Connecticut western news., 1872-05-24
An Instrument of Torture.

I
 The knout, says 0 writes who saw il used in Russia consists of handle about a foot and half long, with piece of twisted blue of about the same length To this blue is attached, by. a loop piece thong, prepared to almost metallic hardness, in length about four or five feet, perfectly fat, and little more than an inch broad. It is changed after every six or eight blows, as it is considered un' fit for use when 1t becomes at all soft.
 The principal executioner, having placed himself within five CT six feet of the prisoner, with the throng of the knout on the ground, rather be. hind him, then drew it forward, raising it slowly and steadily till it had attained the proper elevation, when he brought 1t down with tremendous force upon the middle of the criminals back leaving a 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 a scream, or rather yell of agony, the in- tensity of which I never heard ap- preached. while every fibre of his body seemed in violent and instantaneous contortion. With scarcely any interval, the blow was repeated, followed by the same result, the same frightful yell, the same 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 and re- signed his place to his assistant. The blows from the 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 it was seemed to jus tify. a.- .-5
 After giving eight blows, the assistant retired in his turn, when his principal, who in the meantime had fitted on a fresh throng, resumed the dreadful task. He was again succeeded by the young man, who in like manner had renewed the efficacy of his weapon by similar process of renovation. In this manner did they continue mutually relieving one another, and, at each relay adding 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 fastenings, it was found necessary to stop and have them fixed more firmly.
 From the first to the twentieth blow each was followed by the same scream and convuls;ons; from the twentieth till the fiftieth both gradually became weak er-the latter had, indeed, degenerated into sort of sh1vering. After the if 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. .~1
 The punishment concluded, the chief executioner took some instruments from his bag and with them marked the male factor on the forehead, on each cheek, and on the chin. This, understand, was merely form typical of branding, which, as well as slitting the nostlils, was always inflicted upon knouted criminal until the humanity of the En- peror Alexander prompted him to abol- ish both practices. The marks are now made with cold instrument, and are, l believe, easily effaced.
 The criminals back now exhibited a most horrid spectacle. It was one man. gled bloated mass, of deep crimson hue; yet, still mangled as it was, no blood ran from it. A common cart hay ing been drawn up into the square, the executioners united the strap by which the malefactor was bound to the stake, and, with the assistance of the guards carried him to and placed him in the cart, throwing hisshirt lightly over him, then his cation, then, over all, mat. When removed from the stake he was quite insensible; so much go that did not suppose he would survive until he reached the hospital; but I was mistaken, for upon observing him attentively, after he had been placed in the cart, per. ceived he had so far recovered as to at tempt to move one arm. could not observe any surgeon attending the exc | cution, nor indeed would it have been ol any consequen ce, ,as the number of stripes is specified, andwhatever happens, they must be administered. -.r He was driven off to prison with the same guards and attendants as at first the whore affair from the arrival till de- parture of the prisoner, not lasting twen. 1 ty minutes. What became of him after. ward could not learn, but have little doubt that he died in few days from the fever and modification that were likely, or certain, to follow such SC were injury. On the event of bis recov cry, he would be sent to end his life in the mines of Siberia, and this could scarcely be called the least part of his punishment. Such is the knout.