The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-20


An Instrument Of Torture.
The knout, says writes who saw it
used in Russia consists OF handle
about n foot and a halflong, with piece
OF twisted blue OF about tho same length.
To .his blue is attached, by loop piece
a thong, prepared to almost metallic
hardness, in length about four or five
feet, perfectly fiat, and little more than
an inch broad. II is changed after every
six or eight blows, rs it is considered un-
Ct for use when it becomes ut all soft.
Tho principal executioner, having
placed himself within five or six feet
OF the prisoner, with the throng OF
the knout on the ground, rather be.
hind him, then drew II forward, missing
it slowly and steadily till it had attained
the proper elevation, when he brought
it down with tremendous force upon the
middle of the criminals back leaving n
deep crimson mark Of nearly an inch
in breadth, extending from his neck to
the waistband Of his trowsers. Upon re-.
ceiving the blow, the wretch uttered 4
scream, or rather Il yell Of agony, the in
tensity of which ] never heard APP
preached, while every fibre OF his body
seemed in violent and instantaneous
contorIion. With scarcely any interval,
the blow was repeated, followed by the
came result, the same frightful yell, the
samo appalling shudder. The second
mark appeared about an inch from, and
parallel to the first; third, fourth, and
fifth blow followed in quick succession,
when the operator stepped aside aud re-.
signed his place to his assistant, The
blows from tho latter were light, when
compared with those inflicted by the el-
der executioner, more SO, indeed, than
the difference between their size and
strength, great as 1t was seemed to JUS
tiiy.
After giving eight blows, the assistant
retired in his turn, when his principal,
who in the meantime had fitted on n
fresh throDg, resumed the dreadful task.
He was again succeeded by the young
man, who in like manner had renewed
the efficacy OF his weapon by n similar
process Of renovation. In this manner
did they continue mutually relieving one
another, and, ut each relHy adding a new
thrOng, till the destined number Of blows
were inflicted on the lacerated back OF
the parricide. About the fifteenth stroke,
his struggles having partially losened the
fastcninqs, it was found necessary to
stop and have them fixed moro firmly.
From the first to the twentieth blow
each was followed by the same scream
and conyuls:ons; from the twentieth till
the fiitieth both gradually became weak
cr--tho latter had, indeed, dcgenerated
into n sort of shivering After the ff.
tieth, both ceased, the criminals head
fell to one side, and though each touch
Of the knout brought with it convul.
sive shudder, he seemed to be perfectly
unconscious Of pain
The punishment concluded, the chief
executioner took some instruments from
his bag and with them marked the male
factor on the forehead, on eacli cheek,
and on tho chin. This, / understand,
was merely n form typical Of branding,
which, as well rs Sitting the nostrils,
was always inflicted upon knouted
criminal until the humanity Of the En-
peror Alexander prompted him TO abol.
ish both practices. The marks nre now
made with q cold instrument, and are, l
believe, easily cfihted
The criminals back now exhibited
most horrid spectacle. II was one man
gled hloated mass, Of q deep crimson
hue; yet, still mangled as Il was, no
blood ran from it. A common cart liav
ing been drawn up into the square, the
exeeutioners united the strip by which
the maleiactor was bound to the stake,
and, with the assistance Of the guards,
carried him to and placed him in the
cart, throwing his shirt lightly over him,
then lis cation, then, over all, mat
When removed from the stake he was
quite insensible; SO much so that l did
not suppose hO would survive until he
reached the hospital; but | was mistaken,
for upon observing him attentiyOly, after
he had been placed in the cart, per
ceiyed he had 60 for recovered as to at
tempt to move ono arm. / could not
observe any surgeon attending the exc.
cution, nor indeed would 1t have been Of
any consequences ,as tho number ofstripes
is specified, andwhateyer happens, they
must be administered.
He was driven Of to prison with tho
same guards and attendants as Mt first
tho whoie affair from the arrival till de.
parture Of the prisoner, not lasting twen.
tv minutes. What became OF him after.
ward / could not learn, but / have little
doubt that he died in o few days
from the fever and modification that
we're likely, or certain, to follow such SO.
yero injury. On the event Of his reeoy-
cry, he would be sent to end his life in
tie mines of Siberia, and this could
scarcely bo called the least part Of his
punishment. Such Is the knout.