The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-08-12
Horrors Of & Chinese Prison.

shanghai, says 4 correspondent, looks
very pretty from the water, but the Wis
ion is dispelled on landing. TIE streets
are in ONE places not more than SIX or
seven feet wide, and the houses over
hang, s 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 10y two men,
who, whenever they get a. customer,
start of on a run, chanting in a sort of
~sing-song tone, Heavy luger Heavy
luger Oh ga Heavy luge, = In
one of the principal thoroughfares 1 saw
a constant stream Of sedan chairs, the
bearers chanting all in time and keep
ing military step, and a picturesque pro
~cession it was.
Shanghai old town is completely
walled in and the gates are just as l
have seen them in pictures. Over one
gate was the heads Of siX criminals with
the pigtails swinging TO and fro with
the breeze. After passing through the
gate l Made up my mind TO avoid the
disgusting sight, and enter The city by
another road, but the gate through
which | passed this time had four heads
over it, and | 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
filled with Chinese of all ages and con-
ditions, and a few Europeans among
them. The prisoners were the most
foriorn staryelings | ever saw, and be-
traved no more fear at their approach
ing fate than ii they were to be specta-
tors Of an execution. A huge Tartar
ofiiciated as executioner. He was armed
with a native sword ard stood or. a
small platform IN the center Of the
square. After the criminals. with their
hands tied behind them, had been taken
upon the stage, the executioner took II
of the pirates by the arm, brought him
to the edge Of the platform, hit him Il
sharp rap with his hand on the head,
which caused the poor fellow to how his
head, and then the eXecutioner's sword
went W, was poised in The air a full
minute, and with q sweep the glittering
blade descended, and The criminals
head went flying Off in N direction,
and the body in another. One by one
the others met their fate IN the same
way, the Tartar making a very short
business-like JOB of it, merely farming TO
receive the plsudits OF the crowd after
each head rolled OFF, ard responding by
a grin which showed every one Of his
teeth. But the stolidity Of the poor
wretches was beyond description. Not
q muscle quivered, and even when wait
ing for the blade of the executioper to
fail | could not detect a sign Of emo
ton. The crowd seemed to ENJOY the
sight immensely, and set up n yell OF de-
light at each cut OF the Tartar's sword.
| am told tina. executions are common
here.
Sickened with the sight, ] went down
one OF the roads, and coming tn a prison,
went in. OF all places in this world, 1
believe there there is not one where SO
much ahiect wretchedness can be seen as
in a Chinese prison. The prisoners
serving out sentences get but II meal a
week from the authorities; the rest of
the time they are fed by their friends, if
they have any, or by the contributions
of visitors or they starve. l had not
much money with me on going in, but
came N penniless, the poor creatures
so worked on my feelings. Some Of the
prisoners had lost a hand, others were
heavily .roned, and all wore the sam
punched, starved look. saw three
women in process of execution for mar
dering a man. They were hanged by
the neck in a sort OF wooden stocks, so
arranged that their feet just touched
the ground, and were left in this condi-
ton till dead. Sometimes death ensues
very soon, but oftener q day or two
passes before the poor wretch dies, as
there is no pressure on the neck. l was
glad to get away from this place, too.
But the piteous tones OF the poor prison
ers begging for ~cumshaw," IA PRESENT.
ring in my ears yet.