The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-03-18
THE CAT-O'NTNE-TAILS.

From the Auckland New Zealand) Heraldl
Turning to warder the Governor
gave some order, and the next moment a
man was let in through the iron gate,
which closed behind him. He was a
middle-aged, hard-featured fellow, with
q sullen face made more repulsive by be-
ing clean shaved. ''Thls is his first
time" the Governor whispered to me,
adding the offense for which he was con-
victed and fogged. The man looked at
the executioner for moment, and at his
order commenced to strip. Divestlng
himself of his hat, coat and shirt, he was
led to the triangles and the straps passed
round his wrists, ankles and waist. It
was impossible to move. He shuddered
for 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 3" cats 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 up over his head,
with a horrible ''swish, and down with
the whole force Of his arm and weight
upon the culprit's back. There was
shrek Of agony, and in ivid blue lines
like cords, the flesh stood out upon the
poor wretch's shoulders. 'One !" cried
the warden, and again the cat swung
high up in the air to descend a second
time The piteous moaning which fol-
lowed the first blow gave place to anoth
er shrek, intense and long. The deep
blue lines turned red, and blood oozed
through q dozen different cuts, and the
skin began to peel in strips along his
back. "Two!' and again the terrible
instrument came down. Shrek after
shrek rent the air. The sight was sick
ening-horrible. AS each blow was dealt
the prisoner writhed in agony at the tri-
angles, and when the lash fell for the last
time and the straps were lQosed that held
him, he turned away faint, weak, scarce
ly recognizable as human, disgraced and
marked for life.
His place was soon reoccupied by an
other, whose appealing, terrified looks
told only too plainly what he had 9uf-
fered He would have resisted were it
of any use. He had been there before,
knew what it was, and would have al
most given life to be reprieved. Stripped
and strapped to the triangles, unlike the
prisoner before him, he turned his head
over his shoulder and watched the ex-
ecutioner. There were marks Of q fo- mer
fogging on his back-black spots and
lines-left there six months before He
tried to be brave, and bear it but it was
40 good; the "swish" sounded once
more, the horrible, knotted cords swept
cuttingly across his back, and with
burst OF agony, he broke out in long
continued shrieks. One of his legs got
twisted with cramp. He tried to stay
the lash for minute-any thing for
time-anything for one moment Of peace.
But there was none the pitiless lash
descended till the sentence was carried
through. Then, when it was over, he
went away, muttering thanks to God, as
with bent form and lettering steps they
led him to the cells. It was the last time
he would enter that yard-and that was
his sole relief.
There was one more victim-a mere
lad, sixteen years of age. [ had heard
him convicted the day before in court for
an ofense he could scarcely know the
nature Of. He was a good-looking little
fellow, with a clear skin and bright blue
eyes. He looked upon it all as thrash
ing at school, walked forward with
light, jaunty step, and stripped as coolly
as if he we're going to plunge into the
river. They strapped him up, and then
there came the order once again,
"Twenty-tive. " The executioner took
up lighter cat, with thinner thongs
than those lie had used before. It whis-
tied for moment in the air, and then
the fair, white skin of the boy was walled,
and Jivid, and blue. There was a sud
den jerk Of the body, quick drawing
of the breath that made the chest ex-
pand and the ribs stand out more prom
inent. A second blow, and still no cry.
He was game and would see it out. At
the third the pent up suffering burst out,
and with yell [ shall never forget, the
lads head was thrown back, and he
wrenched at the wrist-straps till they al
most cut the flesh upon his arms. Once
more-another blow-again fol-
lowed by heartrending cries. Another
g For Gods sake ! Oh, Christ God
Let me go" There was a quick, chok-
ing, gasping sound. His head fell back,
and all was silent save for a horrible
sugging in the throat as each blow fell
upon his streaming back. They loosed
the straps and led him from the yard
scarcely conscious. Thank God, 1T was
over. $50 that is how they fog" said
[. eyes it isn't pleasant, is it," and
we left the place.
A Clergyman Taken In.
A rather amusing incident occurred re-
Gently to reverend gentleman, who is
a popular preacher in a city not more
than twenty miles away. He went to
have his likeness taken at a photograph