The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-09-23

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We make the following extract
from the letter of a Japan correspon-
dent:
1 ask an official standing near me
where the prisoner is; he points to
small building about quarter Of
mile distant, and tells me that he is
now having his last meal before be-
ING brought up for execution. A
murmur runs through the crowd, and
all ewes are turned to this building,
from whence emerges a little process
sion. 1t passes through the fields,
and haIts before a little shrine, where
the last offering is paid and the last
PRAYER is said. Then it advances
toward us. The officials 90 forward
to the opening in the inclosure set
apart for the entrance Of the prison
er. Arrived there the procession
halts, and a white cloth is bound
around the criminals eyes. They
all enter the inclosure. First came
two men carrying large lanterns, un-
lighted, then four others carrying
long slaves with strangely shaped
iron heads. Several officials, follow
ed by the prisoner, blindfolded, and
with his hands tied behind him, an
attendant at either side of him, but
he walks firmly and unsupported. He
wears no appearance Of bravado, but
there is no trace offear, and his eyes
are smiling. By his dress he evi-
IDENTIFY belongs to the better class.
On his breast is a large paper, on
which is inscribed his crimes. Three
of the officials seat themselves about
six PAGES distant from the appointed
spot to witness the execution. The
mats close to the hole are unrolled,
and he is led and made to kneel
thereon. In every respect he is
treated kindly, and nothing can ex-
ceed the dignity and order Of all the
proceedings. A hand is laid on my
shoulder, and turning, l see the eX-
ecutioner, sword in hand, who polite
ly requests me to allow him to pass.
The prisoner is now made to lean
forward, bringing his head exactly
over the hole, his body being drawn
back on the launches. An Off
cial asks him if he is ready, and
he calmly replies. One of the assis-
tants Sits the dress at the back of
the neck and turns it back over the
shoulders, leaving the neck and up
per portion Of the neck bare. He
then pours little water on the neck,
and then for the only time shudder
passes the poor wretch's flesh, The
executioner then takes the dipper,
and pours water along the blade of
the sword, also wetting the linen
wrapped around the handle, so as to
secure a firm grip. Then he quietly |
moves to the left of the prisoner, who |
is motionless as though stone; two |
assistants stand in front and two be-
hind the kneeling form. There is a
silence as of death on the crowd, the
only sound being the chirping of the
birds. The executioner measures
him, lifts the sword with both hands
shoulder high-a lightning stroke,
given apparently without effort-a
never-to- -be-forgotten "thud''-and
see a red circle, which is throwing
out Jets of blood.
The two assistants in front imme-
diately raise the head from the hole
and put it in the pail of water, taking
the bandage from the eyes, while the
others sit on the body to expel the
blood, and then roll it up and lash it
in the mats, The head is taken from
the pail and placed on the pike, and
the clay packed around the neck.
We approached close to it. It's the
head of q man about twenty-five.
The blanching Of the features is
wonderful, but the face expresses
perfect repose. No pain could have
attended such an instantaneous
death. The torture can only be in
the anticipation. Perhaps fifty Sc I
conds elapsed since the head was /
severed from the body, when, as we '
are gazing at the face, and have {
just taken out my pencil to sketch
the scene, horrid convulsion passes /
over the features--a spasm as of 8
dreadful pain. The eyes and mouth J
partially open, and the tongue is pro- t
truded and withdrawn. A doctor /
present says it is only muscular ac-
ton, but is horribly life-like in ap- |
pearance. We leave as quickly as
possible, glad enough to get away '
from the sight, and feeling sickened i
and disgusted with having satisfied f
a morbid curiosity.