Originally published in Terrific Register (Sherwood, Jones, and Co.; 1825).
Perhaps history has never furnished a tale so full of horror, as that of the British subjects who were confined, and most of them suffocated to death, in the Black Hole of Calcutta, on the capture of that city in 1756. The genius of tyranny could not possibly devise a more excruciating mode of torture and death, than what these unfortunate victims of the fate of war experienced. Mr. Hollwell, one of the few survivors of the melancholy catastrophe, has given to the world an affecting narrative of all the circumstances attending it; and though rather too long for the plan of our work, it possesses a degree of tender and sustained interest which equally forbids exclusion and abridgment.
"Figure to yourself, (says Mr. Hollwell) if possible, the situation of a hundred and forty-six 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 to the north, open only to the westward by two windows, strongly barred with iron, from which we could receive the least circulation of fresh air.
"What must ensue, appeared to me in lively and dreadful colours, the instant I cast my eyes round, and saw the size and situation of the room.
"Amongst the guards posted at the windows, I observed an old Jemmautdaar near me, who seemed to carry some compassion for us in his countenance; and indeed he was the only one of the many in his station, who discovered the least trace of humanity. I called him to me, and, in the most persuasive terms I was capable, urged him to commiserate the sufferings he was a witness to, and pressed him to get us separated, half in one place, and half in another; and that he should, in the morning, receive a thousand rupees for this act of tenderness. He promised me he would attempt it, and withdrew; but in a few minutes returned, and told me it was impossible. I then thought I had been deficient in my offer, and promised him two thousand; he withdrew a second time, but returned soon, and (with I believe much real pity and concern,) told me it was not practicable; that it could not be done but by the Suba's order, and that no one dared wake him.
"During this interval, though our passions were less violent, the uneasiness increased. We had been but a few minutes confined, before every one fell into a perspiration so profuse, you can form no idea of it. This consequently brought on a raging thirst, which still increased, in proportion as the body was drained of its moisture. Various expedients were thought of to gain more room and air. To obtain the former it was moved to put off their clothes; this was approved, as a happy motion, and, in a few minutes, I believe every man was stripped (myself, Mr. Court, and two wounded young gentlemen by me excepted; for a little time they flattered themselves with Raving gained a mighty advantage; every hat was put in motion to produce a circulation of air, and Mr. Baillie proposed that every man should sit down on his hams: as they were truly in the situation of drowning wretches, no wonder they caught at every thing that bore a flattering appearance of saving themselves. This expedient was several times put in practice, and at each time many of the poor creatures, whose natural strength was less than others, or had been more exhausted, and could not immediately recover their legs, as others did when the word was given to RISE, fell to rise no more; for they were immediately trod to death, or suffocated. When the whole body sat down, they were so closely wedged together, that they were obliged to use many efforts, before they could set themselves in motion or get up again.
"Before nine o'clock every man's thirst intolerable, and respiration difficult. Our situation was much more wretched than that of so many miserable animals in an exhausted receiver; no circulation of fresh air sufficient to continue life, nor yet enough divested of its vivifying particles to put a speedy period to it. Efforts were again made to force the door, but in vain. Many insults were used to the guard to provoke them to fire upon us (which, as I learned afterwards, were carried to much greater lengths, when I was no more sensible of what was transacted). For my own part, I hitherto felt little pain or uneasiness, but what resulted from my anxiety for the sufferings of those within. By keeping my face between two of the bars, I obtained air enough to give my lungs easy play, though my perspiration was excessive, and thirst commencing.
"At this period, so strong a urinous volatile effluvia came from the prison, that I was not able to turn my head that way, for more than a few seconds at a time. Now every body, excepting those situated in and near the windows, began to grow outrageous, and many delirious: "WATER, WATER," became the general cry. And the old Jemmautdaar before-mentioned, taking pity on us, ordered the people to bring some skins
of water, little dreaming, I believe, of its fatal effects, This was what I dreaded. I foresaw it would prove the ruin of the small chance left us, and essayed many times to speak to him privately to forbid its being brought; but the clamour was so loud, it became impossible. The water appeared. Words cannot paint to you the universal agitation and raving, the sight of it threw us into. I had flattered myself that some, by preserving an equal temper of mind might outlive the night; but now the reflection that gave me the greatest pain was, that I saw no possibility of one escaping to tell the dismal tale.
"Until the water came, I had myself not suffered much from thirst, which instantly grew excessive. We had no means of conveying it into the prison but by hats forced through the bars; and thus myself Messrs. Coles and Scot (notwithstanding the pain they suffered from their wounds) supplied them as fast as possible. But those who have experienced intense thirst, or are acquainted with the cause and nature of this appetite, will be sufficiently sensible it could receive no more than a momentary alleviation; the cause still subsisted. Though we brought full hats through the bars, there ensued such violent struggles, and frequent contests, to get at it, that before it reached the lips of any one, there would scarcely be a small tea-cup full left in them. These supplies, like sprinkling water on fire, only served to feed and raise the flame. Oh! my dear sir, how shall I give you a conception of what I felt at the cries and ravings of those in the remoter parts of the prison, who could not entertain a probable hope of obtaining a drop, yet could not divest themselves of expectation, however unavailing! and others calling on me by the tender considerations of friendship and affection, and who knew they were really dear to me.
"Think, if possible, what my heart must have suffered at seeing and hearing their distress, without having it in my power to relieve them: for the confusion now became general horrid. Several quitted the other window (the only chance they had for life) to force their way to the water, and the throng and press upon the window was beyond bearing; many forcing their from the further part of the room, pressed down those in their way who had less strength, and trampled them to death. Can it gain belief, that this scene of misery proved entertainment to the brutal without? But so it was; and they took care to keep us supplied with water, that they might have the satisfaction of seeing us fight for it, as they phrased it, and held up lights to the bars, that they might lose no part of the inhuman diversion.
"From about nine to near eleven, I sustained this cruel scene and painful situation, still supplying them with water, though my legs were almost broke with the weight against them. By this time I myself was very near pressed to death, and my two companions with Mr. William Parker (who had forced himself into the window) were really so. For a great while they preserved a respect and regard to me, more than indeed I could well expect, our circumstances considered; but now all distinction was lost. My friend Baillie, Messrs, Jenks, Reverly, Law, Buchanan, Simpson, and several others, for whom I had a real esteem and affection, had for some time been dead at my feet; and were now trampled upon by every corporal or common soldier, who by the help of more robust constitutions, had forced their way to the window, and held fast by the bars over me, till at last I became so pressed and wedged up, I was deprived of all motion. Determined now to give every thing up, I called to them, and begged, as the last instance of their regard, they would remove the pressure upon me, and permit me to retire out of the window, to die in quiet. They gave way, and with much difficulty I forced a passage into the centre of the prison, where the throng was less by the many dead (then I believe amounting to the third), and the numbers who flocked to the windows; for by this time they had water also at the other window.
"In the Black Hole there is a platform, raised between three and four feet from the floor, open underneath; extending the whole length of the east side of the prison, and above six feet wide. I travelled over the dead, and repaired to the further end of it, just opposite the other window, and seated myself on the platform between Mr. Dumbleton and Captain Stevenson, the former just then expiring. I was still happy in the same calmness of mind I had preserved the whole time; death I expected as unavoidable, and only lamented its slow approach, though the moment I quitted the window, my breathing grew short and painful.
"Here my poor friend, Mr. Edward Eyre, came staggering over the dead to me, and with his usual coolness and good nature, asked me how I did? but fell and expired before I had time to make him any reply. I laid myself down on some of the dead behind me, on the platform; and recommending myself to heaven, had the comfort of thinking my sufferings could have no long duration. My thirst grew now insupportable, and difficulty of breathing much increased; I had not remained in this situation, I believe, ten minutes, when I was seized with a pain in my breast, and palpitation at my heart, both to the most exquisite degree. These roused and obliged me to get up again; but still the pain, palpitation, thirst, and difficulty of breathing increased.
"I retained my senses notwithstanding, and had the grief to see death not so near me as I hoped; but could no longer bear the pains I suffered without attempting a relief, which I knew fresh air would and could only give me. I instantly determined to push for the window opposite me; and by an effort of double the strength I ever before possessed, gained the third rank at it, with one hand seized a bar, and by that means gained the second, though I think there were at least six or seven ranks between me and the window. In a few moments my pain, palpitation, and difficulty of breathing ceased; but my thirst continued intolerable. I called aloud for "WATER, FUR GOD'S SAKE!" I had been concluded dead; but as soon as they heard me amongst them, they had still the respect and tenderness for me, to cry out, "GIVE HIM WATER, GIVE HIM WATER!" Nor would one of them at the window attempt to touch it until I had drank. But from the water I found no relief; my thirst was rather increased by it; so I determined to drink no more, but patiently wait the event; and kept my mouth moist, from time to time, by sucking the perspiration out of my shirt sleeves, and catching the drops as they fell, like heavy rain from my head and face: you can hardly imagine how unhappy I was if any of them escaped my mouth.
"I came into prison without coat or waistcoat; the season was too hot to bear the former, and the latter tempted the avarice of one of the guards, who robbed me of it when we were under the Veranda. Whilst I was at this second window, I was observed by one of my miserable companions on the right of me, in the expedient of allaying my thirst by sucking my shirt sleeves. He took the hint, and robbed me, from time to time, of a considerable part of my store; though, after I detected him, I had ever the address to begin on that sleeve first, when I thought my reservoirs were sufficiently replenished; and our mouths and noses often met in the contest.
"This plunderer, I found afterwards, was a worthy young gentleman in the service, Mr. Lushington, one of the few who escaped from death, and since paid me the compliment of assuring me, he believed he owed his life to the many comfortable draughts he had from my sleeves. 1 mention this incident, as I think nothing can give you a more lively idea of the melancholy state and distress we were reduced to. Before I hit upon this happy expedient, I had, in an ungovernable fit of thirst, attempted a different liquid; but it was so intensely bitter there was no enduring a second taste, whereas no Bristol water could be more soft or pleasant than what arose from perspiration.
"By half an hour past eleven the much greater number of those living were in an outrageous delirium, and the others quite ungovernable; few retaining any calmness, but the ranks next the windows. By what I had felt myself, I was fully sensible what those within suffered; but I had only pity to bestow upon them, not then thinking how soon I should myself become a greater object of it. They all now found that water, instead of relieving, rather heightened their uneasiness; and, "AIR, AIR," was the general cry.
"Every insult that could be devised against the guard, all the opprobrious names and abuse that the Suba, Monickshun, &c. could be loaded with, were repeated to provoke the guard to fire upon us, every man that could rushing tumultuously towards the windows, with eager hopes of meeting the first shot. Then a general prayer to Heaven, to hasten the approach of the flames to the right and left of us, and put a period to our misery. But these failing, they whose strength and spirits were quite exhausted, laid themselves down and quietly expired on their fellows: others who had yet some strength and vigour left, made a last effort at the windows, and several succeeded by leaping and scrambling over the backs and heads of those in the front ranks, and got hold of the bars, from which there was no removing them. Many to the right and left sunk with the violent pressure, and were soon suffocated; for now a steam arose from the living and the dead, which affected us in all its circumstances, as if we were forcibly held with our heads over a bowl full of strong volatile spirit of hartshorn, until suffocated; nor could the effluvia of the one be distinguished from the other, and frequently, when I was forced by the load upon my head and shoulders to hold my face down, I was obliged, near a8 I was to the window, instantly to raise it again to escape suffocation.
"I need not, my dear friend, ask your commiseration, when tell you, that in this plight, from half an hour past eleven till near two in the morning, I sustained the weight of a heavy man, with his knees in my back, and the pressure of his whole body on my head. A Dutch serjeant, who had taken his seat upon my left shoulder, and a Topaz (a black Christian soldier) bearing on my right; all which nothing could have enabled me long to support, but the props and pressure equally sustaining me all around. The two latter I frequently dislodged, by shifting my hold on the bars, and driving my knuckles into their ribs; but my friend above stuck fast, and as he held by two bars, was immoveable.
"I exerted anew my strength and fortitude; but the repeated trials and efforts I made to dislodge the insufferable incumbrances upon me, at last quite exhausted me; and, towards two o'clock, finding I must quit the window, or sink where I was, I resolved on the former, having bore, truly for the sake of others, infinitely more for life than the best of it is worth. In the rank close behind me was an officer of one of the ships, whose name was Cary, and who had behaved with much bravery during the siege (his wife, a fine woman, though country born, would not quit him, but accompanied him into the Prison, and was one who survived). This poor wretch had been long raving for water and air; I told him I was determined to give up life, and recommended his gaining my station. On my quitting, be made a fruitless attempt to get my place; but the Dutch serjeant, who sat on my shoulder, supplanted him.
"Poor Cary expressed his thankfulness, and said he would give up life too; but it was with the utmost labour we forced our way from the window (several appearing to me to be dead standing, unable to fall by the throng and equal pressure around). He laid himself down to die; and his death, I believe, was very sudden; for he was a short, full, sanguine man. His strength was great; and I imagine, had he not retired with me, I should never have been able to have forced my way. I was at this time sensible of no pain, and little uneasiness: I can give you no better idea of my situation, than by repeating my simile of the bowl of spirit of hartshorn. I found a stupor coming on apace, and laid myself down by that gallant old man, the Rev. Dr. Jervas Bellamy, who lay dead with his son, the lieutenant, hand in hand, near the southernmost wall of the prison. When I had lain there some little time, I had still reflection enough to suffer some uneasiness in the thought, that I should be trampled upon, when dead, as I myself had done to others. With some difficulty I raised myself, and gained the platform a second time, where I presently lost all sensation; the last trace of sensibility that I have been able to recollect after my laying down, was my sash being uneasy about my waist, which I untied, and threw from me.
"Of what passed in this interval, to the time of my resurrection from this hole of horrors, I can give you no account; and indeed, the particulars mentioned by some of the gentlemen who survived (solely by the number of those dead, by which they gained a freer accession of air, and approach to the windows} were so excessively absurd and contradictory, as to convince me very few of them retained their senses; or, at least, lost them soon after they came into the open air, by the fever they carried out with them.
"In my own escape from absolute death the hand of Heaven was manifestly exerted: the manner take as follows. When the day broke, and the gentlemen found that no entreaties could prevail to get the door opened, it occurred to one of them (I think to Mr. Secretary Cook) to make a search for me, in hopes I might have influence enough to gain a release from this scene of misery. Accordingly Messrs. Lushington and Walcot undertook the search, and by my shirt discovered me under the dead upon the platform. They took me from thence, and imagining I had some signs of life, brought me to the window I had first possession of. But as life was equally dear to every man, (and the stench arising from the dead bodies grown intolerable] no one would give up the station in or near the window: so they were obliged to carry me back again.
"But soon after Captain Mills (now captain of the company's yacht) who was in possession of a seat in the window, had the humanity to offer to resign it. I was again brought by the same gentlemen and placed in the window. At this juncture the Suba, who had received an account of the havoc death had made amongst us, sent one of his Jemmautdaars to enquire if the chief survived. They shewed me to him; told him I had the appearance of life remaining, and believed I might recover if the door was opened very soon. This answer being returned to the Suba, an order came immediately for our release, it being then near six in the morning. The fresh air at the window soon brought me to life; and a few minutes after the departure of the Jemmautdaar, I was restored to my sight and senses, The little strength that remained amongst the most robust who survived, made it a difficult task to remove the dead piled up against the door; so that I believe it was more than twenty minutes before we obtained a passage out for more than one at a time."
Of the one hundred and forty-six persons confined in this dreadful place, one hundred and twenty-three perished during the night.
Note: Text corrected, and reformatted for legibility.