Francis Xavier
Part L, (Continued from last week)
Huge crowds gathered at Aberdeen jetty. The huge steamer gave a long blast on its hooter as it crossed Ross Island. The Pilot boat and two more steam barges raced to its side; rope ladders were lowered; armed men clambered up on to the deck. Their duty was to see that Hemraj was properly secured and brought down, to be handed over to Col. Cadell.
Cadell himself reached Aberdeen. Special boats have been pressed into service to bring people from Ross who wanted to witness the historic moment.
Wimberley and Tuson were present at the jetty in immaculately starched uniforms and pith helmets. All carried side arms. MV Portman and Nelson Jeremiah Homfray waited in a boat alongside the jetty with a posse of Andamanese archers.
With a heavy clatter of the anchor chain the ship came to rest in the channel between North Bay and Aberdeen. A hatch in the side of the ship opened; a steam barge came alongside; ropes were thrown; the gang plank was put in place; Maj. Birch stepped out from the ship and boarded the vessel; five men in heavy chains were marched and locked up inside the wheel house of the barge. Heavily armed men stood around the wheel house and on the deck. The barge pulled away from the steamer and headed towards Aberdeen jetty.
The crowd on the jetty craned their necks to catch glimpse of the passengers of the barge. Belching black smoke the barge touched the landing. Ropes fastened it to the jetty. Inspector Baghail Singh ordered the police to clear the entire area of civilians. Burly Pathan and Sikh military police pushed the curious onlookers from the jetty.
A table was brought and placed at one end of the jetty. Three chairs were placed. Rumour went out that Cadell was going to hold court then and there, and sentence Hemraj and others for attempt to murder. They were to be taken away immediately to Viper where all arrangements for hanging have already been made.
As soon as the barge tied up Maj. Birch, in starched uniform stepped up and saluted Cadell.
“Sir, I bring the fugitives who escaped after a murderous assault on a sentry at Viper Island on 9th of July 1880,” he announced pompously.
“Let them be presented before the court,” Cadell said as he took his place behind the table.
“Bring the prisoners,” Birch shouted as he took the chair to the right of Cadell. Wimberley sat on the other side.
Five men, clad only in Dhotis were marched under heavy escort and made to stand in a line before the kangaroo court.
The moment Hemraj stepped on the jetty loud cries went up from the onlookers. Hemraj glanced briefly towards them and lowered his eyes. Sheobux Mina was the last. He was not chained. Some people jeered and abused him as a traitor. The whole town knew that it was he who betrayed Hemraj.
The four men were made to stand in front of the jury. All four stared at Cadell with defiant looks. They knew what was in store for them. They had enough time during the voyage to prepare themselves for it.
A uniformed orderly placed before Cadell a file, a pen and an inkpot.
Cadell called out the names of the prisoners and pronounced the death sentence “ … you are hereby sentenced to suffer death by hanging for the attempted murder of Sepoy Govindarajooloo of 23rd Madras Native Infantry on 9th July 1880. Therefore you shall hang by the neck until you are dead.”
He did not mention the “Have you anything to say” that usually accompanied the death sentence.
“We have applied for clemency while being held in Calcutta. What about it?” Hemraj spoke loudly. He wanted the onlookers also hear it.
“Shut up, you blackguard!” Cadell roared, shaking with rage. “I have the powers to hang anyone without waiting for any orders from above. Take them away. They shall hang at first light tomorrow.” He dipped the pen in the inkpot and signed the file. The orderly used a blotter to dry the ink and closed it.
Baghail Singh led the men back into the boat. Portman and Homfray also got into it. The boat cast off and headed for Viper. The dugout of the aborigines pulled away to follow the boat at a distance.
“Tell my cutter to standby at 5 in the morning to take me to Viper,” Cadell ordered and got up. The men saluted as he walked away. The crowd on Aberdeen jetty slowly dispersed, in utter silence.
“Tomorrow, by this time, Hemraj will just be a corpse on the dissecting table at Haddo hospital,” a voice said. “I hope we are allowed to take the body for cremation,” another muttered. “We must offer prayers for them in the temple, mosque, church and the gurudwara,” said Maulvi Allauddin as he left the place. (To be continued…)
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