A treatise on relapsing or famine fever / by R.T. Lyons.

  • Lyons, R. T.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on relapsing or famine fever / by R.T. Lyons. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    door of the Black-Hole Prison, there was no resisting it; but like one agitated wave impelling another, we were obliged to give way and enter. The rest followed like a torrent, few amongst us, the soldiers excepted, having the least idea of the dimensions or nature of a place we had never seen; for if we had, we should at all events have rushed upon the guard, and been, as the lesser evil, by our own choice cut to pieces. Amongst the first that entered were myself, Messrs. Baillie, Jenks, Cooke, T. Coles, Ensign Scot, Revely, Law, Buchanan, etc. I got possession of the window nearest the door, and took Messrs. Coles and Scot into the window with me, they being both wounded (the first I believe mortally). The rest of the above-mentioned gentlemen were close round me. It was now about eight o'clock. Figure to yourself, my friend, if possible, the situation of 146 wretches, exhausted by continual fatigue and action, thus crammed together in a cube of about eighteen feet, in a close sultry night, in Bengal, shut up to the eastward and southward (the only quarters from whence air could reach us) by dead walls, and by a wall and door on the north; open only to the westward by two windows, strongly barred with iron, from which we could receive scarce any the least circulation of fi-esh air. What must ensue appeared to me in lively and dreadful colours the instant I cast my eyes round and saw the size anf situation of the room. Many unsuccessful attempts were mad • to force the door; for having nothing but our hands to woi-k with, and the door opening inward, all endeavours were in vain and fruitless. Observing every one giving way to the violence of passion, which 1 foresaw must be fatal to them, I requested silence might be pi'eserved whilst I spoke to them, and in the most pathetic and moving terms which occui-red, I begged and entreated, that as they had paid a ready obedience to me in the day, they would now for theii' own sakes and the sakes of those who were dear to them, and were interested in the preservation of their lives, regard the advice I had to give them. I assured them the return of the day would give us air and liberty; urged to them that the only chance we had left for sustaining this misfortune and surviving the night, was the preserving a calm mind and quiet resicrnation to our fate; intreating them to cm'b as much as possible every agitation of mind and body, as raving and giving a loose to their passions could answer no purpose but that of hastening their destruction. This romonstration produced a short interval of peace, and