248 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
the egress so confined,, that the press continued to 
accumulate at one end faster than it could disengage 
itself at the other. At length the crush became 
dreadful, and this immense mass of living beings was 
so tightly wedged together as to he perfectly immove- 
able. They, however, who were in the main street, 
not aware of the situation of those who Were jammed 
together in the narrow passage, continued their exer- 
tions to advance, and thus momentarily increased the 
peril of their unhappy companions. In fact, the crowd 
was so prodigious, filling every avenue that led to the 
gaut, and pressing from every quarter to this one 
point, that the narrow passage leading to it from the 
town was completely choked up, and every attempt 
at extrication rendered utterly fruitless. During this 
dreadful interval, hundreds were crushed to death, 
hundreds were maimed for life, and hundreds severely 
injured. The shrieks and cries of agony are repre- 
sented by those present to have been appalling ; but 
there was no possibility of escape. Still the body 
of eager worshippers continued their efforts to ad- 
vance, ignorant of the terrible effects of those efforts 
to those who preceded them, and when at length the 
dreadful fact was promulgated through the crowd, it 
was some hours before the street was entirely cleared, 
and the whole extent of the mischief ascertained. 
When this was done, it was found that nearly one 
thousand persons had been crushed to death, among 
whom were several sepoys belonging to the Company's 
forces stationed at Hurdwar for the maintenance of 
good order during this usually tumultuary assemblage. 
A great number of women and children were among 
