The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-01-08
Horrors of n Chinese Prison.

Shanghai, says a correspondent, looks
very pretty from the water, but the
vision is dispelled on landing. The
streets arc in some places not more than
six or seven feet wide, and the houses
overhang, so that they nearly touch over
head, utterly shutting out the sunlight;
and, in addition to being narrow, are
reeking with filth. The sedan chairs
are the only means of conveyance used
here. They are carried by two men,
who. whenever they have u customer,
start off on a run, chanting in a sort Of
sing-song tone: " Heavy lugerl Heavy
luger! Oh, ga! heavy luger!h In some
of the principal thoroughfares ] saw
constant stream of sedan chairs, the
bearers chanting all in time and keeping
military. step-and picturesque pro
cession it was.
Shanghai old town is completely
walled in, and the gates are just as /
have seen them in pictures. Over one
gate were the heads Of six criminals,
with the pigtails swinging to and fro
with the breeze. After passing through
this gate / made up lcy mind TO avoid
the disgusting sight and enter the city
by another road, but the gate through
which I passed this time had four heads
over it, ana / am told that all the gates
are decorated in the same manner.
went to see six Chinese pirates be-
headed yesterday. The open. square
where all the executions take place was
filed with Chinese of all ages and con-
ditions, and few Europeans among
them. The prisoners were the most
torlorn starvelings | ever saw, and be-
trayed no more fear at their approaching
fate than if they were to be spectators of
an execution. A huge Tartar officiated
as executioner. He was armed with a
native sword, ard stood on small plat
form in the centre of the square. After
the criminals. with their hands tied be-
hind, had been taken upon the stage
the eXecutioner took one of the pirates
by the arm, brought him to the edge of
the platform, hit him sharp rap with
his hand on the head. which caused the
poor fellow to bow his head, and then
the executoners sword went up, was
poised in the air full half minute, and
with sweep the glittering blade de-
scended, and the poor criminals head
went flying off in one direction, and the
body in another. One by one the others
met their fate in the same way, the Tar
tar making very short, business-like
! job OF it, merely turning to receive the
plaudits of the crowd after each hf ad
rolled off, and responding by grin
which showed every one of his teeth.
But the stolidity of the poor wretches
was beyond description. Not a muscle
quivered, and even when waiting for The
Blade OF the executioner to fall | could
not detect sign of emotion. The crowd
seemed to enjoy the sight immensely,
and set up Il yell of delight at each cut
of the Tartar's sword. am told that
| executions are common here.
Sickened with the sight, | went down
one of the roads. and coming to prison
went in. OF all places in this world,
believe there is not one where so mucl
abiCct wretchedness can be seen as in {
Chinese prison. The criminals SERVING
ont sentences get hut one meal week
from the authorities; the rest of thC
time they are fed by their friends, if they
have any, or by the contributions o
visitors, or they starve. had not mucl
money with me on going in, but came
out penniless, the poor creatures Sc
work-d on my feelings. Some of til,
prisoners had lost hand, others wcr,
heavily ironed, and all wore the same
pinched, starved look. | saw thre
women in process of execution for mur
dcring a man. They were hanged b,
the neck in kind of wooden stocks, 81
arranged that their feet could Just toucl
the ground, and were lett in this condition
till dead. Sometimes death ensues yer
soon, but oftener II day or two will pas
before the poor wretch dies, rs there
no pressure on the neck. | was glad t
get away from this place, too. But til
pitcous tones of the poor prisoners beg
ging for 9 cumshaw "(a presenO ring i
my ears yet.