Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-10-21
A Chinese Execution.


The following letter dated Canton, June IA,
1854, gives on account Of wholesale CHINESE
execution which had just taken place there: ~
went one day last week with my Chinese teacher
10 see some mnlelacioB executed, not anticipating
any pleasute in witnessing so dreadful sight, but
from wishing to become acquainted with the man
her of conducting this awful proceeding. II was
very horrible, and such sight never wish 10 see
again. left The consulate at half past mime a. M,
undeIs nnding thatthe execution would commence
al ten o'clock. We sailed with great Tdpidity
down the river 10 the other side OF The city, and
landed among a town Of boats. After ten minutes
walk became aware, by the presence Of great
crowd OF natives, flat we were approaching the
place Of execution. Having made some IUilleSS
endeHYOTs 10 obtain place BInOng The crowd. /
Offered brlbe 10 carpenter TO lei us get on the
top Of his house, which, with some hesitation, he
consented 10 accept. This position commanded II
a view Of tile whole Of the ground, about nh acre
in extent. In the middle Of the place | was SUR
prSed 10 perceive cross, On The house we found
lUuE very respectable Chinese II eTChanlS. and rs
The execution did not commence Il nearly twelve
O'Clock, began sort o! conversation with them
and managed so Tar that, by The use OF signs and
The small vocabulary OF words winch have at my
command, they understood my queries aud oh.
Iained knowledge Of theirs.
They were very inquisitive, begging me to take
Uut one OF my studs aud show item how il was
put into the shirt, ndmTing my ring and asking
whit 1t COST with my braces they were much
struck. They behaved in very friendly mnnner,
aud as gentlemen. They supplied me with small
nut, which they were continually eating. About
eleven O'Clock u number OF soldiers or policemen
aplIuTed with whips, and they soon cleared the
gEOund rushing at the people aS il they would kill
Them, and striking anything rather than a China
man, They seemed in great bnsllej the Whole
scene reminded one Of sham fight on the stage.
The space being clear, q large number Of mandn-
TneS, Of different degrees, tOgt thUT with other off.
ciols, made their appearance, followed by an es
cOTt Of about dozenSpeaEsmen. They took their
station directly under the house on which | WIS
sta nding. SION after, hearing great connection
among the crowd, l saw the uniOTtumates an.
preaching, all fastened in baskets, looking half
lead nlr ally. They weIr carried by two coolies,
in the sedan style. In Eve OF six minutes they had
all arrived, to the number OF 60, and one was lead
to The cross and bound to il. The execution
gtoL nd is an oblong Shape OF Cambridge garlen,)
and the victims were placed in q kneeng posture,
III two rows, thirty in each, and about Two yards
npad
| was eagerly watching The placing OF The pTs
oneTS, amidst on immense camoT OF the multitude
(who were mol allowed TO hppmnoh,) when in O
moment every voice was hushed, aud such stiffness
T|igned that you might have heard pin fall. On
turning my head saw The dreadful work had be.
gun, and before had time 10 realize the horrible
sight it was completed, Sixty were launched into
eternity in tie space Of two minutes and a half
The oulprt, as said befJre is placed on bis knees;
one man standing behind him pulls him back II
is to tile poo! wTelch's interest to bend forward as
much Os possible, as The greater the stretch Of the
neck the more certain is The severalion. The ex.
ecutioneT (of whom there were sX) takes the sword
In both hands, and with one blow, sewers the head
from the body. Finally, they approached tile man
q, IAN
their swords ON tue face, neck, arms, aud chest,
they disemhowelrd him, and so he died, never ut.
terlDe groan. IIeturned IL the consulate ns It
were from a irigltful dream.'