DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0450
400 kirby’s wonderful museum.
in hopes to produce a circulation, and introduce fresh air
from without. Of this exercise, however, they were soon
weary, and their uneasiness increasing, it was proposed by
Mr. Baillie, that every man should sit down on his hams.
This also was complied with, and to prevent confusion, it
•was agreed that they should all sit down and rise together,
at a signal to be given for that purpose. After they had sat
till the posture became too uneasy to be longer endured, the
word was given to rise; but as each covered much more
ground in sitting than standing, they were so closely wedged
together, that many efforts and considerable force was re-
quired to put them in motion, and raise them again on their
feet. It happened also, that at this time several of them
were so much enfeebled, that not being able immediately to
recover their legs, they fell down, and there not being room
to leave the space which they covered vacant, they were by
a fatal necessity instantly trampled to death, or suffocated.
The expedient of sitting down was, notwithstanding, many
times repeated, and some of the number perished every time
in the same manner as at first.
Such was the condition of these unhappy people before
the first hour of their confinement was expired. By nine
o’clock thirst had rendered the greater part of the company-
outrageous ; new efforts were made to force the door, and
many attempts were made to provoke the guard to fire in
upon them, and to put an end to their misery, but without
success. In a short time, many persons in the back part
of the room were seized with a difficulty of breathing, and,
what was yet more dreadful, a delirium, The place was
filled with incoherent ravings, passionate exclamations, and
cries of distress, in the midst of which, the cry of (e water,
water,” was predominant. This cry being heard by the
Jemmautdaar, who had been applied to by Mr. Hol well, he
ordered some skins of water to be immediately brought.
Till this time, Mr, Holwell had remained quietly at the
in hopes to produce a circulation, and introduce fresh air
from without. Of this exercise, however, they were soon
weary, and their uneasiness increasing, it was proposed by
Mr. Baillie, that every man should sit down on his hams.
This also was complied with, and to prevent confusion, it
•was agreed that they should all sit down and rise together,
at a signal to be given for that purpose. After they had sat
till the posture became too uneasy to be longer endured, the
word was given to rise; but as each covered much more
ground in sitting than standing, they were so closely wedged
together, that many efforts and considerable force was re-
quired to put them in motion, and raise them again on their
feet. It happened also, that at this time several of them
were so much enfeebled, that not being able immediately to
recover their legs, they fell down, and there not being room
to leave the space which they covered vacant, they were by
a fatal necessity instantly trampled to death, or suffocated.
The expedient of sitting down was, notwithstanding, many
times repeated, and some of the number perished every time
in the same manner as at first.
Such was the condition of these unhappy people before
the first hour of their confinement was expired. By nine
o’clock thirst had rendered the greater part of the company-
outrageous ; new efforts were made to force the door, and
many attempts were made to provoke the guard to fire in
upon them, and to put an end to their misery, but without
success. In a short time, many persons in the back part
of the room were seized with a difficulty of breathing, and,
what was yet more dreadful, a delirium, The place was
filled with incoherent ravings, passionate exclamations, and
cries of distress, in the midst of which, the cry of (e water,
water,” was predominant. This cry being heard by the
Jemmautdaar, who had been applied to by Mr. Hol well, he
ordered some skins of water to be immediately brought.
Till this time, Mr, Holwell had remained quietly at the