A FAMOUS SIEGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6936, 27 October 1900, Page 7

A FAMOUS SIEGE.

In the " Recollections of My Life," Sur-geon-General Sir Joseph Payrcr, one of the most distinguished medical men of the day, gives many interesting descriptions of the siege of Lucknow, and the vicissitudes through which the little garrison passed. Sir Henry Lawrence was representing the Government at Lucknow when the Mutiny broke out, and before the rising was suppressed he was dead. Sir Henry died in Furrer's house from his wounds. Shortly before he had asked Fayrer how long he had to live, and was told perhaps fortyeighi; hours: — Ha was (we are told) perfectly clear and eoljected, though much exhausted, and gave full instructions as to what he wished to be done. He most earnestly adjured us never to surrender or treat with the enemy, and to do everything possible to protect the women and children, to economise provisions, and defend tihe Residency to the last or until relief should arrive. He took leave of us all in the most affecting manner, spoke most humbly of himself and all that he had \ done, and expressed a desire, that the only epitaph on his ton/j should be, " Here lies Henry Lawrence, who tried to do his duty." He reproached himself for what he called his shortcomings, but said he had endeavoured to do his best. The bravo defenders of the Residency ■were relieved by Havelock and Outram after two months. It must have been a stirring scene. One of the ladies (Mrs Harris) who was in the Residency at the time thus describes it : — We had no idea they were so near, and were breathing the air in the portico as usual at that hour, 5 p.m., speculating where they might be now, when suddenly just at dusk we heard a very sharp fife of musketry close by, and then a tremendous cheering ; an instant after the sound of the bagpipes, then of soldiers running up the road. Our compound amid verandah filled with our deliverers, and all of us shaking hands frantically, and exchanging fervent " God bless you's " with the gallant men and officers of the 78th Highlanders. Sir J. Outram and staff were the next to come in, and the state of joyful confusion and excitement was beyond all description. The

big, rough, bearded soldiers were seizing the little children out of our aims, kissing them with tears running down their cheeks, and thanking God that they had come in time to save them from the fate of those at Cawnpore. As everybody kti<ows, a second relief force had to be sent, and it was not till six weeks after the first had arrived that Sir Colin Campbell appeared upon the scene, and the garrison was saved. Sir Joseph accompanied the Prince of Wales when he went to India in 1872, and he was able during the tour to visit the old house at Lucknow, wliich awakened many sad memories. "Muoh of it is still standing," he. writes, " but the roof and floor are gone. I tried to find the old taily I kept oa the wall of my fourteen killed and forty wounded, but the plaster had fallen away. The shot and shell marks stall remain." : :