Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-04-11
A japanese Execution.

The decapitation OF four men mt lobe
(Yokohama), for the crime of stealing
forty rios, is thus described by an eve
witness OF the scene The execution
ground was fenced in the form of a
corral, and stood amidst fields of waving
barley. In one corner of this enclosure
Yves a mat-shed, and just outside of it
an ominous group of trees-ominous at
least to condemned prisoners, for the
fast-decaying skulls which lie around too
plainly tell the tale of that sequestered
spot. The birds and dogs have been at
work in the offensive bulying place, and
have unearthed those remnants of the
dead, The dread hour appointed Tor
the sentenced culprits to expiate their
crimes, is 7 Am. But at six numerous
and somewhat motley group of foreign
ers and natives assembled. While NOV
ing about the spot, we observed propa-
ratlons which have been made for the
execution. A horizontal bar, upon
which are four ominous spikes project
ing upward-and wherein the heads Of
the doomed criminals will be bleaching
in the sun, for two or three days-stands
about two yards from the fence. Op.
posite to this are two holes in the
ground, the dimensions Of which are
about three feet by /! feet, and some
10 inches deep. Beside these the poor
wretches will have to kneel when be-
headed, that their heads may fall into
them. Near one of these holes is q
white handkerchief on a staff. In the
hut sit the executioners complacently
awaiting the arrival of the procession
from the prison. Anxious to have chat
withIthe iefheadsman, man apparent-
ly fifty or sixty years of age, we enter
the nIat.shed and wish thom good morn
ing, which is politely returned, light
cigars and enter into q conversation re-
gardng the prisoners. We then casual
ly examine the executioners sword, n
long wo-handled one, and doubtless OF
the best steel. Moving outside again,
we observe the increasing concoursc
anxious to witness the dying throes Of
the unfortunate men.
But listen ! that mournful chant, soft.
ly waited over the fields of grain which
glow in the morning sunshine, betokens
the approach Of the sad procession
Nearer and nearer it approaches lis, aud
as its sorrowful lay is echoed by the hills
and sappices around, a thrill of pain, Of
sympathy for those on whom another
morn will never brighten, is felt by all
most every heart that's there. Now il
is within few yards. Three men are
carrying as many boards, held aloft or
poles, upon which is written declar
alton of the crime committed by thu
culprits then came three or four more
having poles with cross covered witt
spikes at the top-emblematical of tn,
prison and justice then follow a string
of officers and attendants, in the mids
OF whom are the prisoners-four yer,
young men. Three Of them with firm
ness and strength, but the fourth, sicl
and overwhelmed with distress, is being
carried in katgo, or basket chair.
As they pass through the gate, we ar,
somewhat surprised to hear one of them
MS he walks close by US, say, ohago gaz
dnimas! good morning. md then cx
press his opinion that the terrible deatl
to which he is doomed would resemble
going to sleep. The three men 9TH,
fourth being in state OF semi,insensi
bility) take a long, long gaze at sur
rounding objects, and the attendants pro
coed to blindfsld theu, THEN arms hay
ing been securely bound behind then
before leaving the jail. The three men
each in turn, then gave utterance to /
sort of cxhortation and prayer TIL,
miserable wretch in the kmgo is nov
lifted out and placed inside the hole or
his knees, while two men stand behint
him holding his body-but there is moth
ing to place his head upon. Anothc
takes him by the chin to put his heat
in position, which he succeeds in doing
in minute and hoIE, delay ternbl;
agonizing to the victim.
The executioner now steps up, and
smiling like man about to perform ,
feat Of sport, takes aim, and the mex
moment-with a sudden CLEAN OF tina
sheening sword and q sickening thud =
the head, saturated with blood, rolls into
the earth, the blood ut the same time
gushing from the hcadless body which
lny quiyering on the ground. The
blood-stained head is Immediately lifted
from its receptacle by the hair, and pre-
sented to the public gaze with an air O.
satisfaction. Water IS then poured ovel
it, the lifeless trunk being covered witt
straw-mats and removed o short distance
away. At a given sign another is lee
forth, and knesls at the other hole the
same scene of blood was again enacted
The third is now brought forward, his
slaughter differing from the others only
in the fact that another headsman does
the work. And now the fourth-the man
particularly remarkable for his seeming
indifference to the horrible fate which
awaited him-steps up to play his part
in the dreadful tragedy. Another aim
another CLEAN of that terrible weapon
Of death, and the last victim sinks to the
earth, "asleep"-asleep in death. Thi.
scene Of blood is now ended, and four
human heads are upon those ugly spikes,
bleaching in the sun, as n terrible warn.
Tag tolaw breakers. But painful as this
recital may be, the japanese inhict far
greater punishments on those guilty OF
forgery, homicide, ETC., crucifxion being
quite common.
LARGE OYSTERS. A friend who well
coined Thackery to America in 1862,
TOLLS Of n rotbar formidable srrnriea ba