The Placer herald., 1861-05-25
Extraordinary Self-Sacriice by Chinese
Widow


ino account by an eve witness of a volun-
tary sacrifice of life by disconsolae widow:
A few DAYS since met Chinese procession
passing through the foreign settlement, es
coring young female in scarlet and gold,
in richly decorated chair, the Object of
which | found was to invite the public to
come and see her hang herself, step she
had resolved to take in consequence Of the
death of her husband, by whom she had
been left "A child less widow. Both being or
phans, this event had severed her dearest
earthly ties, and she hoped by this sacrifice
to secure to herself eternal happiness and
meet with her husband in the next world
repaired on the day appointed to the ndl
Gated spot. We had scarcely arrived when
the same procession was seen advancing from
the josshouse of the widows native village
towards scatfold and galows erected in
an adjacent field, and surrounded by hun
dreds of natives of both sexes. The tc
male portion, attred in the gayest holiday
costume, were very numerous.
The procession having reached the foot
of the scatlold, the lady was assisted to A..
cend 10y her male attendants, and, after hav.
inc welcomed the crowd, partool with some
female relations of repast prepared for
her at "a table on the scatfold, which she APP
peaIed to appreciate extremely. child in
arms WAS then laced upon the table, which
she caressed and adorned with a necklace
she had worn herself; she then took an or
namented basket containing rice, herbs and
flowers, and whilst scattering them amongst
the crowd delivered a short address, thank
ING them for their attendance, and uphold
ing the motive which urged her to the step
she was about to take. This done, a salute
of three bombar,s announced the arrival Of
the time of the performance of the last act
of her existence, when a delay was occasion
ed by the discovery of the absence of a re
luctant brother, pending whose arrival let
me describe the means of immolation,
The gallows was formed by an upright
timber on each SIDE of the scatfold support
ing stout bamboo, from the center OF
which WAS suspended a loop Of red cord,
with a small wooden ring embracing both
parts of it, which was covered by a red
silk handkerchief, the whole lining being sur
mounted by an awning. The missing broth
er having been induced to appear, the widow
now proceeded to mount on chair placed
under the moose, and to ascertain its fitness
for her reception, deliberately placed her
head in it, then Withdrawing her head she
waved final adieu to the admirng specta
tors and committed herself to its embraces
for the last time, throwing the red hand
kerchief over head Her supports were
about being withdrawn, when she WAS re-
minded toy several voices from the crowd
that she had omitted to draw down the ring
which should tighten the cord round her
neck
Smiling AN acknowledgment of the re
minder, she adjusted The ring, and melton
inc away her supports WAS left hanging in
mid ARA suicide. With extraordinary self
possession she now placed her hands togeth
er before her, and continued to perform the
manual chin chins until the commissions of
stranguIation separated them, and she WAS
dead. The body was left hanging about
half an hour, and then taken down 10y her
male attendants. one of whom immediate
" took possession of the halter, and was
about to sever it, for the purpose of ap
propriaing n portion, when n struggle en-
sued. This is the third instance of suicide
of this sort within aS many weeks. The
authorities are quite unable to prevent it,
and monument is invariably erected to
tho memory Of the devoted widow.