Jenks's Portland Gazette

Miscellany.
From the Calcutta Monthly Journal,

THE following melancholy circumstances occurred a few days ago to the westward—a native Schoolmaster, accompanied by twenty one Boys, his Scholars, was passing a branch of Palar River, not far from Wallajahbad,—at the time of these unfortunates having reached the bank of the River, its bed was nearly dry, and they consequently expected to pass it without the smallest danger:—the late heavy rains, however, had accumulated into a large and extensive body of water above the pass, which suddenly breaking through its embankment, rushed impetuously down, and overwhelmed the unsuspecting Schoolmaster, and his innocent Pupils, with immediate destruction.—Two Boys with their master alone reached the opposite bank of the river, but one of them so much exhausted, that he died in a few minutes after he touched the shore. The poor Schoolmaster stood upon the bank, and gazed upon his dying pupils, in all the agonies of despair, "and woe," said he, "must tell this dreadful tale to the Fathers and Mothers of these children,—I never can."—After this pathetic exclamation he stood some few moments, exhibiting a speechless figure of unutterable grief,—then plunged into the stream and instantly perished.
The surviving Boy soon recovered, and carried the affecting tale to the house of the Schoolmaster; when his wife, with that desperation, which sometime marks, the otherwise mild character of the Asiatic, threw herself into a deep well, and was drowned ere assistance could be given.