Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-07-09
A CHINESE EXECUTION.
Nineteen Heads Cut or Near Hong Kong
--Chastly Execution Scenes.

Nineteen Heads Cut ON Near hong Kong
--Ghastly Execution Scenes.
The Hong Kong Daily Press gives a
graphic account OF the beheading of 10
Cinnamon at Kowloon City, brief &C.
count of which has already been pub
lished. A number of Europeans went
over from Hong Kong in the afternoon
to see the spectacle The prisoners were
to arrive in gunboats from Canton, and
soon three of these vessels were seen APP
preaching. Immediately on the walls of
the Yamen two men took up their posi-
tons with gongs, and beat these at reg
ular intervals. Then from every howell
and hut appeared men, women and chill
dren, all hurrying down to the beach to
witness the arrival of the gunboats and
the landing of the prisoners. Meanwhile
various reports were spread as to the
number Of the victims. rumor giving
them variously from two to 20. Grad
ually the crowd began to thicken on the
beach, and the close proximity of the
evl-smelling Chinaman became any
thing but pleasant for the European on
locker.
Shortly after o'clock the gunboats
came TO anchor near the wharf, the
prisoners being in charge Of Col. Leung
Tsow. Immediately on the arrival flags
were run up from the Yamen and
salutes were fired. Colonel Leung, ac-
companied by body-guard Of soldiers,
then landed at the wharf, and, mount
ing horse which had been sent down
to meet him, rode up to the Yamen.
Two or three lower dignitaries were
also landed, and mandarin shortly
afterward appeared on the scene. A
body of soldiers from the Yamen, armed
with guns of somewhat primitive ap-
pearance, and escorted by banner
bearers, then took up their position
along the beach and kept back the surg
ing crowd of Chinese who pressed down
to the waters edge.
All these movements were made de-
liberately and with apparently an idea
of making the function as impressive as
possible. The effect produced can hardly
be said to have been that which appeared
to be desired. The lower types of human
nature are much the same all the world
over, and the Chinese crowd on Kow-
loon beach behaved much as a crowd of
London or Partisan roughs under SINH
lar circumstances would do. Laughter
and ribald jests were to be heard on all
sides. A keen interest, of course, was
betrayed as each succeeding motion
leading up to the grand finale took place
and the appearance of the executioner's
subordinate with three swords brought
the interest to fever heat.
Immediately afterward four boats
containing the prisoners, who were
chained hand and foot, were run up
on the beach and the prisoners disem-
barked. OF these miserable wretches
there were nineteen, thirteen of whom
were concerned in the Namoa piracy,
the remainder being concerned in Of
fences committed ON Chinese territory.
The prisoners, having been landed,
were placed in line on their knees a
few feet apart Whether, as is gener-
ally understood, these prisoners were
drugged is not certain, but the majority
seemed to evince but little interest in
what was going on. One certainly had
the appearance of being drugged, or
else was paralyzed with fear. He was
carried ashore in basket, and on being
placed in line on the beach fell forward,
burying his face in the sand. The vic
Tins having been arranged amidst much
beating of drums, slowly from the far
end Of the line appeared the execu-
l
This officer, with an attendant, walked
slowly down the line and took up a
position at the extreme right.
Then the business commences. Hav-
ing selected sword, his attendant takes
up position behind the first prisoner
The victims head is thrust forward to
to make the better mark for the execu.
TONER, who, Selling his sword with both
| 1c rit NIL A..
the outstretched neck. A scarcely per.
ceptible yet suggestively sickenine
sound as the sword cleaves the neck
and the next moment head rolling in
the sand, Jets of blood spouting in the
air, and the attendant tumbles the body
forwards momentary quivering of the
limbs, the spout Of blood stops, the body
stiifens-finis. Before this has scarcely
taken place the executioner and his al
tendant are making the preliminary
arrangements with the next man. The
same outstretched neck, the same omi
nous sound, and again another head
and body roll over. The executionel
is evidently master of his trade. From
one to another he goes deliberately ant
quickly down the line, never faltering
and at each stroke head severed
cleanly and instantaneously from tn,
body.
Stayl at the eighteenth man he is o.
fault. Whether the eXecutioner's arm
has begun to tire or whether 1t is tina
his terrible sword has become blunted
, the head is not taken off, but rolls owe
the shoulder, still connected by few
, sinews, while the blood spurts from tn,
neck, covering the features which still
move-a sickening sight. The execu
toner, however, does not appear to b.
put out. A glance at the bungled job
a word to his attendant, another swort
is handed to him, another cut made anC
the work finished. The last head fail
as smartly as the previous ones. Thei
, the mandarin and officials retire, tn,
soldiers follow and the crowd spread
round the corpses strewn along tn
beach.
The more curious examine the label
attached to the bodies, upon which ar
! inscribed the names and offences of tn
prisoners. With the exception of thes
, the general crowd move toward TIN
1amen, from whence the officials ar
departing. The executioner, rushin
through the crowd, makes his way +
the chair of the mandarin, drops on hi
knee and howls out something; tn
mandarin mods and is borne away TIL
! various officers hurry on board the gun
boats and Immediately set off 70
Canton, the Europeans rush down til
wharf and discuss the best means 70
5 returning to Hong Kong, while of tn
Chinese villagers some return to thei
D novels, some to the gambling house
from which they have been drawn b
this great excitement, while number;