Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-05-04


Kneeling down before the platform, he
handed the dagger to the condemned, who
reverentially took it, and after having
lifted it with both hands above his head,
placed it on the crimson carpet in front of
him. Then Taxi made deep obeisance,
and in q voice without tremor, and with
out faltering, gave utterance to the follow
ing words in Japanese: 1t was l, and l
alone, that gave orders to fire upon the
foreigners at Kobe, without having re-
ceived from any one the authority to do SO.
/ also fired upon them afterward, when
they tried to escape. Acknowledging my
great sin and my misconduct, shall now
proceed to cut open my bowels, and beg
the gentlemen present to do me the honor
o bear witne So to the execution Of the
deed"
Having said this, he stopped down, and
loosening his clothing, let it fall down so
that it exposed his body down to the loins.
He took care to tie the sleeves of his tunic
together below and behind the knees, to
prevent his falling backwards, as Japan
csc nobleman must always fall upon his
face, according to the creed of the nobility.
Then taking up the dagger and removing
the paper covering, he glanced for a mo-
ment upon the glittering blade with-an ex-
preston in his face as if he were for the
last time on earth collecting his thoughts
and bidding, in his mind. all that he loved
farewell. Then glancing up again and
looking proudly round upon the specta
tors, he firmly grasped the hilt, and, bury
ing the steel in the pit of the stomach,
near the left side, drew it across the stom-
ach toward the right, making q fearful
cash. But not content herewith, he turn
ed the knife in the wound and made an
incision upward about two inches in
length.
While this horrible deed took place, his
mouth was firmly set and not sound was
heard, while his eyes seemed to stare at
the ceiling. For moment, but moment
only, an expression of unutterable pain
and agony came over his face, and, shut
ting the eyes he staggered and tumbled
forward At the same moment the "Kai-
shaku," who had been watching for this
opportunity, sprung to his feet; sword
glittered in his hands, sharp, cutting
sound came through the air, then an ugly
dull blow and heavy fall and the h, ad
of Taxi ZenZaburo was severed from its
mutilated trunk.
The deep and profound stiffness of
death ensued, interrupted only by the
sound of blood, as it trickled from the
headless body upon the ground below.
Every face was pale with fear and horror
II was moment never TO be forgotten, and
which hope l may never again have oc-
casion to see repeated.
The Kaishaku," after making a deep
obeisance, wiped off his sword and de
scended from the platform, after which the
dagger, covered with blood and gore, was
lifted from the floor, where it had fallen,
and carried away with great deal Of Ger
emory, to be presented as bloody witness
of the just and faithful execution OF the
orders Of Mikado and demands of the
law
The two mandarins who had represent
ed the Mikado now left their places, and,
approaching us, asked us if we were fully
satisfied that the sentence of death upon
Taxi ZenZaburo had been faithfully exc
cuted, and after having given our testimo-
ny, the ceremony was over AID we left the
temple.
The whole horrible transaction, from
beginning to end, bore witness of the mar
velous cold -bloodedness and the intense
feeling of caste and honor that form such
a distinguished trait in the character of
japanese nobleman. In this instance. at
least, no substitute was used; the culprit
executed was Taxi Zenzaburo himself,
whom l and several others knew perfectly
well by sight While Mortified at the
crime he had committed and at his fearful
punishment, we could not but admire the
candOr with which he admitted his sin,
which was exclusively his own, and the
stolidity and unflinching firmness with
which he perpetrated the horrible penalty
upon himself
No less wonderful to behold was the
energy and dexterity with which the
Kaishaku fulfilled his part Of the duty. No
fact could better prove what an eminent
teacher he had had in Taxi Every Sam
urai, or gentleman Of the military clan or
service, is taught from earliest childhood
to consider hara. kiri as something by
which he may perhaps at some time or
other be compelled TO assist" either in
the capacity as Kaishaku, or as the indi-
vidual upon whose body the operationis to
be performed. The boys Of the noble
families are taught that the performance of
hara kiri, when properly done, according
to the rules on this subject handed down
from generation to generation, will atone
for every crime and obliterate any spot
from stained escutcheon. This, perhaps,
accounts for the frequency with which
this "pastime is sometimes INDUCED in
by prominent members of the japanese