The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-15
MISSIONARY AND MINER.
A Little Disagreement Concerning Execu-
fiOn of Criminals in Siam.

- AiIu" disagreement concerning Execu-
tiOn of Criminals in Siam.
Colonel F. A. Bnrr in Philadelphia Press
The seat of honor and pleasure in Jour
ney overland is by the driver and there is
always scramble for it, and the one who
succeeds in securing it is regarded as lucky
fellow. got left in my contest for a seat on
top. and found myself recently inside of the
stage, with clergyman and man whom I
took for a miner, during a trip to Silver City,
N NJ. The preacher ana l sat on the back
seat and the native sat facing u.s. He was
dressed in the regulation costume of the
country. Dark pants stuck in his boots and
held up by a six-shooter buckled around the
waist, blue flannel shirt, flaming red neck
tie and a great sombrero. knife was stuck
In his boot and he carried Winchester rifle
on the seat beside him. Taking him all in
all, he was about as ugly looking specimen
OF humanity as have met. As the stage
rolled along, the miner looked out Of the
window, as ifin deep thought. The preacher
and l entered into conversation, during
which he asked my business. l told him,
when he asked:
DO the great papers buy literary articles?"
Eyes, sir, when they are good'
do they pay for them hberally?"
They do; when they accept the articles"
We'll, have got some very interesting
subjects / could write about" he continued,
as the stage jolted along over the rough
road, making it little hard to distinguish
what he was saying. For five years l was
missionary at Siam and saw many strange
and even startling things"
What were these scenes you refer tof'
asked.
well. the punishment of criminals was
exceedingly strange and is worthy of de-
scription. When a person is convicted of
crime there he is taken out upon the public
square for execution. His neck is barred we'll
down upon the shoulders and the executioner
l. =.
mark upon the neck of the doomed man."
What kind of mud?' shouted the miner
in a voice like a thunder-clap, while he
glared at the parson savagely. | noticed
that though he kept peering out of the win
dow, he had followed our conversation for
some time.
"a sort of yellowish mud" replied tho
preacher. evidently disturbed by the miners
look and manner. But he continued
The executioner then takes his heavy
sword, and with one quick and decisive blow
sewers the victims head from mis- body"
Its id lie" yelled the miner, in tones
that might have been beard four miles "The
boys do occasionally hang a horse-thief
there, and the town has pretty bad name,
but they never cut peoples heads off. There
aim only one sword in the whole place. and
that belongs to a militia captain and
wouldn't cat the head off of turnip."
But / was a missionary there for five
And was barber there for seven years,
and never shaved you, neither"
My friend that cannot be; for the people
never shave there"
THAT is another one Of your internal lies;
they're as clean u shaven set of people as
thar is in the West. You're a nice man to
be giving the town a bad name after you
have left it. If it weren't kind of agin the
fashion to hit parson I'd knock your head
of you fur your lies" cried the miner, get
ting madden every minute.
"My dear friend" said the minister inn
ploringly and evidently much disturbed for
his safety, there certainly must be some
mistake. You do not mean to say that You
were barber in the kingdom of Siam, where
the PEOPLE never shaver"
"Ohi / thought you were talking about
Cheyenne" SAID the miner, as he fell back
into his chair disguised.
/ was the only man who seemed to enjoy
this amusing incident, and even l found it
good policy to show as little disposition TO
laugh as possible. The stage rolled OH for
miles after it occurred, and not a word was
spoken by any one. The miner looked more
intently than ever out of the window and
yet there was not an expression on his stolid
face to indicate what his thoughts were. The
preacher looked as intently out from the OPP
poste side of the stage, and | spent my time
watching the miner looking at the strange
region through which we were passing, etc.