
ton and the Misses Forest were weeping over
their mother who had been shot through the
she ulder"
Taking the ladies with them the officers
rushed 10 ar embrasure, and while bullets were
she wering about them and round shot were
ere. hirg into the parapet close by them they
tied their swordbelts together sid then helped
their trembling charges 10 drop into the ditch
The ascent Of the counterscarp was difficult
over and over again the women would climb
almost to the top. when the rolling earth would
send them back into the ditch But at last their
protectors succeeded in getting them to the top
into some thick shrubbery that grew az the bot
tom. Here began journey " hich Is one OF the
most heartrendine and exciting IN Mutny rec
ords Colonel Wharf describes it with sim
plicity which intensfes the effect OF the SUI
fernes they experienced. There were five
Enelshmen. and the five ladies included the
wounded Mrs Forest and her three daughters.
the Youngest d sweet little gir of nine years Of
a0 al n no W Str Cgl
across country as best they might 10 Meerut
and safety For five days and nights they toied
with torn and bleeding feet through tragic
mis- cries Of many kinds half-starved left by
band Of robbers with hardly enough garments
10 cover them often al the very point OF death
al the hands Of the natives and almost insane
from the effects Of the burning Gun. one Of the
most heroic sufferers Of the group was Mrs.
Forest who bore in silence the eXcruciating
pain from the gunshot wound IN her shoulder
and crept on steadily with the others. Now
and then they received little food and water
from plying villagers, and Colonel Wharf re
cords his conviction that II The truly mis-
cradle APPEARANCE OF their feminine charges
that saved the party from murd"r-the sight OF
tho poor creaturer stirred some sympathy even
in that cruel time native barber-surgeon was
fnduced to dress Ms Forest wound He
caused boiling "ghee." clarified butter, 10 be
passed completely through H. and this painful
process prevented modification Of the long
INTENDED wound and undoubtedly saved the
brave and gentle ladys life. This was near the
end Of their wretched pilgrimage. The garrison
at Meerut had heard Of Their plight and rescue
marty was sent out for them We have barely
the thrilling nature ot their escape
no romance could be more instinct with horror
and suspense than is this straightforward and
modest narrative 6omething eenter mingled
with me terror and the courage, we are led 70
believe for soon after the capture Of Delhi Mrs
Forests eldest daughter was married to one
Of the young officers who guarded them or this
piteous journey
Colonel Wharf returned to duty Immediately
and took part IN the subsequent siege Of Delhi
His story from beginning 70 end is Of absorbing
interest and students Of the history OF the
famous Muuny should not fail 70 real II. In
,luded In the volume are some notable chapters
from other pens, giving details Of the outbreak
at Meerut and OF other events connected with
Vibart's record.
TIE ONLY EAI.