ACCIDENT OR—?

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11686, 22 June 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

ACCIDENT OR—?

A WEIRD Rtorv, which even the most prosaic Anglo-Saxon will have difficulty in dismissing as a mere aggregation of coincidences, has come home from India. The facts are in themselves easy of verification, and the whole: circumstances, from the thoughtless beginning to the tragic end, are known to" the officer commanding the district, whose word is not to be disputed. Three subalterns, stationed at an outlying post of a large garrison, being dissatisfied with their quarters, decided to rent a certain bungalow, prettily situated near the river, but which had for some year.-, stood empty, Before the arrangements were fully Completed an aged fakir called on the officers. Rle begged that the. house, which was buiit on "' sacred" ground, might be left, as heretofore, unoccupied; but as no very convincing arguments as to the alleged sanetitv were forthcoming, and the native was unable to suggest any other disability, his request was refused. Thereupon the fakir became as one possessed, and concilia', i a torrent of fierce abuse by pronouncing a curse. "Within this year,'' he. cried., "all three of vou shall die a violent death, and the house itself shall be de- ,-.■!" These words being in the nature of a threat put the matter beyond compromise. Not one of the subalterns would, front that moment, hear of any other resi-

AfuT maintaining for several weeks a watch against assassins, the soldiers, being healthy, fearless young Englishmen, forgot all about the prophet of evil, until an accident occurred one day which awakened a sense of uneasiness. The senior of the three, an expert polo-player, was killed in an inter-regimental match: and till sunset next evening the shadow of the grim Presence lay heavy on lie darkened bungalow.

But the Briton is not imaginative, and conii renee soon resumed its habitual sway. The two remaining men lived as usual, arguing that such a mischance might overtake anyone. ft was nearly six months later that the second blow fell. The junior subaltern was out hawking when his horse put- a foot into a hole ana fell. Hinging his rider violently to the ground. He was picked ill) with a broken neck. Tim surviving officer, a brave man. admitted that the incidents affected his nerve, and cave up dangerous sports: but he refused the leave that was proffered him, urging that no soldier could allow an impalpable dread to drive him from the perlormance of his duty. The year passed .slowly on to its last week without further incident, and the vague fear, thus calmly faced, had almost died awav.

On December 28 the sole surviving member of the ill-fated mess, when sailing in a small boat, was overset in a sudden squall of wind. Being a strong swimmer this was of no great moment, but in sonic inexplicable manner he became entangled in the steering-gear, and was drowned before a horrified spectator could get help to him. Finally, on ill.- li.s; ni -hi" of the year a frightful storm flooded the river, and the bungalow itself was swept away. Whether there is "anything in ii" remains, of course, open to achate; hut these are the facts, and they arc certainly remarkable enough. Moreover, there are few scoff, among the soldiers who, thrice in a few months, stood round the open grave of a comrade "dead through misadventure.'