The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-22
CHINESE EXECUTIONS.

These two men, one condemned for
rebellion, and the other for robbery and
IN urder, were executed on the 2lst inst.
at noon, on the "Tsui-shen-kin" wharf,
and within q few yards of Hamburg
Cons uIate, and directly in front of sew
eral other European houses that are stu
ated there. The men were dragged to
the place Of execution so heavily ironed
and manacled that they could not walk
and, being almost starved for some time
pre- viously, they appeared the most mis-
cradle objects Of suffering humanity that
could be imagined-more dead than
alive. They were guarded by about
three hundred Mandarin soldiers, headed
by the Hai-Hong, carrying q Le'eng, or
warrant of The power of life or death,
who, having dressed himself in red
hood and mantle, seated himself at TIA
BILE placed there for the occasion, de-
manded the prisoners to be brought be-
fore birn, which being done, they were
both forced on their knees. The Hal
Hong wrote down their names and Or
dered them to be fiogged-the rebel three
hundred and the other culprit two hun
dred blows with the bamboo. The rebel
having received his hree hundred blows,
and borne them without murnner, was
taken to cross that had been erected for
the purpose, and being securely dashed
to il, in an upright posture, with his
arms extended, the executioner COM
menced his horrible butchery. by first
cutting off the flesh above the eyes next
the ears and then the breasts. Then he
cut through the muscles Of each arm,
laying the silvery white bone bare /; the
flesh not being cut off, but left hanging;
the blood squirting out and actually be-
scattering the executioner at each pulsa-
ton Of the heart. Then the muscles of
the thighs were cut out in the same
manner. After the executioner had per-
formed these dreadful fortunes upon the
poor wretch, he laid his small knife
aside and took another, about ten inches
long and about an inch broad, and cut
gashes on each side of the mans chest,
laying the ribs bare. Then he made
several fourishes with the knife, and
then ran 1t into the poor victims body,
entering Just below the sterhum in the
middle of the chest, to the full extent
of the blade. This thought and hoped
would prove the coup de grace. But
no, for the man still breathed, and the
executioner still continued his bloody
task, cutting dOwnwards with the knife.
and letting out the entrails. He then
slashed and cut open the stomach. Then
giving yell, ran his hand i'm and seized
the mans liver and cut it out, passing
the bleeding, quivering mass to his as
sistant as cody and in as business-like a
manner as though he were opening and
butchering pig. This finished the tor
ture, and the executioner left the victim
in this mutilated state, not yet dead, for
| saw him give several gasps for breath
afterwards. He then cut the sampan
mans head of, at the foot of the cross.
with single blow, and then returned.
and letting loose the rebels head, which
fell forward he decapitated him! Ger
tainly the most merciful stroke he had
given that day. The bodies were ex-
posed on the same wharf, with their
legs tied to posts, for five days afterwards.
to the great annoyance of the Europeans
who occupied the houses adjacent. The
poor rebel bore his inhuman tortures
most manfully; not moan or cry es-
capped him during all the time. The
only movement he made was a slight
quivering of his whole frame. and a
movement OF his head to and fro: other
wise spectator might have questioned
whether he were alive or dead durino
the horrible exhibition. But this is NOT
the first exhibition of this kind we have
been treated to at Annoy during the
month of December. The gunboat
Grasshopper captured nineteen pirates.
at Port Matheson brought them to Amoy
and delivered them up to tie Total.
They were tried, all found guilty. and
condemned to death. But five Of the
number had friends here, who maid
sums Of money to the Total, and pro-
cured their release. This know for a
fact, for l happened to accom- PAW nine.
teen of the prisoners from the Hal hong
prison to the Totals on the day of their
final condemnation and execution.
money having been already paid for
three OF them, and security given for
their good behavior in future, they had
been liberated. When / entered the
Yahmun the prisoners were brought
before the Total, and their names called
over. At this time respectfully dressed
Chinaman came to the front, with his
handkerchief full of rolls of dollars and
| noticed that the Total cast a peculiarlv
longing eye towards the handkercbiei
and becamed very complaisantIy upon
this Chinaman, who performed a verv
short-winded Kotow, and then prese ntea
petition to his ExcelIency, which he
received and read; and in few minutas
servant was ordered to receive the
Almighty Mexicans," and count then,
the petitioner accompanying him. Nh