Black Hole of Calcutta II

Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts.

Last time we noted that he was the temporary commandant of the British Garrison appointed after the Governor fled downstream to a safe anchorage. Holwell described the night of June 20, 1756 as one of unspeakable horror. In a 18 by 15 foot cell, 146 European men women and children fought for survival during one of the hottest nights of the year. Some were already wounded and, if one fell down, they would almost certainly be trampled to death. The air was foul and they began to vomit all over each other. Discipline was lost and panic moved in waves across the crowd.