Karl's communication style always bore the mark of his audience, particularly evident when contrasting his letters to his younger sister Mattie with those he penned for the newspaper. In a letter to Mattie on January 23, 1901, Karl's words flow freely like he’s speaking to his sister:
“You must not expect a very long letter from me this time. I have just spent three picou on a coconut which turned out somewhat tough, and now chewing away at it, which makes letter writing almost an impossibility as a person is liable to forget himself and put some swear words in by mistake. I saw some horrible looking snakes today, all sizes, cobras, king cobras, ruck snakes, grass snakes and two headed snakes. Besides some scorpions, lizards and all sorts of poisonous reptiles.”
Then, on January 30, 1901, Karl penned an account for the Montreal Star, which later saw publication on March 2, 1901:
“I left Lucknow on the 19th and proceeded across the plains to Cawnpore, arriving at that city on the 21st January.
“Cawnpore is famous as the scene of the great massacre during the Mutiny, and is situated on the eastern bank of the River Ganges, and is a city that has many historic and interesting spots. There is the memorial well, into which the bodies of over 200 Europeans were thrown, after the massacre by the rebel Sepoys, in 1857. It has long since been filled in, and around it has been built an ornamental marble wall, 26 feet high. Inside the enclosure, directly over the old well, now stands the figure of an angel made of pure white marble. Locals are not allowed to visit this spot, nor even the most influential of the Indian Rajahs.”
The massacre ghats are parts of the River Ganges near the city and have steps leading down to the water’s edge, built to provide bathing places for the city's locals.
It was at this place that so many women and children were massacred. It is now a matter of history, how the besieged Europeans were told by the cruel and treacherous “Nani Sahib” that they should have a safe passage down the river to Allahabad, how they made their way to the Ghats, and when about to embark on the boats, the order was given, to the rebels, who were stationed on the opposite side of the river, to “fire”. The helpless Europeans fell by the dozen, before the hail of bullets from the opposite shore. At many places along the Ghats, can still be seen, the marks made by bullets during that massacre.”
This account uses a more formal tone for a newspaper audience, providing historical context and details about Cawnpore's significance.
Cawnpore, known as Kanpur today, was an influential British garrison with barracks housing 7,000 soldiers. During the First War of Independence in 1857, 900 British were besieged within the fortifications for 22 harrowing days by rebels under the leadership of Nana Sahib.
The British surrendered, seeking safe passage to Allahabad (now Prayagraj). However, Nana Sahib's deceptive ploy led to a brutal massacre. A rescue mission was dispatched to Kanpur, but 120 British women and children fell into the clutches of the Sepoy forces. They met a gruesome end, hacked to death and dismembered with meat cleavers. Their remains were callously discarded down a nearby well to conceal the horror. This tragic episode is remembered as the Bibighar Massacre.
In line with Karl's letter, a memorial was erected in 1860 by the British at the well site, comprising a marble gothic screen and a carved angel figure. After India gained independence in 1947, the memorial gave way to a park. The screen and angel found a new home at All Souls Memorial Church in Kanpur.
Karl adapted his writing style to suit his audience, whether recounting personal experiences to his sister or delivering a historical account for a broader readership. His readers well received both correspondence, I’m sure.
Next week dear reader, we travel from Kanpur to Agra. Stay tuned.
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