Escape to Mithauli

Mountstuart and Madeline rushed out of the house, hurrying towards the jungle. Realising that Georgiana was not with them, Madeline made to go back. She saw her sister with Mrs Christian’s English nurse, trying to comfort a child – it was the be the last time Madeline saw her. The sepoys were in pursuit, and the only thing to do was cross the river using a narrow walkway. Once across, they kept running towards the jungle. At the second river, they came across Mr Henry Bensley Thornhill, the deputy commissioner, with his wife, Emily (née Heathfield Lock) and daughter, Catherine. Mr Thornhill would tell the Jacksons he had seen Georgiana cross the other river – but no one had time now to talk.

“We ran on, and thought we had got away from our pursuers when we saw them on the other side of the ravine. We got down it to hide from their shots, and the last we saw of the poor Thornhills was him hiding his wife and child in a cleft of rocks and standing in front to cover them.”

Madeline Jackson’s Account of her escape from Sitapur

The Jacksons continued running – it was painful going. Madeline had lost her shoes in the second river and, shortly after, her hat. Her muslin skirt became entangled in thorns, obliging her to remove it. Mountstuart kindly gave his sister his shoes and proceeded along the hard, thorny ground with leaves wrapped around his feet. Eventually, even the most desperate spirit gave out – exhausted, they collapsed on the ground behind some bushes. Shortly after, they were found by a group of Passis, armed with bows and arrows. Not intent on mischief, they initially helped the Jacksons, taking them deeper into the jungle – but the Jacksons ran out of barter. Mountstuart had given them his pistol for some food and then his sword for their fidelity. Madeline, in a moment of recklessness, offered them Mountstuart’s rifle. Gladly accepting this last piece of plunder, the Passis now refused to go any further. The Jacksons were left on their own. The next day, after managing to get away from a band of heavily armed villagers, one of whom had expressed his interest in making Madelaine his wife, they met a group of “very poor-looking men.” These informed the Jacksons that in the next village, a group of Europeans was hiding. Hurrying along, they soon found themselves reunited with Lieutenant Barnes, Quartermaster Sergeant Morton and three-year-old Sophie Christian.

Continuing onwards they finally arrived in Mithauli.

It was not the warm welcome they had expected, but it was better than hiding in the jungle. Raja Loni Singh allowed them to stay a few days in his residence, but soon he moved them onto his other fort, that at Kutchiani, the previous abode of Mrs Orr. She had been reunited with her husband, and together with her child, they were now hiding in the jungle close to Mohamdi, the Raja, thinking it prudent to keep the groups separate as a way to more easily protect them. Eventually, the Orrs returned to the fort.
It was through the Orrs’ servants that Madeline received news of her sister. By hiding letters in the soles of the shoes or in quills, they were able to pass messages from Georgiana, in hiding with Captain Hearsey. They also got word from Sir Henry Lawrence, who now entreated Loni Singh to send the fugitives to Lucknow and promised him a fine reward.

“The Rajah sends word that he will do his best to protect us..”

Captain Patrick Orr had managed to make his way to Mithauli. Escorted by a few loyal men, who after binding the Rajah by “the most solemn oaths” to protect the captain and his family, they promptly left him at the fort of Rajah Lone Singh. He was now under the Rajah’s doubtful protection but at least reunited with his wife Annie and little daughter Louisa. Their plight was not a happy one. Upon hearing that a group of mutineers were on their way to Mithauli, the Rajah promptly sent the Orrs away from Kachiani Kothi.

“Here are since yesterday morning, exposed to the most trying heat, without any shelter from the sun, except a few thin branches and a sheet we have put up. Monshee Seetaram is sharing our trouble. A few faithful servants are hovering about. Our khidmutgar walked off with our spoons and cooking pots. Some of the Rajah’s people feed us; but you way fancy if we have any appetites. My poor wife, is bearing up with her misfortunes like a saint, but is extremely weak….”

It must here be mentioned that the word “jungle” isn’t what it seems to be. My dear reader is prompted to forget everything one associates with it and understand what is really meant by the word in this context – “..vast and dreary extent of land, covered, with the exception of a few patches here and there, with thorny brushwood growing to a height of two or three feet and totally incapable of affording protection against the fierce an intolerable rays of the sun…” True jungle would have been a godsend. India in June, before the monsoons, is not a land to take lightly, with temperatures soaring to 40° and over in the shade from early in the morning, a dry wind scorches the earth, while a relentless sun beats down on the wearied, bone-dry land. It is not a pleasurable experience and one to be avoided by the uninitiated.

Rajah Lone Singh didn’t just have the Orrs to look after. He had other fugitives as well. Sir Mountstuart Jackson and his sister Madeline made it to Mithauli along with Quartermaster Sergeant Morton, Lieutenant Burnes and little Sophie Christian, whom they had met on the way. It was their arrival that had hastened the Orrs into the jungle. Hey now took their place in the fort. Their position was not particularly good. Forbidden from contacting the Orrs, they were left by the Rajah to their own devices. Without Captain Orr, who had heard of their plight, they might have starved.
“I have a servant to cook for us, and he feeds the poor people. The privations we are put to are indescribable, but the fearful heat beats us all. We could up with anything else, my wife is as well as could be expected. Poor Louisa is behaving like a sensible person; never once troubling for anything…” Eventually, the Rajah consented to let the Orrs rejoin the Fort. For a brief moment, they were safe.