Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-02-15
japanese Torture.
1sHI.zEMr 1.-THE STONE roRrURE) !.

1l1S mOQo OF torture Is lQenlcal Win
the Sorobanzeme mentioned in the
Nichi Nichi Shinbun a. applied to some
of the Takekashi mutineers. Five
large pieces of cedar or pine wood,
triangular in shape and about three
feet long, are placed upon platform,
side by side, with the apexes upper
most, and upon them the accused is
made 70 kneel in position which ex-
poses the front of the lower legs to the
edges of the wood. This position, pain
full as it must be, is but the preliminary,
for upon the sufferers thighs are placed,
one at time, pieces Of the Idsu stone,
each weighing sixty pounds. Stones
are slowly added until the accused
yields and makes confession or becomes
! insensible.
HAKo-zEME (Box ToRrURE).
The accused, bound hand and foot,
is placed in crouching posture in q
strongly made box having O movable
lid arranged to fit inside the box and
to be raised or depres, ed at pleasure
Upon the lid of this machine weights
are slowly added until crushing pow
or is acquired, under which nature
must succumb.
TEMBIN-zEME SCALE ToRTURE).
An upright triangle is prepared,
from which depend two ropes attached
to pole, forming an inner triangle ans-
pended from the apex of the other.
The accused is fastened t. the ropes by
his feet and ankles, while each arm,
stretched to its fullest extent, is bound
to the pole below. While the prisoner
is hanging in this position, with head
downward, rotary motion is given to
the rope in one direction sufficient to
give it force to revolve in the other di
rection with great velocity, during
which the body of the accused is beaten
with bamboo poles.
M1DzU-zEME (wArER TORTURED.
The originators of this cruel device
relied upon the torment of thirst as
more powerful than mere corporal suf-
fering. The prisoner is for several days
confined to an extremely salt diet,
without rice or water. When two or
three days have passed the craving for
water becomes incessant, and the suf-
ferings of the tortured man approach
the bounds of insanity. Efforts are
then made to obtain confession by sub
jecting the sufferer to the agony en-
dured by Tantalus when in the midst
of the internal lake whose waters he
could not touch. On all sides the
thirst-distrac.ed prisoner beholds water
water for which he would sacrifice
everything-but which he cannot
touch, except upon the condition OF
confession.
UTsUsU-zEME (DEPRIvAT1cN OF SLEEPY
This is simply permitting the accused
person to sit or recline upon q bed
upon which water is continually drop
ping. AT the appearance of sleep at
PENDANTS, by means of bells, drums,
fire, and other appliances, render re-
pose impossible the sufferer grows
wild and disordered, his mind wanders,
and eventually he becomes a raving
and oftentimes hopeless maniac.
KAMABoKo-zEME.
This (kamaboko) signifies baked
fish" and is significant title for this
mode of torture. A charcoal fire is
made in hole in the ground and COW
cred with q grating. The accused is
then bound, the backs of his legs and
thighs are covered with coating OF
mud or clay, and he is placed in sit
ting posture on the grating. The fire
is then stimulated, the clay dries,
cracks, and is replaced, until the CON.
tinued heat causes it to tear away the
iniamed and burned flesh. This was
considered SO horrible O practice that
it was abolished in 1651.
MoKUBA-zEME 1.-THE WOODEN HoRsE).
This inhuman device equals in cruel
ty the method just described. A wood
en- horse with edged back is prepared
on which the accused is placed in q
nude state. Two executioners then
seize the arms and feet and draw the
sufferer down backward upon the
wooden edge. A machine is also used
for the purpose, by means of which
sufficient force can be applied to dislo-
cate every joint. and to infiict an agon.
izing death upon the unfortu nate
wretch subjected to the torture of the
Mokuba.
HI-zENIE (FIRE).
In cage of green bamboo the &C.
cused, bound hand and foot is sus.
pended, with head downward. This
machine revolves slowly in circle oil
charcoal fires, famed into a ferceness
by the executioners. This torture is
Objectionable on account of the sudden
fatal termination to which it is subject,
the fumes of the charcoal producing
asphyxia.
ABURA-zEME (oIL).
As its name imports, this torture is
simply the application of boiling oil to
the person of the sufferer.
HAsHIao zEME 1.-THE LADDER.
The accused is bound to horizontal
ladder, and the executioners force him
to drink immense quantities of water.
When the swollen body of the victim
gives indication thatno more water can
be taken in, broad and heavy piece OF
wood is used in such manner that the
water is violently driven back in the
direction of the head, and forced out OF
eyes, mouth and nostrils. When this
torture is applied with severity the vic
tim seldom, If ever, RECEIVERS.
HoRAKU-ZEAIE.
This consists in compelliup the ar