The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1857-12-12

The place of punishment was in a field
where horse market had been held, on
the banks of the Ligasa canal, a mile OF
so from the admiralty The preparations
were simple enough. A strong fat stake,
and a few mats laid on the ground, form.
ed the whole that was visible. The stake
was nearly five feet high, planted firmly
in the ground, and sloping eight or ten
inches off the perpendicular. 1t was
about four inches thick, but of unequal
breadth, being fully two feet at the top,
and tapering gradually groundward to the
earth, where it was not above eight inch
es. On the top it was followed out into
three semi-circles, the central one being
appropriated to the neck, and the two
others to the arms of the criminal Near
to the ground there was hole through
the stake to pass cord for fastening the
malefactor's ankles. The mats were to
make firm footing for the executioners.
Exactly at seven O'clock, the prisoner
appeared. guarded by four soldiers, with
naked sabers, accompanied by several Off
GERS of police, aud followed by two cxecu-
TONERS, each bearing under his arm a
bundle containing kaout-thongs. The
battalion now formed hollow square,
three deep, the police, executioners and
criminals being in the centre.
The executioners, or foggers, in Rus
sia, are themselves criminals, kept in per-
petual confinement, save when taken ont
to perform their cruel Office, which, from
pent-up revenge, they render as agoni-
zing as possible to the poor sufferer. The
frst exeeutioner was the coarsest speci-
men of humanity | ever saw. His height
| was over six feet, his shoulders were i'm
moderately broad, his body large, and his
limbs bulky and athletic; his head was
covered with dark-colored, coarse bristles,
and his complexion was of a fierce ma
hogeny color. His assistant, a strong
and muscular young man, was his very
counter part, being one Of the most favor
able specimens of young Russian peas
ant had ever met with,
| must now describe the criminal. He
was apparently about twenty-five years Of
age, yer, full built but of low stature,
with very stolid countenance; but he
showed neither remorse nor fear. He
seemed perfectly callous; took off his cap,
and coolly prepared himself for his terri
bic punishment.
Having thrown aside his cofian and
his shirt, and having nothing on but
his trowsers and his boots, he approached
the stake with firm step, and was Sc
curely fastened to it by the executioners,
| who now threw off their coats and got
ready their instruments of torture. The
knout consists of handle about foot
long, with piece of twisted hide of the
same length To this hide is attached,
by loop, piece Of thong, prepared to
almost metallic hardness, in length about
four or FIVE teet, perfectly fiat, and an
inch broad 1t is changed after every
six or eight blows, being unfit for use on
becoming at all soft.
The senior executioner having placed
himself within FIVE or six feet of the
prisoner, with the thong Of the knout
on the ground behind him, them drew it
forward, raising it slowly and steadily, till
it had attained the proper elevation, when
he brought it down with tremendous
force upon the very middle of the crimi-
nails back, leaving deep crimson mark
of an inch in breadth, extending from
his neck to the waistband of his trow.
sers.
Upon receiving the blow, the wretch
uttered scream, or rather yell of ago
nv, and every fibre of his body seemed
in state of violent and instantaneous
eontortion. With hardly an interval the
blow is repeated, followed by the same re-
suit, the same frightful yell, and the same
appalling shudder. The second mark ap
peared about an inch from and parallel tt
the first: third, fourth and fifth blow
followed in quick succession, when thu
operator stepped aside and resigned hi
place to his assistant.
After giving eight blows, the assistant
stepped aside, in his turn, when his prin
cipai who had in the meantime been fit
ting on a new thong, resumed the dread
full task. Hc was again succeed by th'
Young man, who in like manner had re
newed the efficacy of his weapon by aslm
liar process.
In this manner did they continue, mu
tually relieving one another, at each rela..
adding new thong, until the destine'
number of blows were inflicted on tn
lacerated back of the sufferer. Abou
the fiftieth stroke, his struggles havini
partially loosened the fastenings, it wa
! found necessary to stop and have then