Capture of worth of Treasure.

Colonist, Volume II, Issue 113, 19 November 1858, Page 3

Capture of worth of Treasure.

The Madras Times is glad to hear that General Whitlock's column has made a great haul:— " The real wealth possessed by the rebels appears to have been hoarded at Banda in Narrein Row Fort. A company of the Madras 43rd Native Infantry attached to the column, found one hundred and forty cart-loads of gold bricks and nuggets, and forty lacs of rupees; and more was expected to be recovered. Besides this large amount of treasure, an immense quantity of jewels have also been found. These are supposed to have been the jevvels belonging to the Peishwa's family, which fifty years ago mysteriously disappeared from Poona, and were supposed to be in possession of Scindia or Hoolkar. It is believed they were stolen by Bejee Rows brother, the adopted father of the present Narrein Row, who is now a prisoner. The treasure and the jewellery found is said to he of the value of nine crores of rupees, or nine millions sterling." If true, this was certainly a "great haul."

Dbeadfitl Explosion.—-We regret to learn from the Madras Athenaeum, that there has been a gunpowder explosion at Secunderabad attended with a serious loss of life. When the report was heard it was first supposed by the distant inhabitants that it was the Artillery Magazine that had been treacherously blown up, but this supposition was soon removed; for it became evident that a detached building used for the purpose of a store room and Quarter Master Sergeant's office belonging to the 4th Battalion Artillery, had been blown down, not a vestige of.the building, or the verandah remaining. At the time the accident occurred, there were tlie several mess-orderlies, and messcaterers issuing out the daily rations to the native cooks. Hence the cause of so much loss of life. As soon after the explosion as possible, the men of the Artillery were busily engaged extricating the unfortunate victims of this catastrophe from the. ruins. The sight was truly heartrending to see men, women, and children being taken out, some with the loss of their heads, others with their heads partly blown off, with broken legs and their bowels protuding, one poor woman near her confinement was taken out with her stomach completely torn open. The number of killed and wounded was upwards of thirty— fifteen of whom were killed, and sixteen wounded, several since dead. Great praise is due to the Artillery (and some officers of native regiments who were passing by at the time) for their prompt assistance, for in twenty minutes after the accident occurred, all the bodies were removed. Not many minutes elapsed before the Major-General and most of the principal officers of the cantonment were on the spot, and rendered every possible assistance. It appears that the Native Camp Colorman was accustomed to enter the building and deposit some cartridges that had not been used, from time to time, as well as on the present occasion, and also the slow match which had not been extinguished, which, it is thought, must have caused the melancholy affair. Killed.—4th Battalion Artillery, Gunner Henry Hudson. Killed.—B. Troop Horse Artillery, Bombardier Blansford. Wounded.—4th Battalion Artillery, Bugle-Major Gale, Corporal Timothy Sullivan, Gunner Henry Forde, B Troop Horse Artillery, Bombardier Taig, since dead.