Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-04-25
A JAPANESE EXECUTION.

A JAPANESE EXECUTION.
Four Men Exc. ~tel-The Smiling Exc
eutiOnors-Tho Solemn Prosecution
Sad Scenes.
From the San Francisco Bulletin.
The decapitation of four men ut
Tobc,. (Yokohama), for the crime of
stealing some forty rios, is thus de-
scribed by al eyewitness of the scene ::
The execution ground was fenced in
the form of corral, and stood amidst
fields Of waving barley. In one corner
OF this enclosure was mat-shed, and
just outside of it IN Ominous group of
trces--Ominous Mt least to condemned
prisoners, for the fast-decaying skulls
which lie around too plainly tell tho
tale of that sequestered spot. The
birds and dogs have been ut work in
this offensive burying place, and have
unearthed those remnants of the dead.
The dread hour appointed for the
sentenced culprits to expiate
their crimes is seven A. NJ;
somewhat motely group Of foreigners
and natives assembled. While moving
about the spot, We observed prepara-
tions which have been made for the
execution. A horizontal bar, upon
which are four omnibus spikes prof ect-
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 one and half feet,
and some eighteen inches deep Be
side these the poor wretches will have
to kneel when beheaded, that their
heads may fall into them. Near
one CT those holes is a 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 with the chief headsman, a man
apparently fifty or sixty years of age,
we enter the mat shed and wish them
good morning, which is politely return
ed, light cigars and euter into CONVEX
sation regarding the prisoners. We
then casually examine the executioner's
sword, q long, two-handed one, and
doubtless of the best steel. Moving
outside again, We observe the increas-
!
dying throes of the unfortunate men.
THE PROCESSION.
But listen! That mournful chant.
softly waited over the fields of grain
which glow IN the morning sunshine,
betokens the approach of the sad pro.
cession. Nearer and nearer it approach
es us, and as its sorrowful lay is echoed
by the hills and sappices around,
thrill of pain, of sympathy for those on
whom another morn will never bright
en-, il felt by almost every heart that's
there. Now it is within a few wards.
Three men are carrying as many boards,
held aloft on poles, upon which is
written q declaration of the crimes
committed by the culprits; then came
three or four more, having poles with a
cross covered with spikes at the top
emblematical of the prison and justice;
then followed o string of officers and
attendants, in the midst OF whom are
the prisoners very young men.
Three OF them with firmness and
strength, but the fourth, sick and over.
whelmed with distress, is being carried
in kong0, or basket chair.
THE DOOMED MEN.
As they pass through the gate we are
somewhat surprised to hear one of them.
as he walked closed by us, say ohuoo
gazo,insos (good morning). and then
express his opinion that the terrible
death to which he is doomed would re-
semble going to sleep. The three men
(the fourth being in state of semi
insensibility), take long, long gaze at
surrounding objects, and the attend.
ants proceeds to blindfold them,
their arms having been &C.
curely bound behind them before
leaving the Jail. The three men, each
in turn, then gave utterance to a sort
of exLortation and prayer. The miser-
able wretch in the ku,aQo is now
lifted out and placed inside of the hole
on his knees, while two men stand be-
hind him holding his body-but there
is nothing to place his head upon.
Another takes him by the chin to put |
his head in position, which he succeeds |
in doing in minute and half, a de-
lay terribly agonizing to the victim.
THE EXECUTION.
The executioner now steps up, and
smiling like man about to perform a
feat of sport, takes aim, and the next
moment-with a sudden CLEAN of that |
sheening sword and sickening thud
the head, saturated with with blood
rolls into the earth, the blood at the
same time gushing from the headless
body which lay quivering on the
ground. The blood-stained head is
Immediately lifted from it's receptacle
by the hair: and presented to the pub
lie gaze with an air of satisfaction.
Water is then poured over it, the life
ess trunk being covered with straw
mats and removed a short distance
away. Alta given signal another is led |
forth. and kneels at the other hole; the
same scene of blood was again
enacted. The third is now
brought forward, his slaughter differing |
from the other only in the fact that an
other headsman does the work. And
now the fourth-the man particularly
remarkable for his seeming indifer-
ence 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. This
scene of blood is now ended, and four
human heads are upon those ugly
pixies, bleaching in the sun, as a terri
bic warning to law-breakers. But
painful as this recital may be, the jap
anese inflict far greater punishments on
those guilty Of forgery, homicide, &c
crueltinon being quite common.
PORK PACKING.
Omcial Statement of the Operations at
Cincinnati During the Season.
CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 18.-The
Chamber of Commerce packing report
will be made public tomorrow. The
report, exclusive of October, shows the
whole number of hogs packed to have
been 4782, 400, with an average gross