Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-07-26
HARA- KIRI.
TIL: CHASTITY JAPANESE PUN.
lsiilNi3NT DESCRIBED.
Tic Death Penalty Sc!EInGictcd by
Condemned OMccr-Thc
Victim Coolly Discm-
bowels HIMSELF.

IIar:kiri as Il legal form Of punishment
has been abolished in Japan for about
twenty-five wears. Prior To that time II
class oi political Offenders of high rank
W title were allowed the choice OF the
hcadsman'S sword or suicide. This WAS
concession to caste that WAS meant TO
remove the disgrace of nm execution ut
the hands Of the law. The usual method
of scif-murdcr contemplated by hara-kiri
was for the victim To drive long, broad
and very sharp blade into his abdomen
and draw it across his body in II manner
that would diScmhowcl HIM Instant
death WAS usually The result.
Au officer in the army uf one of the
icnd"l Princes WAS the last person To conf
NIT an official iara kir. lie hated all
foreigners with patriotic bitterness, and
i'll hot headed oathnrs; of temper one
day ordered his soldiers To lire on some
Europeans vino were crossing the street.
The British ambassador, Sir Harry Parkcs,
was on the Sccuc aud had narrow cS-
cape. while some were killed. The rep
rcscntaiivos ri the foreign powers de-
mandcd the SUMMARY punishment of The
young officer. The Prince Welded tu the
demand and the offender WAS condemned
10 death. ic chose the alternative of
hara-&iri. Mr.. i. \. Il. Waters, min
ing engineer Of Chicago, then living in
Japan, thus tells the story OF the cxccu-
ton:
" Representatives. of the foreign powers
were invited TO he present. said Mr.
Waters, "and witness the execution
Through the courtesy of II member of ilic
British legation | was one of the wit
ncsscS. The execution took place in Il
large, gloomy, haif-lightcd Buddhist
temple. Tine ceremony was conducted
with the rigid lormality and decorum of
religious rite. On one side sal the
Foreigners, pale as ghosts, breathing in
gasps and trembling with excitement
The dim light and dank air rave Il SUI
pcrnatural, uncanny thrill TO the scene
Opposite were the Japanese officials, I'M
iinching as stoics, us unmovcd as statues.
In from; on II low dais WAS the con-
dcmncd man. He sat tailor fashion.
barred 10 the waist, br;.wny fellow with
muscular arlns, and dccp-chcsied rs IN
OK. On II low table near him WAS II
Japanese short sword with Il blade nine oi
ten inches long and Keen us II razor Be
hind hiIn stood his best fricnd-thc con.
dcmncd being allowed To select some one
10 strike of his head in the event he failed
to kill himself and was liable To suffer a
prolongc,iagony before death came. This
man was apparently the only agitnicd
native i'll the temple. The muscles of his
face twiicicd. iic clulchcd the broad
sword ncrvously with both hands, wait
ing for the moment that should demand
his services.
"Thc condemned was the coolest man
present. Through I'M Interpreter he said
he was not sorry for what he had don,
Tor his beloved country. lie WAS proud
toGivc his life for her lie would show
the coward Foreigners how Japanese
gentleman could die. AS he finished his
speech he picked up the knife A mo-
mcnt later he plunged i, 10 the hlt in the
left side of his abdomen lie paused an
instant, hui ii seemed an hour 10 MS white.
faced, shivcrng Englishmcn, as we held
our breaths. Then, with powerful If.
fort, he pulled the blade across his body,
the blood gushing from the long g,sh in
torrent. Either from pain orpurposcly
he leaned his head slightly forward. i
swish Of the sword behind him and his
head leaped from the body TO the floor in
front Of him.
"Thc japanese had not apparently
moved Il muscle through all this glastly
scene. A plcasant-voiccd dignitury arose
and said he hoped he had proved that
Japanese justice would be indicated and
asked if the foreign representatives were
satisfied. The British Ambassador sim
ply nodded an affirmative and the shud-
dcring witnesses of the har,.- kiri hurried
with bloodlcss features into the open air.
81 was long haunted by that dread
scene, and ever and anon il would arise
before me-tllc dark and gloomy temple,
the impassivc japanese, the awe.stricl,cn
foreigners, and, above all, the faces of
the principal actors, the condemned man,
and his closest friend; the one calmly
content, even proud to give mp his life,
the other crouchng behind him, watch
ing with deadly intensity, pale and anx-
io'ls, fearful, perhaps, of bungling at The
supreme moment. 1t looms up clearly
before me yet, although years have gone
" ChicaGo Nt'rs.