Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-03-29
TERRIBLE SCENE in CHINA.

The Canton Press gives the particulars Of
trighuul execution by Wholesale of Canton
river pirates by the Cantonese authorities
The pirates with their lorchas were FIRST en-
tccd out OF the river, and then a military and
naval force was stationed ten or twelve miles
below Canton 10 prevent their ascending the
river above that point The pirates attempt
ed to get past this station in a body, but we're
only partially successful, while the Chinese
Commodore pursued and destroyed those who
did. The Press says:
There sailed past his guard post three,
some say ten Canton lorchas and tymoops
Others hanging on outside in case this de-
tachment succeeded. They were attacked by
the mandarin force three were burnt two
ran up TO take refuge at the Pagoda anchor
age, and the rest made out to sea as fast as
they could, The remainder of that day was
occupied In pursuing the fugitive pirates who
had escaped on shore. Next morning the
goth, the mandarin armed boats were in pur-
suit Of the two boats that had escaped up
the river. They came up with them about
noon lying in shore at the Pagoda. There
they were attacked their crews dashed into
the streams to swim ashore, and while float
ing on the water some forty or fifty were
speared and shot; fine sight TO be seen for
foreign soamen and residents
Early on the morning Of the 2lst, it was
evident, from the packed throngs on the great
bridge, and the hubbub around, that some
thing strange and novel and exciting had oc-
Cured. About o'clock, some of the Man
DARN war-boats had come up with two prizes
and two hundred captured pirates. The lat
ter they commenced to land, each man under
the guard Of at least four marines, bearing
drawn swords, spears, match-iocks. or sport
ing gay flags. The captves were in a terri
bic plight, stripped and naked hands tied with
awful tightness behind their backs. and feet
scarcely able to walk while they we're driven
along with the most barbarous savageness.-
Eight or ten had been behoaded on their way
up the river, and two or three just as they
were showed on shore, for showing fight and
their reluctance to move on. The heads of
these untortunates were sIung on poles and
swung before the eyes of the remainder, as a
token Of what awaited them very shortly
When all had been landed, they were march
ed across the bridge to the Northern end, and
on the way, as if to crafty the public gaze,
the heads of four we're deliberately chopped
off, and their corpses flung into the river be-
low
y VI 'Ac uap1tNca were eAecuteu al tue
Northern gate, when the remaining l70 were
carried around to the Southern gate The
work was short; one after the other, the whole
lot were beheaded. and in half an hour the
Judges. troops, and staring mob were dispers-
ed. The executioners, Of whom there were
several, Wed to see who could do the largest
amount of work one succeeded in cutting of
63 heads, for which he would receive what he
would consider q handsome douceur, as SOC
cAsh is given for each capW. Commodor,
Woo, the hero Of the day, went TO the tribu
nal with a blue button, but returned to hi
fleet with a red one honored and applaude,
by all his co-mandarins