The Washington herald., 1913-01-26
GOSSIP ON SUBJECTS OF
INTEREST IN TWO CONTINENTS

The assassination OF Lord Mayo, re
called by the outrage at Delhi last
month, when a bomb was thrown at tbs
viceroy figures in a curious coincidence
which occurred in the Museum Of the
| India Office at London. The Archbishop
| OF York was looking at an exquisite
piece OF enamel of JeypOre belonging tc
Lady Mayo. Turning the spoon in the
cup that the archbishop might see the
reflection Of the emerald bowl upon the
gold. one Of the officials remarked 10
the venerable churchman: Now you can
realize what 1t is to be viceroy." Al
that moment one Of the employees OF
as death and said: There is a tele-
gram stating that Lord Mayo has been
assassinated in India"
That was a mere coincidence. but how
about this passage from Zadkiers Al
manac for 1913 and published in Lon
don in October. 1872: Winter SOltice,
1915, Calcutta Some plotting in India
against the supremacy of Britain. The
viceroy should be strictly guarded Is
this cause or effect or just a long shot
at futurity?'' Quien Ssbe?
There Is only one case on record OF
the actual assassination OF a viceroy
of India. the Earl of Mayo. in 1872. be-
ing stabbed fatally by a prisoner during
his visit to a convict settlement. That
murder had no political significance. But
in recent years, as the result OF the un-
rest which followed the partition of
Bengal Presidency. the life of a viceroy
has been attempted on several oc-
casions. --..
In November, 1899. an attack was made
which is remarkably similar to the one
n uo las month Lord
Mimic, Lord Hardinges predecessor, was
making a tour OF India. During a pro-
cession at Ahmedsbad two bombs were
thrown at his carriage.
One was cleverly intercepted by the
quickly raised saber OF a sergeant OF
the Inniskilling Dragons. The other hit
the umbrella that was being held over
Lady Minto and fell harmless to the
ground. The would-oe assasslns were
never discovered.
In November, 1910 a year later. when
Lord Mimic held his farewell reception
at Calcutta, two natives, who had man.
aged to get themselves admitted on forged
passes. were arrested for shadowing the
yiceroy's person. And during the trial
of some Hindoo conspirators one of the
accused confessed that their plans had
included a plot to assassinate Lord Minto,
LORD hltCntneT, anu olIicf OIANidAS-
The inforner met his fate. by being shot
to death in his cell by his fellow-prisoner.
Lord Curzon, the Earl Of Minto's pre-
decessor In India, was also once In peril.
During the hearing OF the Kolhapur bomb
case in the spring OF 1911, one OF the
accused confessed that at the Delhi dur
bar OF 1891 four Hindoos had been dep
uted to kill Lord Curzon as he was pass
ing in the parade. but that their courage
failed them at the last moment.
-Four attempts in the course Of three
years were made to murder Sir Andrew
Frazer, Lieutenant Governor OF Bengal
Thrice bombs were hurled at his train
and once a native fired at him in lee
ture hall in Calcutta.
1t was not until 1907 that the bomb was
used as a political weapon of equality"
In India and since then outrages have
been of frequent occurrence. From May,
LOS, until last month. all told, twenty
three attacks and attempted assassina-
tions have been, recorded in India
A dark, thunderous ocean, with but a
single white specl of foam, was Lord
Curzon's Characteristic description Of the
English rule in India, and Il appears that
he knew what he was talking about.
And that horrible mutiny which cost
many lives. Was. and u.s.. the game
worth the candle? Fearful. indeed.
were the experiences Of British resi-
dents in the uprising Of 1851. SO much
more dreadful as the massacres came
unexpected Ike bolt out Of a clear
sky. the native regiments siding with the
malcontents and being pledged to Sc
crecy by fearful oaths. One Of the most
exciting experiences was that of Lord
Altamont, eldest son and heir ~ the
Marques of Sligo and his mother,
When the mutiny broke out. Lord Alta
mount, who had been born in India, was
a baby of seven months. his father at
the time being in the India Civil Service
and stationed at Bengal. Just before the
riot the marquess was ordered to hill
station and his wife, then only twenty
years old took her baby to place called
Bankipur Arrived there she heard that
at Dinapur, only six miles away, the ma
tiyes had decided to murder every
European. The plot was betrayed by a
Sequoy soldier. and the imperiled peo-
missioner which hurriedly had been for
titled.
The terrors of the night, as they waited
expecting to hear every moment the yells
of the rebel soldiers coming to attack
them. were added to by one lady Who
went out Of hes mind and tried 10 throw
herself down a weIl.\ The next morning.
however rthei came, anu Loru Alta-
mont's mother drove to an opium store.
four miles down the river. which had
also been fortified. to stay with friends.
Finding that she had left various articles
OF clothing at Bankipur which she re-
quired, she decided. against the advice
If her friends, to return with her baby.
She reached Bankipur in safety, but OH
the return journey the natives at
tempted to stop the carriage and threw
stones at them Fearing that she might |
be killed she crouched down on the floor