The National tribune., 1908-11-26
protection such as they had never be-
fore enjoyed.
The Sepoy Mutiny.


The SepOy Mutfny.
The rule of the East India Company
came to an end in consequence of the
terrible outbreak in 1857 Known us the
Sepoy mutiny At that time it was hold
ing the country with Il force composed
of $4,000 British regulars, lent by the
Government but paid by the company;
Is, 900 European troops. raised, drilled
and paid by the company's officers;
10000 native regulars and $4,000 ma
tive irreguIars: force of 100000 in all.
a vast conspiracy against the English
rule was plotted. SuperstitiouS oppoSi-
tion to the introduction of railroads,
canals and telegraphs was melted by
the priesthood, the introduction of farm
implements was condemned as destruc-
tive to the ancient religion and civiliZa-
ton, and very cunningly both Hindus
and Mahometans were drawn into this
opposition. The English officers proved
themselves stubbOrnly ignorant and
contemptuous of the dearest Hindu
prejudices. They openly outraged caste
as ''beastly prejudice and the climax
came with the issuing, without explana
ton TO the Sepoy troops. of the newly
| invented Enfield rifle. The Enfield car
tridges were creased with tallow and
| lard, which the troops were required to
bite in tearing the cartridges to load
| their guns. The tallcw was highly Of
| fensive to the Hindus. since the COW is
one of the most sacred of animals to
the Brahman, while the lard was equal
| ly Objectionable to the Mahometans
who hold the pig in adherence. Com
munication of the plot thruout the
country was made by the circulation of
mysterious cakes of flour and seditious
placards.
The Outbreak of the Nutiny.
Tho cnriOo-ipoy of fba raiue found the
English officers utterly unprepared. 1t
, came on May 10, 1857, at the town of
| Meerut, in the neighborhood of Delhi.
where the troops broke out in wild
mutiny because of the imprisonment of
number of their comrades for refus-
ing to handle the cartridges. The mutt
neers released their comrades, and pro-
ceeded to massacre all the Europeans.
They then rushed to Delhi. where they
raised the standard of the old Mogul,
and adopted Mana Sahib as their leader.
He had some claims upon one of the
thrones which the East India Company
had abolished.
For awhile the insurgents were
everywhere successful. Gen. Wheeler
was forced to surrender to Mana Sahib
at Cawnpore, and in spite of promises
the whole command was butchered, and
! the women and children were subse-
que1tly massacred when it was under
stood that rellef column was ap-
preaching. Mana Sahib was driven out
OF Cawnpore by Havelock. and the
English managed to make a good re-
sistance at Lucknow. tho it cost the life
of their commander, Sir Henry Law
renee. By June, 1858, no city or fort
ress of any Importance remained in the
possession of the insurgents, and by
the end of 1859 the insurrection was
at an end. The principal leader of the
insurgents. Tantia Topi, Maharatta
Brahman, was tried by court martial
and hanged The last member of the
house of the great Mahometan con-
queror, Timur, was transported across
| the seas, and died in Pigu in 1862. a
great many of the. worst malefactors
among the insurgents were blown from
| the mouths of British guns. and before
their execution those who had been
| conspicuous in their outrages were
| compelled to do some filthy work
which polluted them spiritually for
| ever.
| Transfer to the Crown.
The result of the mutiny was the
| taking over of India from the East In
dia COmDany and establishing il as q