The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-07-13
VOL. XXIV.-NO. SO.
Hara-Kiri.


Hara-kiri as legal form of punishment
has been abolished in Japan for about
twenty-five years. Prior to that time a
class of political offenders of high rank or
title were allowed the choice of the heads
mans sword or suicide This was con-
cession to caste that was meant to remove
the disgrace of an execution at the hands
of the law. The usual method of self
murder contemplated by hara-kiri was for the
victim to drive a long, broad and very sharp
blade into his abdomen and draw it across
his body in a manner that would disem-
bowel him. Instant death was usually the
result.
An officer in the army of one of the
feudal Princes was the last person to CON-
NIT an official hara-kiri He hated all
foreigners with patriotic bitterness, and
in a hot-headed outburst of temper one
day ordered his soldiers TO fire on some
Europeans who were crossing the street.
The British ambassador, Sir Harry Parkes,
was on the scene and had narrow escape,
while some were killed The representa-
tives of the foreign powers demanded the
summary punishment of the young officer.
The Prince yielded to the demand and the
offender was condemned to DEATH He
chose the alternative of hara-kiri Mr. j.
A. r. Waters, a mining engineer of Chica-
go, then living in Japan, thus tell the
story of the execution:
Representatives of the foreign powers
were invited to be present" said Mr.. Wat
ers, "and witness the execution. Through
the courtesy Of member of the British
legation | was one of the witnesses. The
execution took place in large, gloomy,
halflighted Buddhist temple The eere-
mony was conducted with the rigid for
mality and decorum of a religious rite.
On one side sat the foreigners, pale as
ghosts, breathing in gasps and trembling
with excitement. The dim light and dank
air gave supernatural, uncanny thrill to
the scene. Opposite were the japanese
officials, unhinching as stoics, as unmoved
as statues. In front on low dais was the
condemned man. He sat tailor-fashion,
barred to the waist, a brawny fellow with
muscular arms, and deep-chested as an OK.
On low table near him was japanese
short-sword with blade nine or ten inches
long and keen as a razor Behind him
stood his best friend-the condemned being
allowed to select some one to strike off his
head in the event be failed to kill himself
and was liable to suffer a prolonged agony
before death came. This man was appar-
emily the only agitated native in the tenn
pie. The muscles of his face twitehed
He clutched the broad sword nervously
with both hands, waiting for the moment
that should demand his services.
''The condemned was the coolest man
present. Through an interpreter he said
he was not sorry for what he had done for
his beloved country He was proud to
give his life for her He would show the
coward foreigners how japanese gentle
man could die As he finished his speech
he picked up the knife. A moment later
he plunged it to the hilt in the left side
Of his abdomen. He paused an instant,
but it seemed an hour to us whitefaeed,
shivering Englishmen, as we held our
breaths. Then, with powerful effort, he
pulled the blade across his body, the blood
gushing from the long cash in torrent.
Either from pain or purposely he leaned
his head slightly forward A swish Of the
sword behind him and his head leaped
from the body to the floor in front of Kim.
"The Japanese had not apparently
moved muscle through all this CHASTITY
scene. A pleasant-voieed dignitary arose
and said he hoped he had proved that
Japanese justice would be indicated and
asked if the foreign representatives We're
satisfied. The British ambassador simply
nodded an affirmative and the shuddering
witnesses of the hara-kiri hurried with
bloodless features into the open air.
Al was long haunted by that dread
scene, and ever and anon it would arise
before me-the dark and gloomy temple,
the impassive japanese, the awe-stricken
foreigners, and, above all, the faces Of the
principal actors, the condemned man, and
his closest friend; the one calmly content,
even proud to gise up his life, the other
crouehiug behind him, watching with
deadly intensity, pale and anxious, fearful,
perhaps, of bungling at the supreme
moment 1t looms up clearly before me
yet, although years have gone by.