Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/378

 34-0 Readings in European History which the officer ordered his men to cut down those who hesitated, on which the prisoners obeyed. But before all were within, the room was so thronged that the last entered with difficulty. The guard immediately closed and locked the door, confining one hundred and forty-six persons in a room not twenty feet square, with only two small windows, and these obstructed by the veranda. It was the hottest season of the year, and the night un- commonly sultry even at this season. The excessive pres- sure of their bodies against one another and the intolerable heat which prevailed as soon as the door was shut, con- vinced the prisoners that it was impossible to live through the night in this horrible confinement; and violent attempts were immediately made to force the door, but without effect, for it opened inward ; on which many began to give a loose to rage. . . . The first effect of their confinement was a profuse and continued sweat, which soon produced intolerable thirst, succeeded by excruciating pains in the breast, with difficulty of breathing little short of suffocation. Various means were tried to obtain more room and more air. Every one stripped off his clothes ; every hat was put in motion ; and these methods affording no relief, it was proposed that they should all sit down on their hams at the same time, and after remain- ing a little while in this posture rise all together. This fatal expedient was thrice repeated before they had been confined an hour ; and every time several, unable to rear themselves up again, fell and were trampled to death by their companions. Attempts were again made to force the door, which, fail- ing as before, redoubled their rage ; but the thirst increas- ing, nothing but " Water ! water ! " became soon after the general cry. The good jei?iautdar immediately ordered some skins of water to be brought to the windows ; but instead of relief, his benevolence became a more dreadful cause of destruction ; for the sight of the water threw every one into such excessive agitations and ravings that, unable to resist this violent impulse of nature, none could wait to be regularly served, but each with the utmost ferocity battled