The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-05-24

than week ago the Lucknow tffi-
oials learned that the forbidden prac-
tics for several yeare. Suddenly q
little more than a week ago the Luck
now cfacisls learned that the forbid
den practice had just claimed a wi6-
ow, little more than q child at Gavin
pore.
An investigation proved that the
report was only too we'll foundt d. The
funeral pyre had been set up In a
shallow chasm in an i'll. kept outlying
street in which half. burnt sticks OF
wood lay. The officers were unable
In this instance, to make any arrests
for the reason that the names OF those
guilty of completely were carefully
guarded by fanatic adherents to the
old religion.
But it was proved that on the same
pyre whose flames consumed the dead
body OF Chunder Mooke1 jhar, q skill
ed laborer of Cawnpore, bis fifteen
year old widow gave up her life. There
were Hindu witnesses Of the act, who
while they took no part, apparently,
In the horrible rite, and who refused
to name any persons who did take
part, told the English Officials the
main details.
Ohunder Mookerjhar, when taken
with his fatal illness, had only recent
IL married bis child wife. Both were
of the old religion and were known to
be deeply attached to each other. The
wife personally attended her sick
husband, refusing to take rest while
he still lived, When after a few days
he died, she seemed daz d. She watch
ed vacautly the prepsratt ns for ere
nation. AS far as the cf1cers could
learn no one urged her to immediate
herself.
In fact she did not accompany the
uody to the pyre. It was only when
the wood had been lighted that her
slight figure, all swathed In white
suddenly rushed upon the scene.
Those near her noticed that her gar
ments were saturated with kerosene;
also that she had tightly bound up
her lower jaw, a. though she were al
ready corpse. This was probably for
the reason that she feared that the
agony of the flames might cause
her to cry out in spite Of all her ESQ.
luton.
In her eyes, according to the testi-
mony, vas the half-mad light OF her
resolve to join her husband In the
otner world, where he would Still be
her lord, and thus to escape the dis
grace which widowhood on earth
would bring to her among the Hindu
fanatics.
Without pausing for an instar + the
child widow of Ohunder MookesjoaJ
threw herself beside her husbands
corpse in the mioht'of the flames As
her oil saturated garments blaSed W
she sprang to her feet for an Instant,
raising her eyes heavenward, with
arms appraised, and then sank back
stifled and unconscious, soon to be
only cinder.
A. the very moment when this aw-
;ul ceremony was in progress the &C.
ces> ories to the suite o. Chaudbri
Mlssir's widow a year before we're ap-
pealing to the court for mitigation,
of their prison sentence and promis
ing to frown upon III: forbidded pra G.
tice thencsforth. Ihey we're Jugger
path Missir, q son, sentenced to dVt
years of rigorous imprisonment; Balk
ishun Missir, DWarks Mtssir, Ram
Ohrran Misstr, Sonar Cholkidar and
GunRa and Dilching Ohamars, n"sr
relatives, sentenced to terms rang
ing from three years down to nine
months.
The testimony given In court, CIV
ering the most minute details, show
ed this instsnce of suttee to have
been performed with the most elabor-
ate ceremony. Ohaudrhi Missir wa
q high caste Bral min, Of tr trfuence,
living in the village Of Sanchari, neal
Eehar. He died and arrangements
were made for the burning Of his body
on hillside on the banks OF small
river called "Devi Sthan." t
Under the direction Of his eldest
son, Juggernath, some of his humble
retsiners dug shallow trenches In the
forn of q ST. Andrews Gross and ovel
this piled the wood Of the pyre. lr
the cutting of the wood-which Is a
part Of tho funeral ceremony-Jug'
gernath Missir, tha eldest son, assist
red. Being a Brahmin gentleman he
had DO axe Of his own. Ram La
Barhi, carpenter Of the village len,
him his. Many OF the villagers assist
ed, too, while others gathered about
as spectators.
When the villagers saw the widow
Of Ohaudrhi Missir bathing In the
river the whisper ran from one tt
another:
"Suttee! Sutteel The widow q
Cbaudrhi MiSsir will be Sati ~
The cremation of dead Brahmir
was an ordinary occurrence, bot San
chari Village had known no Suttae II
half a century. Soon, while JuEger'
nath Nj sir continued TO cut wo0c
and arrange it upon the pyre, hun
dreGs were joining the crowd on H.
hillside Volunteer musicians brough
their drums, Gym balls and gnngs. 9th.
ers brought the sacred SaDkS or smell
upon which TO blow solemn tones q.