Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-06-03
THE OAT-O'-NINE TAILS.
Terrible Punishment Melted out 10 Con yicts-
Floggtng In the English Penal COlouies =
Muscular Executioner Laying the Blows
on with a swibh-Lashing Boy.
From the Auckland IN. Y, Herald.

| obtained an order from tho gov
ernor of the jail to be present few
weeks ago while three prisoners wh'
were undergoing sentence received
punishment. The doctor was there
too, but beyond few casual remark
that passed nothing was SAID.
looked around, and at a glance saw
the machinery it may be calico
so-which formed the solo furniture
of the yard. On the right stood ,
small wooden shop, which, with th'
opposite wall Of the jail ward, form.
ed a narrow recess. In this stood
the triangles, round about which the
ground was void of grass, and greer
with damp. The triangles are hor.
ribly suggestive things to look at
three leaning poles converging al
the top, and firmly planted in the
ground. Two Of them face out into
the yard, their basis being in the
same straight line. Across these and
between them lies a broad board
pierced with holes, through which a
strap hung loosely down. Higher
up on each pole was similar strap,
and another at the foot of each again.
On the left stood the powerful fellow
who, | learned was the public exc
cutioner-stripped to his shirt, which
was rolled up on his arms, and dis
played an extraordinary mass OF
sinew and strength. Beside him, on
the ground, was box in which were
ranged the Instruments of punish
ment-the ''cat-o'nine tails" There
were sever, Of different sizes long,
knotted, white>thonged things, with
short handles like a stock whip, only
covered with cloth to keep them from
slipping in the hand.
THE FIRST VICTIM.
Turning to warder the governor
gave some order, and the next mo-
meat a man was LIT in through the
iron gate, which was closed behind
him. He was middle-aged, hard
featured fellow, with sullsn face
made more repul5ive by being clean
shaved. "This il his first timo," the
governor whispered to me, adding
the offence for which he was convic-
ted aud sentenced TO be logged. The
man looked at tho executioner for a
moment, and at his order commenced
to strip. Divesting himself of his
hat, coat, and shirt he was led to the
triangIes and the straps passed round
his wrists, ankles, and waist. II was
fer moment as the cold air swept
along the yard. Twenty five" "
cried the warder standing by, and
the executioner took up one Of the
heaviest Goats" from among those in
the box. Standing about SIX feet
behind the prisoner little to the left
he passed his fingers through the
nine tails Of the whip, which, with a
rapid movement, he then brought
across his chest, high above his head,
with horrible "swicsh" and down
with the whole force of bis arm and
weight upon the culprit's back.
There was a shrek of agony, and Ia
livid blue lines like cords the flesh
stood out upon the poor wretch's
shoulders. "One!" cried the warder,
and again the cat swung high IN the
air to descend "a second time. The
piteous moaning which followed the
first blow gave place to another
shrek, intense and long. The deep
blue lines turned red, the blood o0zed
thr( ugh a dozen different cuts, and
the skin began to peel in strips along
his back. 1.-TWO and again the ter
rible instrument came down. Shrek
after shrek rent the air. The sight
WAS acknowledgements As each
blow was dealt the prisoner writbed
in agony at the triangles, and when
the lash felt for the last time and the
straps were loosened that held him,
he tHrned away faint, weak, SCARCELY
recognizable as human, disgraced
and mi rked for life.
AN OLD OFFENDER.
His place was soon reoccupied by
another, whose appealing, terrified
looks told only too plainly what he
suffered. He would have resisted
were it of any use. He bad been there
before, knew what it was, and would
have almost given life to be repreved
Stripped, and strapped TO the TRAN
gles, unlike the prisoner before him
be turned his head over his shoulder
and watched the executioner. There
were the old marks of former fog.
ging on his baok-black spots and
lines left there six months before.
He tried to brave, and bear it; but il
was of no good; tho "swish' sounded
once more, the horrible, knctted
cords swept cuttingly across his back
and with burst of agony be broke
out in long continued shrieka. One
of his legs got twisted with eramp
He tried to stay the lash for min
ute-anything for tlme--anyt thing
for moment of peace. But there
was none; the pitiIess lash descended
till the sentence was carried through
Then, when it was over, he went away
muttering thanks to God, as WI +
bent form and tottering steps they
led him to the cells 1t was the last
time he would enter that yard
and that was his sole relief.
BOY IN AGONY.
There was one more victims
mere lad, sixteen years Of age
had heard him convicted the day
before in court for an offence b.
could scarcely know the nature OF
He was q good-looking little fellow
with q clear skin snd bright blu
eyes. He looked upon it as thrash
ing at schools, walked toward with
light, jaunty step, and stripped a
coolly as il ae were going to plang
into the river, They strapped hin
up, and then there came the orde
once again, "Twenty-fVe." Th
executioner took up lighter cal
with thinner thongs than he had use