Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-05-17
IMPLEMENT.
One OF the Horrible Modes OF japanese
Punishment.

Punishment.
One morning while | was at Yoko-
hama. was informed that criminal
was about to be publicly put to death,
and the morbid curiosity which has
more or less strong hold upon most
of us induced me to 60 forth and wit
ness the execution. This is what
saw When | reached the place APP
pointed for carrying into effect the
capital sentence, the unfortunate con-
yict, fine looking Japanese, in the
prime Of youth and strength, was stand
ing under huge post in the middle of
y little posse Of guards. The post had
cross piece. Nearly nude, he was
standing erect, but as motionless as a
statue, while his fearless, but dreamy
eyes, gazed straight into the distance
before him, as if he was gazing at some
far off object looming upon horizon,
visible only to his distracted vision.
There was no token Of terror in his de-
termined face, no sign Of shrinking in
his quiescent, but tensely strung body.
Presently there was q movement among
the little knot of those surrounding
there strobe into the circle q gaunt, re-
pulsive looking native, clad from head
to foot in dress of dingy yellow. The
executioner, for it was he, was accom-
panied by couple of assistants, who
carried some have dozen long, round
bamboo rods, about II couple Of fingers
thick at their largest end, and tapering
to half that size ut the other, which
was sharply pointed. The rods were
laid upon the ground and the triIity of
death clapped hold of the statue before
them. In tree the human cfiigv,
which made no attempt at resistance,
and whom so far as | observed, never
opened his lips, was grimly dangling on
the post, his arms stretched out right
and left along the cross piece. There
was now slight pause. The execu-
TONERS dalicd with the bamboos, and
the poor creature spread eagled on the
post, still looking into the shadowy dis
lance, still was dumb; but thought |
could detect IL yellow pallor stealing
over his face. Perhaps he was collect
ing all his resolution to meet the ter
ribe ordeal he knew was close upon
him. The principle executioner, who
meanwhile had selected couple Of
bamboos to his mind, now stepped to
the left side Of the expected victim,
spat upon the point Of one Of his
weapons, and with II twisting, pushing
motion, thrust it easily into the flesh.
about half way between the hip and
armpit. The poor wretch upon the
cross turned his gaze slowly upon his
tormentors and his lips slightly opened.
But he made no struggle; he uttered
no cry. His resolution, his courage were
superhuman. Hooked ut the execution
CT. He was calmly continuing 70
push and wrigglc the bamboo further
and further into the body. In couple OF
minutes, though il seemed much longer,
the bloody point OF the instrument
emerged from the top OF the sufferers
shoulder. There was II slight excla-
nation Of satisfaction from the crowd
just the sort of hum that escapes
from those Watching II daring swimmer
when lis head appears above the SUR
face after long dive-and the fond ut
the other end of the bamboo stopped
wriggling, let 90 his hold and stepped
back. Now, | thought, he is going to
give the poor creature his coup de 9ntce.
Not il bit Of it. He crossed to the
other side of the post, calmly inserted
n second weapon III the same spot III
the sufferers other flank, and worked
away till it, too, came out above the
armpit. All this time not single
groan, not one despairing cry for
mercy escaped the man thus doubly
impaled His head dropped upon his
chest, and his eyes were half closed,
but hc was evidently alive and CON
scious. AT this moment, tony amaze
ment, the eNccutioner and his assistants,
picking up the unused bamboos, began
to walk away. "What," | asked, rs
the execution over? Are they going to
leave the man i'll that fearful agony r.
40, yes" was told, call is over. J"
The criminal is finished with. He will
die presently, in M hour, two hours. or
as he seems very strong, perhaps not
till nightfall; but nobody will touch
him any more. The bamboos will be
lef. III him, and when lie is exhausted
he will expire. could bear no more
| was powerless to interfere, but sick mt
heart, | turned on my heel loathing
the barbarous cruelty had just wit
messed, and cursing the damnable civili-
zation that permitted it. l learned
afterwards that the unfortunate wretch
had fingered ten long hours before
death (Which in Japan would seem rs
brutal ia JUSTICE remembered and re-
leased him.
His slow death is accounted for by
the fact that II Japanese eNecutioner is
carefully taught to avoid the vital
organs of the criminal he has TO inn
pale. The more slowly the victim *