१८५७ का स्वातन्त्र्य समर (वीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर - अंग्रेजों द्वारा छपने से पूर्व प्रतिबन्धित महाग्रन्थ)

MEERUT
Feringhiko!" In a moment, the walls of the prisons were
razed to the ground! A patriotic blacksmith came forth
and smashed the chains of all the prisoners. What a
wonderful sight when the liberated prisoners embraced
heartily their brethren; their deliverers! With a loud
war-cry, the heroes rode their horses and marched towards
the church along with their brethren, leaving the hated
prison behind. In the meantime a company of infantry
already started the Revolution. Colonel Finnis of the
11th regiment had approached towards them on horseback
and begun to threaten them haughtily in the usual manner.
But the Sepoys rushed at him like death. A Sepoy of
the 20th regiment emptied his pistol at him, and both the
horse and the rider fell dead on the ground. Infantry
and artillery, Hindu and Muslim, were thirsting for the
blood of the Englishmen! This news spread to the
bazaars of Meerut and Meerut was ablaze; and every-
where the Englishman was killed, wherever he was found.
The people of the bazaars took swords, lances, sticks,
knives, anything in fact that came to hand and were run-
ning about in the lanes. All the buildings that were in
any way connected with English domination—bungalows,
offices, public buildings, hotels—all were burning in a
blaze. The very sky of Meerut wore a threatening aspect;
there rose clouds of smoke, terrible flames of fire, and
confused shouts from a thousand throats; and, above all
of them could be heard the terrible cry, "Mâro Feringhi-
ko!" As soon as the Revolution began, according to
the plan previously agreed upon, the telegraph wires to
Delhi were cut and the railway line was strictly guarded.
The night being dark, the English who survived were
utterly confused. Some hid themselves in stables; some
passed the night under trees; some on the third floor of
their houses; some in a ditch; some disguised themselves
as peasants, while others fell at the feet of their butlers.
When darkness was falling, the Sepoys were already
marching to Delhi, and it was the townsmen of Meerut
that were accomplishing the work of revenge for the
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