The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-07-03
Hara-Kiri.

I1dld-hlll do u legal lOTLu VI DuulSn-
ment has been abolished in Japan for
about twenty-five years. Prior to that
time class of political offenders of
high rank or title were allowed the
choice of the headsman's sword or sui
eide. This was concession 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 long, broad and very
sharp blade into his abdomen and draw
it across his body in a manner that
would disembowel him. Instant death
was usually the result. An officer in
the army of one of the feudal princes
was the last person to commit an Off
cial hara-kiri. He hated all foreigners
with patriotic bitterness, and, in hot
headed outburst of temper, one day or
dered his soldiers to fire on some Eu-
ropeans who were crossing the street.
The British ambassador, Sir Harry
Parkes, was on the scene and had
narrow escape, while some were killed.
The representatives of the foreign
powers demanded the summary pun
ishment 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, mining engineer of
Chicago, then living in Japan, thus
tells the story of the execution: Rep
resentatives of the foreign powers
were invited to be present." said Mr..
Waters, "and witness the execution.
Through the courtesy of member of
the British legation / was one of the
witnesses. The execution took place in
a large, gloomy, half-lighted Buddhist
temple. The ceremony was conducted
with the rigid formality and decorum
of religious rite. On one side sat
the foreigners, pale as ghosts, breath
ing in gasps and trembling with ex-
element. The dim light and dank air
gave supernatural, uncanny thrill to
the scene. Opposite were the Jap
anese officials, unflinching as stoics,
as unmoved as statues. In front, on a
low dais, was the condemned man.
lie sat tailor-fashion. barred to the
waist, brawny fellow, with muscu-
lar arms, and deep-chested as an
OK. On a low table near him was a
Japanese short sword, with blade nine
or ten inches long and keen as razor.
Behind him stood his best friend-tbe
condemned being allowed to select
some one to strike off his head in the
event he failed TO kill himself and was
liable TO suffer prolonged agony be-
fore death came. This man was ap-
parently the only agitated native in the
temple. The muscles of his face
twitched. He clutched the broad
sword nervOusly with both hands,
waiting for the moment that should de-
mand 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 cow
ard foreigners how Japanese gentle
men could die. AS he finished his
speech he picked up the knife. A mo-
ment later he plunged it to the hit in
the left side of his abdomen. He
paused an instant, but it seemed an
hour TO us white-faced, shiverine
Englishmen, as we held our breaths.
Then, with a 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
o"Aoh Vi thO oNolu Hllu anu LIE
head leaped from the body to the floor
in front of him. The japanese had
not apparently moved muscle through
all this CHASTITY scene. A pleasant
voiced dignitary arose and said he had
proved that japanese justice would be
indicated, and asked if the foreign
representatives were satisfied. The
British ambassador simply nodded al
affirmative, and the shuddering wit
nesses of the hara-kiri hurried will
bloodless features into the open air.
was long haunted by that dread scene
and ever and anon it would arise befor,
me-the dark and gloomy temple, the
impressive japanese, the awe-stricker
foreigners, and, above all, the faces o
the principal actors-the condemned
man, and his closest friend; the on
calmly content, even proud TO give VI
his life, the other crouching behin'
him, watching with deadly intensity
pale and anxious, fearful, perhaps, o
bungling at the supreme moment. /
looms up clearly before me yet, al
though years have gone by."-EG.