Page:The tourist's guide to Lucknow.djvu/196

Rh were dropped into the tykhana, killing three, and the remainder found things so uncomfortable that they vanished, (see paras. 71 and 72).

The garrison then made a breach at one end of the tykhana and so got into the end room, beginning with which they barricaded the whole of the outer doors. From this post the garrison began the mine, which, passing under Johannes' house, blew it up on the 21st August, relieving the besieged garrison of the most deadly musketry fire from which it had suffered.

This was formerly the bullock-train office. It consisted of a square of low out-offices situated between the Martiniere Post, the Post Ofﬁce, Civil Dispensary, and Convalescent Depot.

This post, commonly known as the King’s Hospital, was garrisoned by Officers, commanded by Colonel Masters, 7th Light Cavalry. It was a lofty double-storied solid masonry structure, particularly in its outside, or south front, where the massive wall rose to a height overtopping all the neighbouring houses. In the rear of the main building were courts called the first and second squares. The body of the building was used by the Officers of the Light Cavalry and Native Infantry as a Mess; hence its name. The two courts were surrounded by lines of low, flat roofed masonry buildings, which afforded accommodation to many families, and which were protected by high walls from the enemy's fire. It was here that Lady Inglis and Lady Couper occupied rooms. On the 7th July Major Francis, 13th N. I., received his death Wound from a round shot while sitting in the upper storey; both his legs were fractured. Major Bruere, of the same corp's, was killed here.

In the beginning of September the outer wall of the building fell, bringing down the rooms of the upper storey. It sustained a vigorous attack on the 20th July, but the rebels were repulsed. On the 10th August a mine was sprung by the enemy in front of the Martiniere Post, which blew down the stockade traversing the lane leading from Johannes' house to the Post Office; a few of the enemy attempted to enter, but were repulsed. On the evacuation of the Residency an officer was left behind: Captain Waterman went to bed in a retired corner of the Brigade Mess and overslept himself. Some time after