Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-10-26
A Chinese Execution.

On the LIST of May Iattended an execution yitk
three of my friends. The street in which these
frightfu scenes occur is situated, as you are a.
ware, without the walled saty of Cantoa, towards
THAT pnst of the suburbs which lies to the South
along the river This narrow, dirty street. xkieh
is about 100 metres long and 5 wide is called by
, the Europeans the "Potter's Field" All tie
houses on each side are, in fact inhabited by work.
men who make common services of porcelain and
those portable furnaces which you have often seen
in the poorest houses and in the foating residences
on the river. For fear that Chinese scholar hks
you may dispute names with me, must tell yox
at once that this dismal place is called by the ma
tives "Tsien -Tze Ma reou," or the Quay Of the
Thousands Characters" /" in allusion to the numer.
Gus signs which are seen there from the river.
We arrived there at ten O'Clock in the morning,
and took our station in front Of a shop belonging
to mender of old stockings This was an ex-
eellent position to take survey of the whole eef-
emony, and we remained there quietly till noon
at which time soldiers and officers attached to the
service Of the Mandarns arrived To clear the street
and thrust back the curious. AS in Europe, the
persons who came to see the spectacle were the
vlest dregs Of the populace-dirty ragged people.
with sinister c0untenances, who wandered about
this ensanguned soil; where most likely they had
already seen the execution of number of their
companions, and perhaps of their accomplices.
| In short time the toll of the tam tam announo-
ed 10 Us the anivaiof the whole procession. Man
darins of every degree, with the red, white, blue
or yellow ball, riding on horseback, or carried in
palanguins, and followed by an escort ofmusicians,
sbirri, and standard bearers, alighted al short
distance from the place of execution. Contrary
I their ceremonous habits, they arranged them
selves in the dismal enclosure.
Then arrived the criminals. They were fifty
three III number, each shut up in basket, with
his hands tied behind bis back, his legs chained.
and a board inscribed with his sentence hanging
from his neck. You have often met in the Chi
nese streets pair ofcooes carrying apig stretch
ed out at its full length in bamboo case. Well,
just imagine human being put III the place of the
unclean animal, and you can furm an idea of tho
fifty-three unfortunate creatures in heir cages
When the cages were set down. they were OPEN
ed and emptied, just as when pig is turned out
at butchers shop. Iexamined these unfortunate
wretches with attention; they were worn out with
hunger, and looked more like skeletons than liv-
ing beings. 1t was evident that they had sufieE-
ed the most dreadful privations. They were cloth
ed in loatlsome tatters, wore long hair, and the
diahevelled tail attached to the of the head,
had heen reduced tu third Of its usual length
They had evidently belonged to the iusaggent
bands, who had adopted the fashion Of the MiHgs.
and allowed all their hair to grow.
| Many of these unfortunate persons were very
young-some were not sixteen years ofage-while
others had grey hair. Scarcely were they thrown
on the ground pell nell, when they were compell-
ed to knee the greater part Of them were 30 de-
bilitated from suffering. that they could not keep
in this position and rolled in the mud. An exc
cutioner's assistant then picked them up, and ar
ranged them all in a row, while three execution.
ers placed themselves behind them and waited
the fatal moment. You doubtless recollect those
horrible figures whom we have often seen togeth-
er in the cortege Ofthe criminal Judge Of Canton
those figures dressed in red blouse, and wearing
copper crown, adorned above the ears with two
long pheasan,'s feathers. Well, these were tho
executioners, who now waited tho signal with
rude and heavy cutlass in their hands. Thess O.
normous weapons are about two feet long, and the
back of the blade is two inches thick altogether
it is cumbrous instrument, shaped like Chinese
razor, with rude handle of wood.
A mandarin, who closed the cortege, then en-.
tered the enclosure. He was adorned with tho
white ball, and held in his hand board, inscribed
with the order for execution. AS soon as this man
appeared the frightful work began. The execu-
toner's assistants, each clothed in long black
robe, and wearing sort of head dress Of iron
wicker work, seized the criminals behind, and pas.
sing their arms under the shoulders of their VIC
tins, gave them swinging movement, which
made them stretch out their necks. The execu-
toner, who was now in front, holding his sword
in both hands, threw all his strength into thu
weapon, and divided the cervica yertebra with
incredible rapidity, severng the head from the
body in single blow. The exeoulionsr never
II 4 e. .ctl a.
completely cut through. the weight was sufficient
to tear it, and the head rolled on the ground An
assistant then levsled the victim with kick, fIr
the corpse would otherwise have remained in a
kneeng position. After three or four decapla-
tions, the executioner changed his weapon, the
edge of the blade seeming completely turned
The execution Of these ftty-tbree wretches only
lasted some minutes.
When the last head had fallen, the mandarius
retired from the scene as silent az they had come
Seeing the highest provincial officers present at
the execution Of these unfortunate men, ] was
struck with the reflection that in all Countries
horrible to say-the political scoffold has been ele
vated instead of degraded. After the departure
of the mandarins, the executioner picked up all
the heads and threw them into chest brought
for the purpose. At the same time the assistant
took the chains off the victims they lay in pool
OF DlOOQ. He ncduS WcIc dndyj Uut lud
bodies were left on the place Of execution.
A lamentable scene then commenced. A troop
J of women, with dishevelled hair approached the
fatal spot, shrieking aloud in wild disorder. These
unhappy beings were endeavoring to distinguish
their fathers, their husbands and their children.
among the headless corpses. 1t was frightful
scene to see them hurrying about, pondering, and
constantly mistaken amidst these headess remains.
This search continued all day, accompanied by q
mournful noise; funeral dirges being mingled with
f cries and sobs. The women never ceased repeat
ing that kind of chant common to all funeral GER
emonies, and which was composed, it is said, ia
the time of the Mngs. 1t is sort of rhythmical
plant, In which the same words constantly recur.
'Oh, misery! Oh, despair My happiness is
gone fDrever! Your kindness will no longer soft
en- the bitterness of life! Alone and bereaved of
all, can only weep and die over your ashes"
and so on.-Yran's China, just published. 3,
A FEMALE LAwYER.-The Cleveland Plain.
dealer says that Mrs. Emma r. Coe has been pur-
suing course of legal studies, for the purpose of
qualifying herself for the practice of that profession
What jury could withstand the eloquence of such
a special peader2