The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-04-10
EXECUTION.

confined to his BED for three daye, but is now
on the mend. b.
Il JAPANESE EXECUTION.
Dissemination OF -Four Thieves-A
strange and Horrible Scene.
A japan correspondent Of the San Francisco
Bulletin, gives the following account Of the
decapItatlon of four men at Yokohama for
the crime of stealing some forty rios lin value
about as many dollars:)
The execution ground was fenced IN the
form of q corral, and stood amidst helds OF
wayIpe barley. In one corner OF this enclos-
ure was q mat-shed, and just outside Of 1t an
omlnous group Of trees-ominous at least, 10
Condemned prisoners, for the fast-decaylng
skulls which lie around too plainly tell the
tale If that sequestered spot. the Dlrds ana
dogs have been at work IN thls onenslVe
burying-place, aud have unearthed those rem
nants OF the dead. The dread hour appoint
ed for the sentenced culprits to expiate their
crimes is 7 a. NJ, and we hnd that II
wants thirty minutes OF that hour YET.
But already o numerous and somewhat
motley group of foreigners and natives are
assembled, and some OF the more callous H.
dulee In unseemly conversation and rude
Jokes. While moving about the spot We OBJ
serve the preparations which have been made
for the execution. A horizontal bar, upon
which are four ominous spikes projecting up
Ward-and wherein 1t is readily urmised the
heads of the doomed criminals will be bleach
Ing in the sun tor Two or three ~days-stands
about two yards from the fence, near the mat
shed on one side and the gate on The otner.
Opposite to this are two holes In the ground,
the dimensions of which are about three leet
by one and a half feet, and some eighteen
- n..ta1 xhnoo fha nnnr yUrQfnhl9
viii have to kneel when b%eheaded, that their
heads MAY fall into them; they also receive
their blood. There is a number OF stray
mats lying near, In which, We are TOTO,
the bodies will be wrapped and buried.
Near one of these notes.-the one Wnere
the executioner Will hrst perform Tue san,
culinary duty of his revolving ofdceLis q
white handkerchief on q staff. Thus 1t Will be
seen that the arrangements are neither elaoo-
rate nor pervaded by that mournful air Wh1cn
should characterize The occasion. In the nut
sits the execulioners and their astenoanss,
complacently awaiting the arrival OF the sor-
roWiul procession from the prison. ANXIOUS
to have q chat with the chief headsrnan, q
man apparently fifty or sixty years OF age. we
enter the mat-shed, and wish them good
morning, which ia politely returned, light
cigars and enter into conversation regarding
the prisoners. We then casually examinea
the executioner's sword, a long, two-handed
one. and doubtless Of the best steel, and re-
ceIyed an Invitation to look over the prison
on some future occasion. Moving outside
AGAIN. we observed the increasing concourse
anxious to witness the dying throes OF the un-
fortunate men.
THE PROCESSION.
But. listen (! that mournful chant, softly
waited DER the fields OF grain which glow 10
the morning sunshine, betokens the approach
of the sad procession. Nearer and nearer,
though elowly, 1t approaches us, and, as lLs
sorrowful lay is echoed by the hills and sap
pIces around, a thrill Of pain, of sympathy for
those on whom another sun, another morn,
will never brighten, is felt by almost every
heart that's there. Now II is within q few
wards, Three men are carrying as many
boards, held aloft on poles, upon which 10 WITT
ten a declaration OF the crimes committed by
the cnlprite: then came three or four more,
having poles with q cross covered with spikes
at me top-emblematical Of the prison and
iustIce-then follow q string OF officers ana
attendants, In the midst OF whom are the
prisoners -four very young men-eacn dressed
In q llghtcolored k,1ne1o-a long aress ias,
tened at the waist with q sash or girdle, and
Contrasting strangely with the darker attire or
the others. Three OF them walk with frmness
and strength, but the fourth, sick and over
wheImed with distress, is being carried 10 q
Eanoo or basket chair, in which the common
people of Japan travel, being borne along by
TIE DOOMED MEN.
Az they pass through the gate, webbing
inside the fence-see plainly each man as ne
one of them, as he walks close by us, say,
ohaoo ouzaninas ! (good morning. In a calm,
natural tone of voice, and then express his
opinion that the terrible death to which he Is
doomed weuld resemble going to sleep; ne
evidently had no fear OF death. me tnree
- IkSo co,,tb hoin0 In q 1tata OF Soml-1Q-
sensibility) take q long, long gaze at surround
inc objects. and the attendant then proceeds
70 blindfold them, their arms having been
securely tied behind them before leaving Inc
iail. The three men, each in turn, tnen give
exclamation to 8 sort OF exhortatlon and 8
nrsver. The miserable wretch 10 the kang0
IL now lifted out and placed inside the hole on
his knees, while two men stand Dehlno hlm
holding his body-but there Ia nothing to
Mace bis head upon. Another then takes him
by the chin to put his head into position,
which he succeeds 10 doing IN q minute aaa u
halt, q delay terribly agonizlng TO tne Victm'
THE EXECUTION.
The executloner now steps up, and, smiling
like a man about to perform q feat or sport,
T takes aim, and the next momenf-Wlth q
sudden CLEAN of that sheentng sword and q
siekenino thud-the head, saturated With
blood, rolls into the earth, the blood at Inc
same time gushing from the headless body
/ which lay qulVerlng Oh Gne gr9uuo; ihe
blood.stained head Is Immediately lifted from
irs receptacle by the hair and presented to
the public gaze with an air Of satisfaction.
Water is then poured over 1t, the ifeless
trunk being covered with straw mats and re.
moved q short distance away. at q given
sim another is led forth, and kneels at the
other hole. The same scene ofblood was agaia
enacted. The third is now brought forward,
bis slaughter differing from the others only only
r In the fact That another neaosman goes
: the work; but be fails to cut so clearly as
q did the old man., the first stroke of
. the sword leaving The head hanging by the
-, n%eek@qulok as It thought yS / Ian another e. s stroke Dol IL giys1a
, ahat m the first stroke of the sword The blood
; spurted from this mans neck a distance OF
three or four yards, causing a few spectators
j to step quickly back. And now the fourlh1a
i man particularly remarkable for ms seeming
. indifference to the horrible fate which awaited
! him-steps up to play bis part 10 this dreadful
> traoedT. Another aIm-another gleam Of that