DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0451
THE BLACK-HOLE AT CALCUTTA.
401
window, where keeping his face between two of the bars,
he suffered but little pain or inconvenience ; but he foresaw,
that the bringing water to that window would create a strife
and commotion among those that were behind, which would
probably hasten their destruction; and that then the whole
crowd being drawn to press with one united effort upon
him, would either crush him to. death, or compel him to
abandon his situation : he therefore made many attempts to
forbid the bringing of water, but the clamour was so loud,
that he was not regarded. The water appeared, but there
was no other way of getting it into the prison but by pour-
ing it into hats, and then forcing them through the bars of
the window. By this method, all the people in the place
might easily have been supplied, but the impatience of the
crowd, few of whom were now under the government of
their reason, was so great, that though Mr. Holwell and the
two wounded gentlemen, who were in the window with him,
brought hats full of water through.the grate, with incessant
labour, as fast as they could be filled, yet much the greater
part w7as spilt in the contest that immediately ensued, and
before it reached the lips of any of the competitors, there
was not a spoonful remaining. As those at the windows
were by this means still unsatisfied, those behind, to whom
not a drop of water had yet reached, became frantic and fu-
rious beyond all conception. Several quitted the other win-
dow, and forcing themselves forward, with others from the
inner part of the room, threw down and trampled to death
many who were before them. They now pressed so hard
upon Mr. Holwell and his friends, wdio received the water
from the guard, that the two gentlemen who were wounded,
and who, notwithstanding their condition, had hitherto
worked with him, were crushed to death, and he himself,
with his utmost effort, could scarce sustain the weight that
pressed against him on every side.
This aggravation of their distress would have been soon
Vol. v, 3 j?
401
window, where keeping his face between two of the bars,
he suffered but little pain or inconvenience ; but he foresaw,
that the bringing water to that window would create a strife
and commotion among those that were behind, which would
probably hasten their destruction; and that then the whole
crowd being drawn to press with one united effort upon
him, would either crush him to. death, or compel him to
abandon his situation : he therefore made many attempts to
forbid the bringing of water, but the clamour was so loud,
that he was not regarded. The water appeared, but there
was no other way of getting it into the prison but by pour-
ing it into hats, and then forcing them through the bars of
the window. By this method, all the people in the place
might easily have been supplied, but the impatience of the
crowd, few of whom were now under the government of
their reason, was so great, that though Mr. Holwell and the
two wounded gentlemen, who were in the window with him,
brought hats full of water through.the grate, with incessant
labour, as fast as they could be filled, yet much the greater
part w7as spilt in the contest that immediately ensued, and
before it reached the lips of any of the competitors, there
was not a spoonful remaining. As those at the windows
were by this means still unsatisfied, those behind, to whom
not a drop of water had yet reached, became frantic and fu-
rious beyond all conception. Several quitted the other win-
dow, and forcing themselves forward, with others from the
inner part of the room, threw down and trampled to death
many who were before them. They now pressed so hard
upon Mr. Holwell and his friends, wdio received the water
from the guard, that the two gentlemen who were wounded,
and who, notwithstanding their condition, had hitherto
worked with him, were crushed to death, and he himself,
with his utmost effort, could scarce sustain the weight that
pressed against him on every side.
This aggravation of their distress would have been soon
Vol. v, 3 j?