George Turnbull (1809-1889): Autobiography: Chapter 11
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Chapter 11. 1858. (pages 162-164). East Indian Railway.
1858. February. Mr. M. Rendel came out from home for the purpose of a personal inspection, so that he might tell the Directors “viva voce” how we were going on. We left Calcutta on 8th February, with Captain Young and others, and worked our way along the line. We were at Monghyr on the 26th. The tunnel works were in an interesting state of progress; the quartz rock through which it was driven is very hard and compact, and much time and labour and gunpowder required. The distance being so short, the total length being little more than 900 feet, no machinery was used for boring ; all was done by the native workmen drilling holes and blasting with gunpowder. I would not use all gun cotton for fear of accidents. J. B. Harris was resident engineer, and carried on the work very well. At this time the Heading from the east was driven 400 ft., from the west end 153 ft., leaving to be done 347 ft. We estimated then that the work would be done in ten months.
Arrived in Calcutta again on loth March.
April. Nelly was poorly on 30th April, and we were alarmed, as we did not know what was the matter.
May. On the 6th we took her to Burnaghur, to Prosonath, Tagor-Coomar’s House, which Dr. Webb had kindly obtained from the Baboo for us. The change did her good, for we returned to Calcutta on the 23rd. The weather very hot.
June. There was a good deal of mortality among the European assistants this year; three of the engine-drivers died in one week in June.
July. Fanny left Calcutta with Nelly in the steamer, “Sir H. Lawrence,” and I joined them at Rajmahal on the 15th, having gone along the lines. Here the unpleasant news came that the mutineers had destroyed the Soane Bridge works a second time. Chas. Denham and Glyn were then at Rajmahal, also Aitchson; Hickey at Searmaree, Long at Tileaghuree. We were at Calcutta again on the 31st.
August. H.M.S. “Shannon ” frigate was all this time lying in the river, an object of interest and amusement to the sightseer, especially the ladies of Calcutta.
On the 24th, there was a shock of an earthquake at 3.30, but only a slight one.
September. On the 1st, an express train was arranged, and an inspection party invited by me to see the works. Among them were C. H. Hogg, Boulnois, Doyne, Palmer, Goodwyn, Alexander, Hickey, Stokes, Tait, the reporter, Wilson, Bell, McPherson, Leahy, Murray, Sharpe and Dr. Palmer; we got as far as the halfbuilt Beddich Station, and came to Burdwan Station to Tiffin. Palmer presided at the lunch, which was somewhat of a display, and amused us by “toadying” the civil servants, who did not like the transfer of the Government from the Old East India Co. to the Crown, which had just been effected. He said in a short speech that he wished the new regime as much success as the old one had enjoyed, although he scarcely expected it “ received with applause.” All the civil servants that I came across disliked the change, they saw that circumstances made it inevitable, and they feared for their own prestige, and for the welfare of India ; in both of which they by-and-bye found they were mistaken.
October. A note in diary says : on 4th, the comet visible near the bright star, Arcturus, in Bootes.
The Bengal Government became anxious about the further opening of the railway, and Sir John Grant would go to see the works, so I arranged an expedition, and Sir J. P. Grant, President in Council, Plowden, Col. Strachey, Sir James Colville, Sir Arthur Buller, went with me to the Adjai and Soorool cutting, and saw the works, at which they seemed surprised, not knowing the magnitude. We returned to Burdwan, and stayed there all night in Kelnor’s Hotel.
Heavy rain on the 25th; my rain gauge registered a fall of 7.65 inches in 24 hours, in the compound at 33, Chouringhee Road, This seems enormous, but I believe nothing was wrong with the rain gauge.
November. On the ist. Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, was proclaimed Sovereign of India. Cecil Beadon read the proclamation ; Halliday, J. P. Grant, Sir J. Colville, &c., standing on the north steps of the government house. General holiday, festivities and illuminations.
A grand Ball on the 9th, at Government House.
Left Calcutta on the 13th, on an inspection tour, of which minute details are in the diary; at Beheea on the 23rd, visited Ingdurpore with Burrows, this was Koer Singhs famous stronghold ; 8 miles off, saw the place where Capt. Legrand’s men were driven back, and where he was killed. The place was then in ruins.
Power was now in charge of Soane Bridge Works.
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