There are some discrepancies in the foregoing versions of the affair, which may perhaps be considered excusable on the ground of the confusion and bewilderment such occurrences as those described by the ayah would be likely to produce; but in the main facts, as related by the several parties, there is but little difference. With regard to the statement respecting the

and then embarked on the boats. When death before long.' Two sowars then cut they all saw food prepared, and all comfort-him down, and he died. If the zemindars able, they were delighted. When a few had had not seized this boat, all would have been gone on board, and others were waiting to saved in it. Those ladies who were first in embark on the river-side, a gun opened on the Nana's prison, had their food of the them with canister (this gun and others worst description from the bazaar. Ten had been masked); one boat took fire, and days after this lie sent them to a house then another gun opened, and four boats near the assembly-rooms. Then the Nana were fired; on this, those who escaped the wrote to Delhi, mentioning the number of fire jumped into the water. The sepoys women and children whom he had taken, also fired muskets; the sowars entered the and soliciting instructions regarding them. water on horseback, and cut numbers down. A reply was received that they were not to Fifteen boatloads of English were mas- be killed. The Nana then entertained sacred; 108 women and children escaped servants for the prisoners." this massacre, but many of them were wounded. The Nana said, 'Don't kill these; put them in prison.' One boat, in which General Wheeler was, was pulled off by the soldiers. The poor people, on the burning of the boats, and when in the water, were calling on God for help. A daughter of General Wheeler's was taken off by a sowar and put into his house along with his wife, near the church. This girl remained till youngest daughter of General Wheeler, nightfall; and when he came home drunk there is perhaps no reason for doubting, and fell asleep, she took a sword and cut off that some retributive act, of the kind his head, his mother's head, two children's alleged, did actually take place, from the heads, and his wife's, and then walked out prevalance of the reports detailing such an into the night air; and when she saw other occurrence. In the narrative of Mr. Shepsowars, she said, 'Go inside and see how herd, it will be remembered the affair is nicely I have rubbed the rissaldar's feet.' alluded to thus:-"One young lady, howThey went inside, and found them all dead. ever, was seized upon (reported to be GenShe then jumped into a well and was killed. eral Wheeler's daughter), and taken away by From fear of what this girl had done, none a trooper of the 2nd light cavalry to his of the rebels would have anything to say to house, where she, at night, finding a favourthe Englishwomen, whom the Nana at first able opportunity, secured the trooper's sword, proposed to give to the soldiers: 115 women and with it, after killing him and three and children were imprisoned with scarcely others, threw herself into a well and was any food for six days, except gram and killed." Shepherd, who does not profess to such stuff. The boat containing General state the occurrence as of his direct personal Wheeler, and other ladies and gentlemen, knowledge, says, "after killing him and got off for twenty-two miles, when they three others." The ayah distinctly specifies were seized by the zemindars of Joagnuhar, four others-the mother, two children, and and had their hands tied behind them, and the wife! It seems incredible that a were taken back to the Nana. Mrs. Read, young lady, reared amidst the refinements Thomas Greenway, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. of high European society in India, could M'Kenzie, and Captain M'Kenzie and Dr. have had resolution, or physical energy, Harris, and several Europeans, were among even in a state of absolute and uncontrolthe party. The Nana was much pleased. able frenzy, to commit a succession of acts Owing to the general's old age, he said, amounting in the aggregate to one of such 'Loosen his arms.' Hoolar Sing, kotwal of surpassing horror. Besides, a third version Cawnpore, said, 'Don't do so.' The Nana of the tale (and by far the most probable said, 'Take them to the guard, and let the one), represents the heroic girl as defending others remain where they are.' One sepoy herself from the brutal and licentious attack and sowar killed each a European. Dr. of four miscreant sepoys, with one of her Harris was wounded with two balls, and murdered father's revolvers, which she had then addressed the rebels: Shoot me or contrived to secrete, and successfully used, kill me; my countrymen will revenge my to preserve herself from dishonour. That

The fall of Cawnpore is thus noticed in a telegram of Brigadier-general Havelock, transmitted to the commander-in-chief on the 2nd of July:

"A report of the fall of Cawnpore received from Lawrence, but is not believed by the authorities at Allahabad. Sir. H. writes as follows:-'On the 28th of June, at 10 P.M., every reason to believe that the Cawnpore force has been entirely destroyed by treachery.'"-Again, on the 3rd, General Havelock telegraphs :-"The news of the entire destruction of the Cawnpore force confirmed by Cossids, who carrying letters from Lucknow to Allahabad, witnessed it. They say, that the Nana swore to send the garrison in boats to Calcutta; but that, as soon as the Europeans got into the boats, the guns opened on them. The fugitives made for the opposite bank, and were entirely destroyed by a large body of cavalry."

in the excitement, terror, and desperation | 56th regiment fortunately escaped; although of the moment, the noble but ill-fated they were not equally fortunate in surmountyoung lady should then have plunged into ing subsequent perils. These gentlemen the well, to escape the atrocities that would had been sent on detached duty, on the 2nd in all probability have followed the discovery of June, with 200 men, to Ooral, a village of her justifiable but desperate act of self- some miles from Cawnpore, and were condefence, may be reasonably assumed as a sequently away from the cantonment when natural consequence of the frightful circum- the troops mutinied; but when intelligence. stances that surrounded her. of the revolt at that place reached Ooral, and it became known that the 56th regiment had thrown off its allegiance, the men on detachment duty did not hesitate to follow the example set them by their comrades at head-quarters. The two officers had barely time to escape with life, and galloped off, having with them nothing but the clothes they wore at the moment, their swords and revolvers. Thus accoutred for a perilous flight through a country festering with rebellion, and swarming with wretches more bloodthirsty than even the ferocious animals that inhabited the jungles they were compelled to traverse, they found their way to various places; sometimes encountering deadly enemies-at others, a friendly reception. At one point of their wanderings they met two brother-officers escaping from mutinous soldiers at Humeerpore; and, in company with them, "rowed boats, swam rivers, entered villages (where they were plundered of their horses, weapons, and clothes); sometimes without food; sometimes subsisting on a scanty repast of chupatties and water-occasionally picking up bits of native clothing to cover the nakedness to which they were reduced: and thus, during seven-and-thirty days, these gentlemen wandered, homeless and friendless, through a country that, only a few months previous, appeared not to shelter an enemy. Of the two officers from Cawnpore, one died in the jungle; the other (Ensign Brown) ultimately joined a body of English troops at Futteypore.

So incredible did the news appear, that the civil authorities unhesitatingly declined to believe it. Mr. H. Tucker, the civil commissioner at Benares, telegraphed on the 4th of July, to the governor-general:"General Havelock's telegram as to the fall of Cawnpore is not believed here. The circumstances are very improbable, and like a ruse to delay the column."* The doctrine of improbabilities appears to have been a favourite one to fall back upon by the civil authorities generally at this period of the rebellion. With the exception of Lawrence, Colvin, Gubbins, and one or two A publication of great merit,t in referothers-men of judgment and energy-ring to the prolonged and desperate resisthere was constantly exhibited an insurmountable reluctance to believe in the extent or gravity of the evil; and a reluctance equally great to act, when convinced of it, unless the mischief lay upon their own thresholds.

tance that we have seen terminated by a crime till then unparalleled in the history of Indian duplicity, says "Our English history has many records of noble fortitude and unshrinking constancy in positions of extraordinary peril, and our Indian history is full of them. The career of our victory began with Clive's arduous triumph at Arcot; and since that time, India has witnessed the defence of Seetabuldee by Sir R. Jenkins, of Jellalabad by Sale, and of Candahar by Nott; and in furnishing Pot

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tinger and Todd for the defence of Herat, in- every day's resistance was protracted in spired Butler and Nasmyth to throw them- despair. Many officers fell; the supselves into Silistria, and Lake and Thompson plies were exhausted; all hope of relief to share the honours and the privations at seemed gone; the news of approaching Kars. But there is seldom a record of any help from the Delhi force, which once defence so desperate and so heroic as that reached them, proved false; and it was reof Cawnpore by Sir Hugh Wheeler. When solved to make a sally, and, if possible, the news of the mutiny at Meerut reached drive off the assailants. It may be suphim, he was in a town of a hundred thou-posed that everything which human daring sand people, many of them armed, and could do, was done that day; but the many of these Mussulmans; he had no forces of the enemy were overwhelming; fort, and his troops were disaffected sepoys. they were enabled to use their artillery, Nevertheless, by the mere force of cha- and the dauntless leader of our countryracter, and the display of unshaken courage men fell mortally wounded. He was carand confidence, he overawed the minds of ried back to die; and then, reduced to the all around him, and held his position till last extremity, the small remnant of the the 5th of June. All that time he had troops made terms, securing a safe passage with him a few Europeans, who had been down the river for the women and children, hastened up by the dâk carriages from and all their other companions. This was Benares; out the whole force, consisting of on the 27th of June. It was the only resoldiers of the Queen's 84th and the source left. But it only adds one more to Madras fusiliers, and some artillerymen, the long catalogue of proofs, that it is indid not exceed 150 men. The sepoys mu- fatuation to trust a Mahratta. Nana Sahib tinied; and then he had only this force of well knew how to keep the word of promise 150 men to rely on, with about 40 officers to the ear, but break it to the hope. He of various regiments. With this small let the whole party embark and depart, and body of troops he had to protect the depôt mocked them by permitting them also to of the Queen's 32nd, consisting of 120 take the treasure from their intrenchments. women and children, and the whole Chris- Then comes the moment for successful tian population of the place, which in- treachery. Sud.lenly his guns opened on cluded civilians, merchants, shopkeepers, the helpless fugitives. Some of them atengineers, clerks, pensioners, and their families, to the number of nearly 400 persons. He had very short supplies of food and ammunition; and he was separated from the Ganges by a road, and by a line of houses with their compounds. Against him were assembled a body of men, probably exceeding 4,000 in number, animated with fanatical rage, and well supplied with ammunition, assisted by artillery, and led by a miscreant capable of any atrocity, and mad with disappointed ambition. Lucknow was not fifty miles off; but no help could be expected from that quarter; and Such, however, was not the case; the relief from Allahabad was soon rendered measure of his iniquity was not yet fulldoubtful by the tidings that there had been "his massacre" had not yet been "pera mutiny there, and that a large body of fected," or his pitiless vengeance glutted, insurgents had assembled in the city. From even by the sacrifice of unarmed and the first, it was doubtful if the intrench- wounded men: the slaughter of defenceless ments could be held for two weeks; but women and young children was yet wantwhen the enemy obtained mortars, and ing to supply a fitting climax to the solisent shells among the crowded garrison, tary triumph of Nana Sahib.

tempted to escape to the opposite side; but there they were met by cavalry, who waded into the water to hasten the work of destruction. One boat, which escaped some miles, was brought back, and doubtless completed the satanic joy of the assassin. The few who were preserved were kept as hostages, in the hope, that if the tide of success turned, he might purchase with them his own worthless life, and pardon for his crimes. But the last accounts speak of him as having perfected his massacre, and destroyed his last victim."

CHAPTER XIX.

THE STATION AT FUTTEGĦUR; DOUBTFUL FIDELITY OF THE 10TH REGIMENT; THE FORT PREPARED FOR DEFENCE; RUMOURED APPROACH OF THE SEETAPORE REBELS; ALARM OF THE EUROPEAN RESIDENTS; FLIGHT OF THE CIVILIANS AND FEMALES IN BOATS; MUTINY OF THE 10TH REPORTED; THE FUGITIVES SEPARATE FOR DHURRUMPORE AND CAWNPORE; LIST OF VOYAGERS TO THE LATTER STATION; THE 10TH RETURN TO THEIR DUTY; MURDER OF THE CAWNPORE FUGITIVES ON THEIR WAY DOWN THE GANGES; THE DHURRUMPORE PARTY RETURN TO FUTTEGHUR; SPONTANEOUS LOYALTY OF THE 10TH; ARRIVAL OF THE 41ST NATIVE INFANTRY OPPOSITE FUTTEGHUR; REVOLT OF THE 10TH; THE TREASURY PLUNDERED; EUROPEANS TAKE SHELTER IN THE FORT; QUARREL AND FIGHT BETWEEN THE 41ST AND 10TH REGIMENTS FOR A SHARE OF THE PLUnder; the FORT ATTACKED; DEFENCE OF THE BESIEGED; MINES EXPLODED, AND ATTEMPTED ESCALADE FRUSTRATED; LOSSES OF THE GARRISON; ANOTHER ESCAPE BY THE RIVER; LIST OF EUROPEAN FUGITIVES; THE BOATS ATTACKED; REACH CAWNPORE; SLAUGHTER OF THE MEN; WOMEN RESERVED; NARRATIVE OF MR. C. S. JONES; CORROBORATIVE DETAILS; DESCRIPTIVE LETTERS OF EUROPEAN OFFICERS.

It is necessary to diverge, for a short time, | attack as possible, and to store in it a good from the direct current of events at Cawnpore, that we may connect with the dire tragedy yet to be enacted at that place, a catastrophe more revolting in its monstrous details than even that described in the few preceding pages, and forming an important accessory to the future historical fame of the rajah of Bithoor.

supply of ammunition and provisions for the use of the European families, in the exigency of their being obliged to shut themselves up within its walls. At the same time, arrangements were made to secure the means of flight, if that alternative should become desirable; and some boats were hired, and kept in readiness, to convey the whole of the European community down the river to Cawnpore, where it was believed Sir H. Wheeler, with an English garrison, would be able to afford them protection.

Towards the latter part of the month of May, 1857, much anxiety was occasioned to the European residents in the vicinity of Futteghur*-a military station on the Ganges, near Furruckabad (Happy Abode), a town in the district of Agra, from which In this unsatisfactory state matters concity the station was distant about ninety-tinued during several days, until, on the five miles-in consequence of the dâk com- 3rd of June, information arrived at the munications with the surrounding country station of the revolt and massacres at Shahbecoming uncertain, and being eventually cut off by straggling bodies of mutinous soldiers that had overrun the district; and the alarm was not diminished by intelligence that a strong body of rebel cavalry was approaching the station. At this time, the troops in cantonment at Futteghur consisted of the 10th native regiment of infantry, under the command of Colonel Smith, with some European officers; and circumstances had occurred to warrant suspicion of the fidelity of the corps, if the tide of rebellion should surge up in its immediate neighbourhood. It had, therefore, been considered prudent to anticipate the probability of such an event, by putting the fort in as good condition to withstand an

jehanpore and Bareilly, and that a large body of insurgents from Oude were then approaching the opposite bank of the river, with the intention to cross to Futteghur. A consultation was immediately held; and as there were no possible means at hand for successfully resisting an attack by the rebel force, even if the 10th could be relied on, it was thought advisable to accept, for the women and non-combatants, an offer of protection volunteered by a friendly zemindar, named Hardeo Buksh, who resided in a village called Dhurrumpore, on the Oude side of the Ganges, about twelve miles below the station. A flight to his residence was therefore at once resolved on; and the preparations for departure were complete, when habitants. Furruckabad has a strong mud fort adjoining the palace of the nawab, who has long been a stipendiary of the Company; and the chief civil authorities of the district have generally resided in the town, or its immediate vicinity. There was also a small fort in the vicinity of the cantonment at Futteghur.

some delay arose, through the civilians de- Mr. and Mrs. Johnston; and Mr. and Mrs. claring they would not quit the scene of Macmullen (missionaries); Mr. Alexander; anticipated danger, unless the magistrates, Mr. and Mrs. Ives and daughter (agent to Messrs. Thornhill and Lewis (who desired to remain at their posts with the military officers as long as possible), would consent to share the flight and fortunes of the rest of the party. After some hesitation, the desire of their friends prevailed with the magistrates; and at one o'clock in the morning of Thursday, the 4th of June, the whole of the females and children, and persons in civil employ, embarked, and quietly dropped down the river without exciting any alarm on either bank.

the North-west Dâk Company); Mr. and Miss Maclean (planter and merchant); Mr. and Mrs. Guise (planter and merchant); Mr. and Mrs. Elliot and five childreu (superintendent of Dhuleep Sing's estate); two Misses Ray; Mr. and Mrs. Palmer and nine children (deputy collector); Mr. and Mrs. Macklin and eight children (headclerk, collector's office); Mr. and Mrs. Joyce and four children (shopkeepers) ; Mr. and Mrs. R. Brierley and child (boat agent and coach-builder); Mr. and Mrs. J. Brierley and two children (clerk, collector's office); two Misses Brierley; Miss Finlay ; Mr. Finlay and family; Mrs. Shepherd and family; Mr. and Mrs. Madden and family (clothing agency); Mr. and Mrs. Kew and family (postmaster); Miss Kew; Mr. and Mrs. Catencar (inspector of post-offices); Mr. and Mrs. Sheils and two children (schoolmaster); Mr. and Mrs. Cawood and three children (clothing agency); the head tailor of the clothing agency and family (name unknown); Ensign Byrne (10th native infantry); Mr. Billington (clerk); the head blacksmith and family G.C.A. (name unknown); Pensioner Faulkner and family; and Mrs. Macdonald and family.

Upon the successful departure of the boats, the military officers repaired to their quarters in the fort; but, in the course of the same day, some of them overtook the fugitives, with intelligence that the 10th regiment had mutinied, insulted the colonel, seized the treasure, and fired on their officers, and that there was no probability of the escape of any of those that then remained at the fort. In addition to this ill news, it was stated that the Oude rebels were crossing, in great force, at one of the ghats a few miles down the river; and as the natives on both banks had already shown some hostile indications, and the chances of escape were likely to be diminished by the great number of the fugitives, Upon the arrival of Mr. Probyn and his it was determined that they should sepa- party at Dhurrumpore, the officers already rate; Mr. Probyn (the collector of Futte-noticed as having reported the mutiny of ghur), with about forty of the party, propos- the regiment, and the probable destruction ing to accept the offer of the zemindar at of their comrades, were agreeably surprised Dhurrumpore, and the rest proceeding on by intelligence awaiting them, to the effect their way to Cawnpore. The last-men- that Colonel Smith, and the officers who tioned division amounted to 126 persons, had remained with him at Futteghur, had nearly all of whom were civilians and non- prevailed on the men of his regiment to recombatants. Most of these individuals had turn to their duty, and that no appearance wives with them; and the children belong- of further danger existed at the station. ing to the whole, far exceeded the adults in Mr. Probyn immediately directed that point of numbers. The inability of the horses should be got ready; and, accomparty to resist any serious interference, may panied by his two military friends, rode therefore be imagined; but it is stated, that back to the fort, to satisfy himself of the the fugitives, who occupied three boats, real state of affairs, which he found to acsucceeded in reaching the neighbourhood cord with the report of the morning. The of Bithoor about the 12th of June, without officers of course resumed their duties any previous interruption or annoyance. under Colonel Smith; and Mr. Probyn, The following is believed to be an accurate after remaining at the fort two days, in list of the persons who left Futteghur on which he arranged some business of his the 4th of June, aud proceeded in the hope collectorate (left imperfect by his hasty of finding protection with Sir Hugh Whee-flight), returned to Dhurrumpore, where, ler at Cawnpore :with his family and Mr. W. Edwards, the

Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Monckton and collector of Badaon, he continued under the child (engineer); Mr. and Mrs. Freeman; protection of Hardeo Buksh, until the latter Mr. and Mrs. Campbell and two children; was threatened with death by the Oude