Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-03-06
HORRORS OF WAR.


The annals of history do not record a
war more cruel and devastating, than the
civil war which has ragged in China du-
ring the last two or three years. The
Chinese, immoral, licentiouS, and accus.
toned to set but trifing value upon hui
man life, have conducted it with ferocity
which is without parallel. In an English
paper we find the following extract from
letter by a gentleman in China, to a
friend in England, illustrative of the
character of the conflict and the combat
ants. The letter was probably written
in November -
"The rebellion still continues in China,
but is now principally confined to the
mountainous parts. The rebels in the
neighborhood of Canton were some time
since driven away and captured, and the
trade has been revived. By a report, OBJ
tanned recently from good authority, it
appears that upwards of 10000 men
have been publicly executed in Canton
since the commencement of the Chinese
new year, on the 18th of February last.
The same authority states the number put
to death at Shan-king-fu % 900, and about
$4,000 at the taking of the fort in Blen-
helm Reach, and the subsequent capture
among the villages Whereabouts. I be-
lieve, however, that the numbers are very
much moderated. l was at Canton in
February last, and visited the rebels at
the fort in Blenheim Reach. Invent also
to the execution ground at Canton, and
it stank worse than half a dozen slaugh-
ter houses. The sides of the walls were
sprinkled and covered with blood. The
clothes and "tails" of the unfortunate
wretches were lying in heaps, and the
ground was covered with clotted and
dried cakes of human blood. In MANY
of the villages near Blenheim Fort, and
other places adjoining, houses are erected
where suspected or prescribed persons
may commit suicide, and thus save their
posthumous regulations, and be buried by
their friends; and hundreds are said to
have gone to these (where their bodies
would be Unidentified, } and put an end to
their existence by hanging or taking
opium. Many women probably those
who had lost all hopes of safety and sup
port have also destroyed themselves
Such things as these show how sad is the
state of native society, and how wide
spread is the desolation the insurrection
here had caused in that province. Its
results, so far as one can Judge, have
been unmitigated evils to the people of
both parties. On the 9th inst. one of
the leaders named Kan Sid, was put to
death by alingering MISUNDERSTANDING
been cut up into 108 pieces. There are
three grades of this mode of execution
the other two, where the criminal is d.
vided into "a or Sc pieces, not being con-
sidered so disgraceful. This leader head
ed the bands which threatened the North
OF the city last autumn and winter
More than 800 of lesser note were exc
cuted the same day, and one day last
month over 700 were executed. There
has been here of seven days lately held,
something like an All Souls festival. for
the repose of the spirits of the officers
and soldiers killed during the contest
One Of the most affecting sights connected
with the matter is that of 100 or more
coolies, lounging about the streets, wait
ing for the executions, that they NAV
pounce upon and seize the yet palpitating
bodies, to hurry off with them, to the pits.
have no doubt the number of lives lost
on both sides throughout the empire, since
Inc rebellion commenced, is 100000"