Lives of the First World War

known 1916

Transcription of Newspaper Article (Continued): I visited the dungeons in which British prisoners were kept for some years. It is said that many of them were put to death by Tippa Sultan when he saw the town was lost. At this place, there is a peculiar single- span bridge in the middle of a field, or open level space. This excited my curiosity, and, upon making enquiries, I was informed that the making of this bridge was an experiment by a French engineer about 200 years ago. He knew something about stresses and materials, did that same Frenchman. The span is 112 feet, crown of arch 13 feet from the ground, thickness of brickwork is about four feet, and it is very lively, readily respond ing to the concerted tread of four men. The bridge is built of ordinary burnt brick, with the exception of the keystone, which is of granite. It was told, the legend is, that when the bridge had been constructed, the French- man's two eyes were put out, because he was much too clever! A place of interest, too, was Tippa Sultan's summer residence, with its crude wall-paintings of battles between the British and Tippa's army. These paintings give some little idea of the uniforms of the British soldiers of these days. In the centre of one of the paintings is a furnace on wheels, with a cannon ball poised above the flame; probably a crude suggestion of the heating of cannon balls before being fired. The arrival of a British officer in a native-borne palanquin to present-day ideas is grotesque. However, on the whole, the pictures are useful, and do not appear to lie, for they give no indication as to which side was winning. Having seen but a tithe of what was interesting, we resumed our march at 4.30 p.m., and arrived at Kaladastavidi at 6 p.m. Mysore's Reception. On Monday, July 10th, we furbished ourselves up, and were played through beflagged streets to the grounds, marched to Mysore, at the confines of which place we were met by the Maharaja's bands, reed and pipe. We of Government House, where we piled arms, took off our equipment, and were told off to our tents. Here it was obvious that preparations had been made to "do us proud." That these anticipations were realised, all of us agreed. I will not enumerate-for I would not make anyone envious-the delicacies of the lunch of many courses. But I may add that we all left the re past feeling complacent, and with cigars in full blast we went to seek the conveyances which were to take us on a round of sight-seeing in the city. I got a bullock- drawn transport cart, but as my native driver evidently thought he would please me by getting ahead of every other vehicle in the procession, he came along-side another driver with a similar obsession regarding the wishes of his "fare." The result was a race which would have stirred to madness the spectator in any Roman amphitheatre in the days so long ago. The wheels were constantly coming so close together that a glorious smash appeared inevitable. The more we shouted to the drivers to "cut it out’' the more they goaded the oxen, misconstruing our carefully chosen speech, for encouragement of their well-meaning but wild endeavours. And we had only just lunched sumptuously. At the first opportunity, I dismounted, and continued peregrinations afoot, until I came across a motor charabanc, with just sufficient room for a strap-hanger. The driver of this vehicle was also possessed of the speed demon, and took the corners on two wheels. But we arrived at the Zoological Gardens in one piece, and had a pleasant hour there and at the summer palace and stables. "And so back to Government House and tea "A Dream." We marched past, saluted, and were received by His Highness, after which we entered the new palace. I do not think anyone of us will ever forget the brilliance of what we here saw. As we passed into the court-yard, the whole place became a veritable blaze of light, the whole of the facades being illuminated with thousands of electric bulbs. We were accorded, as a regiment, the unique privilege of passing through the palace. Ye Gods! It was a dream, voluptuous in its conception, and prodigal in its execution. I would not dare to put my impression, of it on paper-words would appear cheap beside the memory of its resplendent, shimmering beauty. Of little details, such as were recorded in my mind's retina, I hope to tell you ere long viva voce. As we came away from all this wonderful Indian splendour, our Commanding Officer called for three cheers for His Highness, the Maharaja, and which we gave in true fashion. We then returned to our camp of the night before, accompanied the whole wav by 60 of His Highness's torch-bearers—a picturesque climax to a pleasant round of hospitality.

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