Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-03-04
OrIeusaI PuaI.hn,ehr.

70 II. BINS. consulate in China. re
Gently read a paper before the Asias
, tic Society of London,, upoa exsea
: tionia China. In the course oil thi;
paper the following account is given
, OF I Q execution Of thiriy-fouI
"rebels or banditti." The scene oc.
CURED at the ordinary place of exc
cution at Canton, where it is stated
that more than FIVE hundred human
beings have been put to death within
the past eight months; that Mr..
Meadows was accompanied by two
English residents at Canton; and
that he found in the place, which he
entered by strongly guarded door,
a few OF the lower officials, but no
v sible preparations of any kind ex.
cept a cross at which the thirty.
fourth criminal was to be cut up, and
a fire Of fragrant sandal-wood bur-
ming before the shed where the
Mandarins SAT to superiniend the
executions, in order 10 conceal what
it described as the "horrid" effluvium
"arising from the decomposed heads
remaining there"
"After waiting Says the account }
a considerable time, all Of the crimi
nals were introduced, most OF them
walking 10 their places, but some
carried in baskets, and tumbled out
on the spot appointed for them,
where they lay powerless, either
from excess OF fear or from treat.
ment. A man stood behind each
criminal, and placed him in a kneel-
ing position, with his face towards
the ground, holding him in the posi-
tiOn by gTasping his hands, which
were bound behind his back. In
case of resistance, which happens
very rarely, the criminals queue is
held by a second assistant, aud drag
ged forward by force, so as TO keep
the neck extended. When all the
criminals were placed in the requir-
ed positions, the execuiioner seized a
sabre with both hands, and proceed
ed TO his work. In the present in
stance, the man was a mild looking
soldier selected from the ranks Of the
army. The sword was a common
sabre OF three feet in length; and Of
those employed on the occasion was
laid on the Society's table. 1t ap-
pears there is no official weapon re.
Quired; for the officers Of he army,
anxious TO flesh their swords, send
them for the purpose TO the execu-
Toner, who has thus a sufficient sup
ply for the most extensive operations.
The number decapitated on the oc-
casion described was thirly-three;
and the executioner took up fresh
sword as soon as he ielt the edge of
the one employed becoming dull,
which was usually the case alter cut
ting off two or three heads.
When all was ready, the man
stood firm, with his legs somewhlt
apart. On hearing the word span"
pronounced by the officer superin-
tending, and after a sharp order to
the criminal, "Don't movel' lie rails
ed his sword tight up, and brought
il rapidly down with the foil strength
Of both arms, giving additional force
to the blow by dropping his body
peIpendicularly 10 a sitting posture.
The horrid task was soon done;
after cutting off tie head Of one vic
tim, the man threw himself, by a
bound, into a position by the side Of
the next; ani in somewhat less than
three minutes, the whole thirty three
were headleSs-,he head in every
case but :he first, being completely
severed at one blow. In three or
four cases where the criminals re-
tanned their foil strength. the bodies
after decapiiation, rose quite upright;
and Mr.. Meadows is satisfied that
unless restrained by the man behind,
they would have sprung into the air.
When this part OF the tragedy was
over.the more horrible work Of slow
death was carried into effect upon
the remaining criminal, who was
bound TO the cross mentioned above.
He was strongly built man, appa- |
rently about forty years old, who bad
escaped in the first instance, but who
had voluntarily surrendered himself
to certain DEATH, in order 10 save
from torture his wife and family,
who had been seized by the Chinese
government with cruel policy usual
on such occasions. 10 this instance
the flesh was cut from The forehead, /
breast, and exlremitiss Of the suffer
er with short knife, which was on
the table before the meeting; the
body was Immediately taken from
the cross, and tbs head cut off. The
duration o: the punishment was
about four or five minutes. The
bodies were then packed up in collins
and carried away" ar resltJ
FAsr.-We are informed that the
locomotive Louisville made The
y III