The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1885-07-31

How the Insurgents Ret Their Pate at the
Edge OF the Sword.

Edge OF the Sword.
A correspondent of the Brooklyn
Eagle writes: During the campaign
against the Taepings from Shanghai, a
large number of the insurgents were
captured and a batch we're turned over
to the government officials. This, OF
course, meant execution, and l went
with a score OF other young fellows, IN
experienced like MYSELF to witness the
performance. 1t was the strangest and
most revolving sight ] ever beheld
The day was bright and beautiful, and
a gentle br eeze shook out toe foldsof
the, flags and banners, borne by the
Acknowledged troops drawn up on all
sides of q small, level square or parade
ground. Two hundred rebels were to
be dispatched, but from their manner
and freedom ] should not have known
the intended victims had they not been
distinguished by their clothing. When
the hour arrived the prisoners got INTO
line, and one after the other awaited
their turn. / say they got into llne-l
mean ea3f1 man stepped IN anywhere,
apparenGly not caring which was the
beginning or which the ending. Ihey
chatted to one another, and laughed as
If nothing in the world concerned them,
and reminded me of o line OF pleasure
seekers in the lobby OF q theater await
ing their turn 90 get their tickets at sae
box office. Some OF them had nuts
and sweet-meats, which they ate with
seeming relish, though quietly. There
was nothing false about their actions
no yaunting bravery nor look Of price.
Their manner were wholly uncon-
strained and n~atural, and looking at them
| I wondered if our fear of death was not
altogether artificial, and whether, natu-
rally, lying down to die was any moio
repulsiye to human instincts than lying
down to sleep. The more | think q
it the more the dread OF death seems
like the bugaboo Of nursery lore, MADE
to play upon the Imagination OF I'M
reasoning beings, but not TO De tOiei
ated by full grown-men.
The warning note sounded. The nTst
man stepped out and dropped on his
knees. His hands were caught by an
| attendant and held behind his back
| Another drew the victims cue out oppo-
site to his hands, thus bringing hls aech
in q horizontal position. Like . nasn
| the executioner brought down Q 9 7
g~littering blade, and one stroke seyeieu
the head completely from the Douy.
The next prisoner stepped out promp's,
and underwent the same operation. "a
fast as one fell another was ready
There was no hesitation nor nrgins.
/ The men presented themselves as II tney
expected some benefit, with no sign =
emotion, save perhaps Of some VINO weis
engaged in quiet humor. Two Oh ln'
fellows were evidently enjoying Q ]oke'
! The atory-teller would frequently giancs
askance at the executioner and taih Ia
| Ell probably fearing that demand woui.
be made upon him before the tale nau
been finished. he sang away IN Q nign,
eli KEY every time he looked around an
saw his time getting shorter. Az length
when he discovered his turn had come
he motloned to the executioner 70 DEM,
for 4 moment and gabbed away harder
than ever. When he finished his s1oi
he ana his listener burst into Q roar Z
laughter. Then he hurried mp g tn'
bloody spot and had his head Wnlsks'
off, and his friend. still chuekllng ose
the Joke, d moment later did likewlse