N. Francis Xavier
Part LVI (FINAL), (Continued from last week)
“Stop! Stop the hanging! By order of the Governor General!”
Terrible shouts were heard from the direction of the jetty. Cadell turned his head towards the boat landing. Jeremiah Nelson Homfray was running towards the hill, waving a piece of paper.
Cadell sensed that something was amiss. His face turned crimson with anger. “Salim, jaldi karo. Time hogaya hain,” he shouted. Birch understood the haste in Cadell’s voice. He rushed towards the lever of the trapdoor. “I will do it sir,” he volunteered as Salim struggled to put the noose on the last man.
“Sir, I suggest you wait for Homfray to come up,” Capt. Wimberley spoke. His voice was firm. Cadell turned towards him. He could see that Wimberley had moved forward from where he stood and placed himself between the trapdoor lever and Birch.
“The lives of five innocent men are at stake. We all know they have not done any offence that deserves capital punishment. We must see what is in the letter Homfray is bringing.”
“Capt. Wimberley! Do you know who has the authority here? It is I who give orders, and, as the Magistrate, I have the power to sentence anyone to death and carry out the execution,” Cadell shouted at the top of his voice.
“I agree sir, but, as an Englishman who believes in fair play I will not be a party to this,” Wimberley replied.
“Fair play my foot! Where was fair play when they tried to kill the sentry and escape? Where was fair play when they stole the boat? Are you not aware that recaptured convicts could be hanged? Hadn’t Maj. Walker hang eighty people on the same day for attempt to escape?
Homfray clambered up the stairs, panting and collapsed. In his hand was a sheet of government stationery, stained with his own blood. Homfray’s hands were bleeding from madly pulling on the oars from Chatham to Viper. Wimberley slowly bent and took the paper in his hand. He read out the contents slowly, in a clear voice.
The Rev. Warneford, Maulvie Allauddin and Pandit Ramanand stepped forward, their faces lit up with expectation. Salim stood transfixed.
Cadell took off his hat, threw it on the ground and stamped on it in impotent rage as he stormed out of the gallows. Birch glared at Wimberley and followed Cadell.
“Remove the hood and untie the men’s hands and feet.” Wimberley ordered. “Somebody please bring water for poor Homfray, and call Baghail Singh to take the men to the Chain Gang barrack. Give them some food and water.”
Hemraj and others couldn’t understand what was happening till the hoods were removed. Slowly the realization that their lives have been spared dawned on their faces. They fell to the ground and thanked their gods. Tears of joy flowed down their cheeks. They were defiant in the face of death, but the reprieve was too much for them to contain. Then they knelt by the side of Homfray and kissed his bleeding hands. Here was a man who risked his life to save theirs. They knew that Homfray was a sick man, suffering from tuberculosis. He was dying, slowly. The Great Andamanese, who loved him immensely had already announced that they would give him ‘platform burial’ according to their custom. Homfray was worried about his wife and four children and constantly talked about his impending death.
“Homfray sahib, sir, please open your eyes,” Hemraj pleaded.
Homfray slowly opened his eyes and acknowledged their thanks.
Hemraj, walked to Capt. Wimberley and spoke.
“Thank you sir, if not for you we would have been dead men by now. Please send somebody to Minnie Memsaab to convey the news.”
“I will Hemraj, she didn’t eat or sleep the last three days. Now you must be confined to the Chain Gang, but you know that the Jemadars will not put you to hard work. Two years will pass in no time. You’ll retain your ticket-of-leave status. Forget about running away from these islands and settle down here.”
“Aye aye sir,” Hemraj said, with a faint smile, giving a navy salute.
Baghail Singh came up and ordered the men back to the barracks. As they walked down they could see a man running towards the prison and shouting at the top of his voice that the execution had been called off.
Loud cheers broke out all over Viper.
“We can all go to Aberdeen in my boat and wait for Col. Cadell’s anger to cool, he’s not a bad man after all,” Wimberley said.
They could see Cadell’s steam barge belching smoke as it churned the sea between Viper and Chatham.
Postscript:
Hemraj’s was the story of an epic escape and survival at sea. He survived the noose also and lived to see the departure of Col. Cadell, who never forgave him. Hemraj and his associates became a part of the mosaic that formed the society of the Andaman Penal Colony. It was men like them who gave birth to the unique Local Born community that came up in the islands. Perhaps there are many descendants of Hemraj living in the islands still, unaware of their famous ancestor’s heroic deeds.
This serial is dedicated to the Local Born community and a few kindhearted British Officers who helped shape it.
