Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-07-14
CHINESE SWORDS.
Some VERY REMARKABLE PRODUCTS
or WONDERFUL SKILL.

UAEh AAk'''
bio Looking Daggcrs.
Though DR.. Bodice. the United States !
consul TO Annoy. China, has started back
to his post after hs leave Of absoncc,
cot through the delays incident to the
thinning of goods from such far OIL
lenls aud in getting thom through tlo
custom house. somc Of his most inter.
esfins aud valuable relics arrived only
a few days ago.
In his rom gt tho Bellevue reporter
found the genial consul resting content.
cdly after hil breakfast, as his eye rovod
eontomplaiivoly over n number Of the
mott dcndly and awful weapons ever
: conceived or executed by man. Whom
nskoi about these curiously ugly
the doctor sWl'
II was asked 10 execute % commission
Tor tho R.v. Dr. {. VI. Shepherd. the
distinguished Nebraska divine. gentle.
man, who though u innn of peace. hal
ono of tho Finest. IL not the very best,
collections Oh words and other weapons
in iheworld 1hia led 90 my cvnmiuing
several hundred raro and curious wcap-
oni nt mo for inspection and approval,
AND theso arc fow of those ! selected.
So tNo ave alike, and not one but what
Displays mrc aldll ana inventive power
ou ,h0 part Of the Chinese swordsnith.
Tho haudaomcst OF all isa gcnealu
sober about a. lcet long, slightly jap.
an,so In style, with un odgi like q razor
end q point that would cst1rt aduira-
ton from Colonel Jack Chin. OF Iolis.
vile. Unlike our own, She ihiclSost part
cf tho blade Is tho center This gives
great weight TO tho weapon. joined TO
tho appearance OK oAIomc lighmcs4
The scahbas1 ~ mldo OF hatl. touch
wood, lacqucr1d. TO repro enc blnci; iron
hTutol with mothgr-u'-pclrl. Tho
h.lt o. If black iron, nodded Ia tho form
ola full blown rose. tho petals Of which
have boon drilled with small hoics aud
ihoae filed with bright brass bars.
"Tho most curious Of the lot TO my
eye is the so called warriors two bladoi
sword from Ho-aau. 1t is only about
two feet long aud Ia tho scabbnrl looks
very like tho sword layouot Of our own
army. The scabbari is plain but very
nca. and covered with white shagrcon
or sharksl,in and trimmed with brass
mountnRs. Whom you draw 1t tho
blade divides into two. each facsimile
Of the other. double odgcl and spear
pointed. Tho twin blades have q lC-
mnrl;ablo decoration made by drilling
foycn h0lOs about m inch aud half
and put in zigsag line from hilt TO
point. These nro filed with pure cop.
- ,-t,g,h L.. . ,,,......,1 .I.,.,. a.. F.-.,. ..
smooth surface flush With tho steel aud
polished to brightness.
"Thcso seven stars, rs thcyaro called,
arc found IN nearly al tho martial
weapons of Ho-nan aud arc relics OF thu
Old asirologiu faith that still prevails IN
many parts Of China. Its hold rs sd
strong that II tho copper falls out OF one
OF the sword holes II Is accepted rs q
turo precursor Of death, and the lucliles.
wialdor Of the blade usually commit.
suicide TO escape furthgr trouble
"Tho short stabbins daggers which
find favor chiefly with pirates md reyo
luuonists, form n strong contrast with
the weapons described. They are gcu
ernlly 30 ugly that they would DO lndi
crous Wore 1t not for tho purposes /,
which they arc applied. | hayo on,
which looks like quccrly made nco o.
spades fastened into wiro bound han
die. To increase tho artistic effect o
the weapon, tho arinoror has hollowc,
ont a shallow, spoon shaped concayitl
on other sido Of tho blade aud fllcd /
IN with blood rcd lacquer tho effect O
which when suddenly drawn from
black sheath Is very startling. Spade
nro not the only suit IN tho pncls that (
popular IN the Mongoliun mind hayl
another weapon whose blado Is q pcrfcc
ace OF diamonds.
"Still another dagger Is about th
olumsiost affair Of the kind ever han
died. Tho blade is q foot long, abou
three inches wide and half IN incl
thick. With its heavy brass hilt an,
gigantic guard II weighs over tire
pounds. II set with long handle /
could DO used 90 an ax. II IL used chief
ly by tho Blacl; Flags and other Cole.
tial outlaws, who, In addition to usin
IL in tho ordinary manner, throwit wit
fatal precision.
Tho oN.rosileut of Tonquln told M
that during the late war he had know
instances In which tho knives wcr
thrown with such force that they woul
10 through mans body and show tw
inches Of bloody steel beyond his back
Tho handles Of many Of these instru
monts Of death are finished with wha
we call pistol grips
"Iho most dreadful looking woapo
of oil WAS the exocut!ouor's sword use
by tie late headsman Of Annoy. # iso
Mnnchurun type, being lonb. almo.
straight, very heavy and koenly edged
II 10 used with ono hand and is shape
and wound 30 rs TO giyo the eyecutiopc
apowcrful hold upon his weapon. Upo
tho blade near tho hit are Chinese ohm
actors recording tho tragic events
which Il has talon active part My n
togprctor told mo that they record n
lcgs than 1913 human lives which 1t hr
akon out Of this world. This rccor
enhances i,s value. A now sword ,
the Same kind Coall DO bought for 10
or twelve dollars, hint for thi8 swof
with to- CHASTITY history tho thrift.
broker Wantol 5000 cash,
"Uc evidently Thought, although
como msh, must hayo d., aad auc1r,
ingly iaisul.th9 ante. 10 was q yu
heartbroken creature when | returned
with tho editorial line fl familiar 10 q
spring poet. Declined with THAMES.
word " caution 40 10 tiro5o orient
kypouls and dapicfH Worry mnry of tho