The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-15
From the Friend of China, March IA.
Barbarity I'm TOrtur.
Ing the Prisoners.

From the Friend of China, March IA.
Barbarity I'm Tortur.
ing the Prisoners.
cUr1oN OF REBELS AT CANroN.--In oul
Is on the retirement of the rebels from
ow, it is stated that the thousands OIL
fought to Canton as prisoners are now
1ecapitated at the rate of hundred and
day. That was the number, we were
xecuted on Saturday last, spectacle to
we were witness. The Canton execu-
ound has before been described in this
:. and for all our readers it is not neces-
repeat that it is situated about 100
rom the river, at distance of two miles
Glow the factories. The ground is OBJ
bout $50 feet in length, the entrance on
e nearest the river being about six feet.
closed with bars during practical ope-
!. At the grand entrance the ground is
10 feet wide. On the right hand, door
pen on to several ovens and tile manu-
g.
We approached the execution ground
Jere met with hands to their nostrils,
their tails tied round their faces, for
rpose of avoiding the horrid stencil,
.;ould literally be "felt" at q colsidera-
ance. The ground was covered with
|y dry gore, the result Of the past days
|. There are no drains to take the blood
aor is any substance used to slake it.
an was found digging holes for two
|. on which, he said four were to be tied
to pieces.
Execution had been fixed for noon. At
q dozen men arrived with the knives,
i by bearers of rough deal wood bexes,
I'd with bloody sides. These were the
Unconcein was the general appear
the soldiers and spectators, of whom,
Ter, there may have been one hundred
:. The day was dull, a fresh breeze
E eastward carrying the stencil away
'eigners, who, to the number of q dozen,
aimed admittance to the top of one of
,es on the street passing the entrance
field of blood" At IL "a the first
ten prisoners arrived, speedily follow
he rest in similar quantities. Each
(having his taiD appeared to have
rust down in wicker basket over
is chained legs dangled loosely, the
ling uncomfortably, and marked with
aper tally, pasted on slip of bamboo
between the prisoners jacket and his
These " man-baskets," slung with small
,ere carried on bamboOs on the shout
swo men. As the prisoners arrived,
made to kneel with his face to the
In q space of about 20 feet by IL we
as many as 20, ranged in half dozen
At 5 minutes to twelve . white-button
arrived, and the two to be first cut
were tied to the crosses. While
at this frightening process, the execu.
nenced, and 20 or 30 must have been
befo.e we were aware of it. The only
be heard was q horrid cheep-cheep
as the knives fell. One blow wa. suf-
each-the head tumbling between
ot the victim before it. As the sword
blood-gushing trunk springs forward,
he breast and is still for ever.
E minutes, the decapitation was COM
ad then on the other victims COM
he barbarity which to think Of only is
1y barbaric. With a short sharp
ilice was cut from under each ARM
ressed fearful groan from each follow
,eration of the weapon. Dexterous as
q slice was taken successfully by the
from the calves, the thighs, and then
b breast. We may suppose, we may
It by this time the sufferers were in
20 pain; but they were not dead. The
then stuck into the abdomen, which
.ed up to the breast-bone, and the
isted round as the heart was separated
holding. Up to this moment, having
eyes on the victim under torture, they
me fixed as by fascination; but they
rivited there no longer. A whirling
ran through the brain, and it was
iculty we could keep ourselves from
But this was not all |; the lashings
a cut, and the head, being tied by the
limb of the cross, was severed from
?, which was then dismembered Of
Z I'd arms, feet and legs, separately
$! is, the mandarins left the ground, to
Owever, with q man and woman; the
was said, the wife of one of the rebe
be man a leader Of some rank. The
fas cut up in the way we have de
Nor the man more horrible punish
{ , decreed. He was fayed alive. w,
zee this, but it was witnessed by thu
kof Marines of the United States, ]
edy-the cry at the FIRST insertion o
across the forehead, and the pulling
Jh over the eyes, being most horrible