The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-22

A Hong Kong paper contains the fol-
lowing account. by an eyewitness, Of q
volunteer sacrifice Of life by u disconso.
late widow:
A few days since met a Chinese pro-
cession passing through the foreign set.
tlement, escOrtiNg young female in scar
let and gold. In richly decorated chair,
the object Of which found was to invite
the public to come and see her hang her
self, q step she had resolved to take in
consequence Of the death Of her husband,
by which she had been left q childlcss
widow. Both being orphans, 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 indicated
|aspOt. We had scarcely arrived when the
same procession was seen advancing from
the Joss house Of the widows native vii
lage, toward scaftOld and gallows erected
in an adjacent field, and surrounded by
hundreds Of natives Of both sexes. The
female portion, attired in their gayest
holiday costume, were very numerous.
The procession having reached the foot
Of the scaffOld, the lady was assisted to
ascend by her male attendant. and after
having welcomed the crowd, partOok with
some female relations, Of o repast pre-.
pared for her at Q table on the scaffold,
and which shc appeared to appreciate ex'
tremely. A child in arms was then placed
upon the table, which she Caressed and
adorned with a necklace she had worn
herself; she then took an ornamentcd
basket containing rice, herbs and flowers,
and whilst scattering them among the
crowd, delivered Q short address, thank.
ing them for their attendance, and uphold
ing the motives which urged her to the
step she was about to take. This done,
q salute Of three bOmbards announced the
arrival Of the time for the performance Ol
the last act Of her existence, when delay
was occasiOned BY the discovery Of the
absence Of q reluctant brother, pending
whose arrival let me describe tho means
Of determination. The gallows was formed
by an upright timber on each side Of the
scatfOld supporting stout bamboo, from
the centre Of which was suspended a lOoE
of red cord, with q small wooden ring
embracing both parts Of Il, which waI
covered by q red silk handkerchief, th'
whole lining being surmOunted by ar
awning.
The missing brother having been 10
duced to appear, the widow now proceed
ed to mount on chair placed under tn
moose, and, to ascertain her fitness for he
reception, deliberately placed her head il
Il, then Withdrawing her head, she wavet
"a final adieu to the admiring spectators
and committed herself to It's embraces 20
the last time, throwing the red handker
chief over her head. IIer supports wcr,
now about to bo withdrawn, when sh
was reminded by several voices from III,
crowd that she had omitted to draw dOwI
the ring which should tighten the cOr'
round her neck. Smiling an acknOwl
edgment Of the reminder, she ADJUSTED
the ring, and mOtiOning away her sup
ports, was left hanging IN mid air-a sIi
eide. With extraordinary self possession
she now placed her hands together befor
her, and continued to perform the manua
chin. .chins until the commissions Of Stran
gulatiON separated them, and shc wa
dead. The body was left hanging a6Ou
half an hour. and then taken down b,
her male attendants, one Of whom imme
diately took possession Of the halter An'
was about to sever It, for the purpose q
appropriating portion, when . struggl
ensued. This IL the third instance Of RNi
eide Of this sort in as many weeks. Tn
authorities are quite unable to prevent il
aud . monument is Invariably erected {
the memory Of the devoted widow.