Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Monday 22 November 1886, page 7


A RIOT PUT DOWN BY BRITISH

, TROOPS.

(Overland Mail, 12th October.)

The station of Etawah in the North-West Provinces, was the scene of a serious disturbance on Thursday last. It was the old story of collisions between Mohammedans and Hindus in consequence of the " Mohurrum " and " Sam Lila celebrations falling at the same period, but the disturbance in this case was confined to the Mohammedans. Mr. W. Hoey, who is in charge of the district, gave directions to the effect that both parties should enjoy their celebrations, and, under the arrangements made by him, it was planned that no Hindu procession should be present during the hours which the Mohammedans claimed for their obligatory ceremonies. On Thursday, shortly after midday, the Kotwul, having observed a strong gathering of Mohammedans at the "Ohowkar Khan," went to them, reasoned with them, and tried to induce them to disperse. The " Chowkar Kuan" is an open piece of ground, near the Kotwali. On it stands a mosque and SPIRO three or four houses occupied by Muham-made as, while the rest of the space is covered with logs and firewood. Finding his remonstrances unavailing, the Kotwal went to the magistrate, and reported the state of affairs, and the latter, together with the Superintendent of Police, Mr. Waddington, proceeded to the city, where a guard of Cnowkidara, which was in waiting at the Kotwali, had been drawn up in front of the crowd. When they arrived at the " Chow-has Kuantan was about 2 pm.- the magistrate demanded of the assembly what they wanted, and invited the leaders to come forward that he might speak with them. A fanatic dressed in green replied : "There is no leader we are all equal?" The magistrate went forward to this man and asked him to step out on the road and converse with him. The fanatic refused to comply, and some persons, armed with lathes, made a sudden and unexpected rush at the magistrate. A. few persons happening to be in front of the crowd accidentally blocked the passage of these men, but one of them got in front, swinging his weapon, and was distinctly recognised. He made a blow at the magistrate, but did not succeed in dealing it.

The police reserve, which had been ordered up from another part of the city, had not arrived, so the magistrate and superintendent of police moved to the Kotwali. The crowd now made a rush towards the Kotwali, but the chowkidars and police articles' ed the move and being frustrated, the rioters rushed past to the opposite side of the square and took up their position on the road by which the " Barn Lila" procession was to pass.

The magistrate, thinking one of their own leaders might be useful in the emergency, sent for a Mohammedan gentleman, Monitaz Ali Khan, who is an honorary magistrate and a gentleman of great local influence, to reason with the crowd. This gentleman came, parleyed with his co-religionists for a long while, and eventually went to the magistrate and said his endeavours were in vain. The police reserve now came up, and the magistrate ordered them to load. There were some mounted police with the reserve. The magistrate and Mr. Waddington again addressed the crowd and endeavoured to induce them to withdraw, telling them that force would be used if they did not comply. Momtaz Ali Khan had already warned the rioters that the magistrate would fire upon them, but every warning was met with shouts of Sltaheed Shaheed (2 Let me be the martyr") and closing Yali Alli accompanied with frenzied swinging of lathes and other gestures of defiance.

The magistrate now placed his few armed constables in front of the crowd and drew

up his mounted police behind them. Every gentle effort to restore order appeared SO futile that the magistrate found it necessary to adopt more effective measures. He ordered the constables to fire on the crowd, but they hesitated. They were evidently demoralised. The magistrate therefore ordered the constables to step back keeping their bayonets fixed, and the mounted police

were directed to' advance and clear the street. These men drew swords, rode up to

the front ranks of the rioters and then

stopped dead. It is possible that the horses would not face the crowd. The mounted police were urged to advance, but they would not, simply refusing to do so. The yells grew ominously louder and louder, and Mohammedans with In this came up from every quarter in increasing numbers. Drums were beaten, the usual cries of " Hnssan, Hussein " were shouted in time to the roll, and men went about providing the rioters with water to keep them cool.

Mr. Jones, the station-master of Etawah, was aware of what was transpiring, and discovered that an approaching train contained a detachment of troops en route to Burmah. He telegraphed to acquaint the magistrate with the fact. So, when the troops arrived at the railway station, they were detained and marched down to the scene of confusion. The report of the arrival of British troops, however, reached the rioters, but these were in no may deterred on the contrary they are reported to have become more violent.

At last the detachment, consisting of about 100 men of the 8th King's Regiment, came up, and the magistrate met them about twenty yards from the corner of the street where the police were stationed facing the crowd. He gave his instructions to Captain Vessey, 8th Hussars, who was in command, and ordered the police to withdraw. The crowd, instead of retreating before the troops, advanced to meet them, beating their breasts and shouting DUM Been, and brandishing their weapons. The soldiers were instructed to be moderate, and to try to disperse the crowd. When the soldiers came face to face with the crowd they halted, and once again the rioters were warned. It was useless', and the order to charge was given. The rioters rushed to attack the troops, and for a moment it appeared that the conflict would be severe. But the cold steel was too much even for men as most insane with religious ardour. The crowd retreated before the troops, many being lightly stimulated with the point of the bayonet. Then the rioters reformed some distance further down the square. The troops advanced again, and this time were met with volleys of sticks and stones from the tops of houses and else-where as they drove the crowd down the streets. The rioters were pursued from the square down towards Humegan, near a mosque, where several of them were arrested, armed with lathes.

The troops next advanced on "Chowkar Kuan," and the Mohammedans who had been in great force at this place were seen flying, but many were arrested hiding among Fogg and every available place where concealment was possible. A body of the rioters who had fled on the first charge and had taken up their position in the Pucca Semi, now commenced an attack on the telegraph office with bricks and hurt one of the servants and tried to break the telegraph wire ; so the troops were brought round to the Senate, but the rioters had clambered over the walls and most of them had disappeared. It was now 7.30, and the Prisoners who had been brought in detachments to the Kotwali were marched down to the gaol and ,n,l"»d there for the night, to the luxury.. of over 150. Of this., man; L.

the rioters were injured, the majority very ' slightly, and it is impossible to believe the report that only one was killed. It seems that in the case of this death the deceased made a rush at one of the policemen, who, having warded off the blow made at him, promptly drove his bayonet through and through his assailant, killing him on the spot. Captain Vessey had the spike knocked off" his helmet, and Lieutenant Scales seems to have had a few narrow escapes.

The troops left Etawah, after restoring quiet, at 10 p. m. on Thursday night, and up to Sunday night nothing more had occurred.