MOPLAH MURDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 January 1922, Page 12

MOPLAH MURDERS.

GRAPHIC STORIES. A NARROW ESCAPE. The Madras correspondent of the Daily Mai] gives a graphic story of the escape of planters during the early days of the Moplah rebellion, the tale coming from the lips of Mr. Norman, manager of the Kinalur estate: “We only missed death by inches. Mr. Tippetts had a wonderful escape. The outbreak was quite sudden, no one being prepared for it. Karuvarakandi police station was looted of arms and ammunition, and with these the mob proceeded to Kerala and Pullingode. “Mr. Browne and Mr. Colbrook got away safely, but only just in time, for as soon as Mr. Browne had left the Kerala coolies looted all the bungalows and took away everything of value. “They then burnt all the bungalows, factories and buildings, demolished bridges and broke down culverts. A strong party of Moplahs hurried after Mr. Browne, tracing him by orange pee! and heel marks. However, they did not get him. and he reached safety.

“Mr. Eaton, who was murdered, seems to have delayed his departure, and. unfortunately. went by the most direct and usual route to Kerala to join Mr. Browne.

“He took a young servant and three dogs. All might have been well had it not been for the dogs barking at something. This betrayed them. The servant climbed a tree and saw Mr. Eaton killed. The Englishman had time to fire only three shots from his revolver before being kicked to death by his own coolies, being mocked and jeered at during the murdei. “Afterwards they decapitated him and placed his head in the middle of the public road, amid much demonstration. His body was thrown into the river.

“Mr. Tippetts would have been killed but for the loyalty of a servant. Coolies are reported to have said: ‘What about cleaning up the sahib’s bungalow?’ “The sahib’s loyal servants replied: ‘We have been with the sahib for five years, and can any coolie present point out one act of injustice on the sahib’s part ?’■

"No one being able to do this, the coolies said: ‘Very well; get the sahib to give us all the money he has, and we will clear out.’ Mr. Tippetts gave them £3 'Os. and they left.

“He spent the night out in (he rubber plantation. Next day he heard that certain timber merchants of whom he had fallen foul, were going to kill him. ..He left his estate by devious bypaths and got to Tamaracheri travellers' bungalow the same night. He took only his rifles and no ammunition.

' "Here the police told him he was quite safe; but half an hour later they reported the situation to be hopeless, and

said that the mob was in Tamaracheri in pursuit of him. He thereupon put on native dress. Tn his bare feet he turned the lights down, as if he were going to turn in for the night, and slipped out to the road by the back way. followed by his servant.

“The crowd watched his every movement in the travellers’ bungalow, and gloated over the way they were going to kill him, after having given him time to go to sleep.

“Mr. Tippetts went on to Poonoor with his servant as fast as he could. At Poonoor one man asked them if Mr. Tippetts had been killed.

I ‘’Another said: ‘We are waiting to ’catch that son of a dog. He is on his i way from the estate. I hope he comes ,:this way. and then we will, go to Kin[alur and do for the sahibs there.’

“The servant told them he had heard that Mr. Tippetts had been killed near his own place. They two pushed on as hard as they could, and after leaving

Poonoor got a cart going to Balaserry. The servant, who was a Moplah, carried on an animated conversation with the cartinan about their plans for killing the estate sahibs.

“Mr. Tippetts reached Balaserry safely. and went on to Quirandi in only’ a loin cloth and a pair of sandals. He travelled thence to Calicut in this garb, and was the object of intense interest.” Khan Bahadur K. V. Chekntty, a retired inspector of police at Arabayam, near Manjori, has been murdered by Moplahs. lie was a staunch supporter of the Government, and in recognition of his meritorious services it had granted him full pay for his pension, and had allowed him the privilege of wearing his police uniform and retaining his sword. The rebels, aftt'r beheading him, stuck the head on an iron rod and carried it through the bazaars. They pursued his son. who is believed to have escaped.

More than 300 Hindus, Navars. Brahmans and Nambudrjs have been forcibly converted to Mohammedanism. the rebels giving them the alternative of death,