New Ulm weekly review., 1885-07-08
CHINESE EXECUTIONS,
How the Insurgents Met Their Fare at the
Edge Of the Sword

A correspondent of the Brooklyn
Eagle writes: During the campaign
against the Taepings from Shanghai,
large number OF the insurgents were
captured and batch were turned over
to the government officials. This, of
course, meant execution, and I went
with 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 bre shook out the folds of
the flags and banners, borne By the
almond-eyed troops drawn up on all
sides OF small, level square or parade
ground. Two hundred rebels were to
be dispatched, but from their manner
and freedom I 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. I say they got into line-I
mean each man stepped in anywhere,
apparently not caring which was the
beginning or which the ending. They
chatted to one another, and laughed as
+. II nothing in the world concerned them,
and reminded me ola line of pleasure
seekers in the lobby Of theater await
ing their turn to get their tickets at the
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 vaunting bravery nor look of pride.
Their manners were wholly uncon-
strained and atural, and looking at them
wondered if our fear of death was not
altogether artificial, and whether, natu-
rally, lying down to die was any more
repulsive to human instincts than lying
down to sleep. The more I think Of
it the more the dread Of death seems
like the bugaboo Of nursery lore, made
to play upon the Imagination of un-
reasoning beings, but not to be toler-
ated by full grown men.
The warning note sounded. The first
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 his neck
in horizontal position Like flash
the executioner brought down a long
glittering blade, and one stroke severed
the head completely from the body.
The next prisoner stepped out promptly
and underwent the same operation. As
fast as one fell another was ready.
There was no hesitation nor urging.
The men presented themselves as if they
expected some benefit, with no sign of
emotion, save perhaps of some who were
engaged in quiet humor. Two of the
fellows were evidently enjoying joke.
The story-teller would frequently glance
askance at the executioner and talk fast
er, probably fearing that demand would
be made upon him before the tale had
been finished. he sang away in high
er key every time he looked around and
saw his time getting shorter. At length,
when he discovered his turn had come,
he mot1oned to the executioner to delay
for moment and gabbed away harder
than ever. When he finished his story
he and his listener burst into roar Of
laughter. Then he hurried up to the
bloody spot and had his head whisked
of, and his friend. still chuckling over
the Joke q moment later did lilxau-iso