, 1874-06-28


il the Rreatent number ever known to be in t
> | prison ut once"
, The vr1tor, in strnying about within tho prist
| incloaurc, came At last ncross what he calls
peculiar spot" devoted 10 the process Of hal
kari
IA little path turns OF to tho right. whic
| conducts you into an open apnco about 80 fe
square, and surrounded OH either aide BY tt
prison. walls. In the centre the earth is raised
few inches, and over the square plot til,
formed is built kind OF shed, or stall. wit
slauting roof. This faces towards another she
or covered platform about dozen paces IN fro,
Of it. Under the aforementioned shed il tho spt
where the condemned Samourai perform 'hhr'
kiru.' and upon the platform mentioned th
| yaconlms sit to SEQ that the thing is PROF
erlY done. There has been no self-executio
there recently-the latest being last year; br
the usual manner OF Its performance was graph
icaly described to us bv tins communicative
! prison-Seeper who conducted us politely around
"a Without going into particulars, however
! / will only say that on p>oprr occasions the tire
| Bides Of the shed arc surrounded with awnings
| and Htraw-mats arc placed in the centre. upol
| which the Samourni seats himself. The official
directly in front. Without much della
| the short sword ia placed upon
| little table in froht Of the victim, and, witt
| solemn dignity. he takes it and draws it across
the pit OF his stomach, more or less deeply, II
the Case may be. In former times it was til,
set !. but At preseut it has deeenerated inte
simply the idea; so that the Iuan takes tht
sword (elther short or long oue), and, wrap
ping paper about the blade. allows only
the point to project: With this (accordioe
to the latest faahion) he gives HIM:
SELF respectable scratch. sufficient tc
show his chlvalry, and then allows tho as-
sistant Who stands behind him to complete the
work by dispatching him as rapidly as possible.
But. as say, this spot and method are but little
used nowadays; either because tha Samourai
distinctions are becoming obliternted or else be-
cause tbs guilty people arc usually Of tha com
mon order. However, do not think that this lit
tie square courtyard OF which SPEAK IL 1t all
lacking in modern horrors, even ii the hara-kiru
Is falling out OF date For while We we're stand
ing underneath the little shed Of such peculiar
associations, tho prisou-keeper directed hs at
teudants to remove a small roof-hke cover placed
over spot few PAGES from
Walking up to the little square hollow in the
shudder, what the p!aco really WAS. It was only
small hole. few feet each way, and half foot
deep, with four beams Of wood lined about it on
either side but u this little space was the most
sic1ening sight ever saw. Straw mats clotted
with human blood lay piled in the hole, while
still attached to them, and both covered
with gore, showed the manner in which
the victims had been blindfoldsd, ere their
heads fell on that terrible spot. Looking down
upon the beam Of wood on which stood. saw
that its end, near the corner, was hacked away
to the depth Of several inches bv the repeated
blows OF the sword which had fallen upon it for
years gone py. It is probable that hundreds Of
1nfortunates hare persisted At this very corner,
for the spot has beeu used for the purpose OF
five Eeruons have been behaded there this
year, only sinco Jan. !, and two were exc
cuted last Thursday, the fresh mark of whose
blood We then saw. inquired it victim was
led up to the spot in tho condition in which It
WAS at the present time. The gaconm SAID yes,
put that he waa blindfolded before he entered
he gate, and could not see what was in store
Tor him, though the odor of the place was quite
enough to tell him. He was made to knee1 at
he fatal corner, and bow his head forward, and
n second or two all was over.
''Just beyond this unpleasant spot, ut tho end
II the courtyard, is a long black sheo, looking
omething like a ooat-housc. only it is mounted
lp higher, and is reached by two flights of stcps.
It frst thought it was kind Of gallery for the
pectatora Of the yaconims; but, on going up !
be steps to the platform above, soon saw BY |
he rings, the pulley and open trap-door, what !
he place really "as+ Il was gallows, built in |
he most approved Jap, or foreign, style, and !
pou which four men may be hung at once;
nd IN fact, fifteen victims hnre aready fallen ]
rom that fatal trap the present year, since the
1t Of January.
"1n order to, explain the madus operanf1i to rs
lore fully, tue prison-keepef caused the rope to
q brought which he placed over one Of the pull
Tvs, aud attached to the iron ring in the usual
specimen Of heap work as any one would ever
eslre for the purpose; the sllp-noose Was also
zcelleut]y made, aud had an ingenious iron
Itch to 1t. Tie trap door was drawn up
.is proper poaition. and secure-
as placed upon It loosely and at pS signal Ithe the
'op fell with d loud thump. mans neck
ou]d thus fall SIX or eight feet and was pretty
ire to be broken. They seldom fail in produc-
s death immediately. The ga]1ows has only
en introduced here recently. and this scaffold
Is erected last year, probably in imitation OF |
reign countries. This manner Of execution Is
It considered quite as bad or disgraceful as de-
pitation, and It will possibly come more and
oro IN vogue.
ut was strange contrast. however, to see
ecution: combining the ancient and modern
LBS on the subject, viz: the spot for perform J
ra-kiru, the hole for decapitation, and the gal
Va for hanging. The Inter is an innovation |
ra, and the three methods are quite az queer | 6
1rure OF Jap and foreign styles Us anything
be met with in more peaceab'e affairs. {
: But we shall hasten ont Of this subject; for
ough I might describe tho old strangling- ! s
sts. with their hidden holes and pulieys aud
me weights, which We saw BY the side Of the !
II, yet think it ia time for uB to step into the
a,d-house at +he entrance and take cup Of
TO refresh ourselves. >
: While We we're slipping our tea, tvo long !
ords in black sheaths, and with black handles, :.
re kindly brought in for our inspection. Lay- !,
aside our cups, We drew out the swords :,
N their ecabbards, and both the edges of G
blades, and the odor which accompa MED ! G
If withdrawal, told distinctly what they we're. u
$50 we're the execution swords. and one Of g
m especially had evidently done good and fre- =
'nt service. Though often sharpened, its q q
% ssaa nicked in so many places (#lere it had q.
lex bone) that 1t WAS somewhat du]led but | Al
w blow oEercomes all obstacles presented by +
hicks. NJ
Justice, and not unfrequently injustice, is ~ ~
. and speedy in Japan. for man ia executed | ci
same day that he is condemned" C1
"
Tho Fate of q Kcg of Hccr. -
be Hamilton College boys, in Cllnton, N. 7. Il
0 celebrating the Fourth OF July few Sum- al
. ago. They had lighted q large bonfre on G.
backgrounds, for the magnitude OF which In
; were largely indebted to tho fence-rals Of
neighboring farmers, and while the couta-