N. Francis Xavier
Part LVI
(Continued from last week)
Moulvie Allauddeen Hyder reached Viper well before daybreak. He was one of the privileged few allowed to keep their own boat. With a heavy heart and aching limbs he climbed the steep stairs that led to the gallows. Rheumatism and the twin hernias have restricted his movement, coupled with the several badly healed sword wounds he received during the attack on the Residency in Hyderabad.
The Moulvie never failed to attend an execution, or a funeral. It hardly mattered whether the person was Hindu or Mussalman. He would pray for them and console them till the last minute.
Today it was going to be Hemraj, Hemraj who ferried him from Aberdeen to Ross Island so many times, always taking care to see that he disembarked safely; Hemraj the best boatman in the Islands will be hanged that morning.
When he reached the top the Moulvie saw that Pandit Ramanand and the Rev. Warneford, the Chaplain were already there. There’s always a chance to win one soul for God in the last moment. But most men were in no condition to speak even in those last moments. Two heft warders stood by to help the men go up the steps leading to the execution chamber, should their legs fail.
Both Ramanand and Warneford greeted Allauddeen warmly. There was a tinge of grief in their voice. All loved Hemraj. They have witnessed many hangings, but today would be different.
A loud clanking of chains heralded the arrival of the prisoners. They were “dead men walking,” who have lost their right to live. Every passing moment brought them closer to death. They walked in single file, heads bent, hands and feet bound in heavy chains. The warders walked on either side of the sad procession. A platoon of Native Infantry sepoys with loaded weapons stood near the gallows. The naked bayonets on their rifles glinted in the first rays of the sun.
The three priests approached the prisoners. Only looks were exchanged. Tears flowed down the cheeks. The warders stood aside, out of deference to the religious men. All three placed their hands on the head of each prisoner and said silent prayers. All three blessed the men in their own way. The men moved on, to the final stop before they mount the steps.
The warders ordered the men to stand in a line. The head warder had a list in his hand. He called out the name of Bhaman Singh first, followed by Bisheswar, Debideen, Hemraj, Sheobrat and Shiv Bux Mina, in the alphabetical order. Bhaman Singh will be the first to go.
Salim, the hangman came down the check the men. His face was grim. He had hanged many on the Viper gallows, and throttled hundreds during his long career as a Thug. He never felt remorse for his actions or pity for his victims. He felt that he was doing the duty goddess Bhavani had assigned him, making less the burden of the earth by killing people.
Salim kept his eyes averted as he checked the men. A sudden sob escaped from his tightly closed lips. He suddenly hugged Hemraj and sobbed uncontrollably. Even the warders started crying. The whistle of the steam barge brought them back to their senses. Quickly Salim begged forgiveness from each prisoner and rushed up to the execution chamber. From the large windows he could see the steam barge pull up inside the boat harbor.
Cadell, in a starched white uniform, his Victoria Cross prominently displayed, got out of the boat. A contingent of military police presented arms. Cadell took the salute and turned towards the gallows hill. Close on his heels followed Captains Birch and Wimberley.
Subedar Rangarajooloo brought the platoon to attention as Cadell approached. Cadell came up and took the salute. He turned towards the line of condemned men. A sadistic smile played upon his lips as he looked at Hemraj. Hemraj lifted up his head and gave a defiant stare.
“Come to attention, you blackguards,” Birch shouted to the men.
Nobody moved.
“Leave them alone Bill. They will soon be dangling at the end of the rope. You rascals are lucky that the government turned down my proposal to flog the condemned men before hanging them. Read the warrant to them Bill.”
Captain Birch read out the death warrant. The men heard it with stony silence.
Salim marched them to the trap door. A special arrangement was made to hang all five at the same time from the beam. The flaps of the trapdoor have been reinforced so that they could take the weight of five men. Salim had prepared the ropes himself, rubbing them with the gutta percha resin so that the noose moves smoothly.
The men were made to stand on the spots marked in white circles. Salim brought out five hoods made of white cloth and pulled them over the heads of the men. As he did so he whispered in the ear of each man, asking for their forgiveness. Then he started placing the nooses around their necks, one by one. The men started praying, in their own language, to their respective gods. Col. Cadell held a white handkerchief in his hand and raised it, waiting for Salim to place the last noose. ( To be continued … )
