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

THE ERUPTION
the young man's head. While Magistrate Hillersden was
talking to his wife in the verandah, a twenty pound can-
non ball burst on his head and he was blown to pieces.
A few days later, the wall on which the widow was lean-
ing collapsed and she met her death. There were seven
women in a ditch near the fort. A bomb exploded and
not only killed them all, but it also killed the English
soldier who, before the rising, had shot the Sepoy and had
been acquitted as not guilty. So at last the guns of the
Sepoys also went off ! And, when they did go off, it was
in such a manner that succeeding English soldiers will
remember it for ever, even when under the influence
of drink !
In this terrible siege, there were, also, some foolish Indians
who thought it their duty to be faithful to the English.
They were there, in the jaws of death, simply for the sake
of "loyalty" ! An Indian nurse in the employ of the
English lost both her arms by a bomb explosion. Butlers
running about here and there to give hot food to their
masters also fell dead frequently by shells. Indian bhishtis
often risked their lives to give water to the English.
Water was so scarce that children would suck the leather
bags containing water ! Cholera, dysentery, and typhoid
also did not fail to take their revenge on the English.
Sir George Parker, Colonel Williams, and Lieutenant
Rooney died through illness. Those that did not succumb
to shells or sickness went insane from the terrific fright
of the ghastly living cemetery. Such was the pandemo-
nium there. So, in return for the cruel wrongs of a century,
Revenge incarnate was crushing everyone she found in her
terrific jaws for twenty-one days, and was dancing with
a ghastly smile !
While such was the state within the fort, the English guns
placed outside did great service in the fight. Chief officers
of the artillery, Ashe, Captain Moore, Captain Thomson,
and other brave soldiers fought with a splendid valour.
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