The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29
CHINESE swoAos AND DAeeERs.
Deadly and Horrible Weapons Conceived
nv thu Ort-ntaIs.
TPhiladalnhia Tin,aSl

Deadly and Horrible Weapons Conceived
nv tho Ori-ntsIs.
philadelphia Time&l
Though DR.. Bedloe, the U. s. consul to
Annoy, China. has started back to his post
after his leave of absence, yet through the
delays incident to the shipping of goods
from such far-off lands and in getting them
through the custom-house, some OF his
most interesting ana valuable relics ar
rived only few DAYS ago.
In his room at the Bellevue q reporter
found the genial consul resting contented-
ly after his breakfast, as his eve roved
contemp latiyely over a number of the
most deadly and awful weapons ever con-
ceived or executed by man. When asked
about these curiously ugly swords the
doctor said:
II was asked to execute a commission
for the Rev. DR.. c. NJ. Shepard. the dis
tlnguished Nebraska divine, a gentleman
who, though a man of peace, has one of
the finest, il not the very best, collections
of swords and other weapons in the world.
This led to my examining several hundred
rare and curious weapons sent me for in
spection and approval, and these are few
OF those | selected. No two are alike aud
not one but what displays rare skill and
inventive power on the part of the Chi
nese swordsmith.
The handsomest of all is q generals
saber about four and one-half feet long,
slightly japanese in style, with an edge
like Il razor and point that would ex-
tort admiration from Col. Jack Chin of
Louisville, Ky. Unlike our own, the
thickest part of the blade is the center.
This gives great weight to the weapon,
joined to the appearance of extreme
lightness. The scabbnrd IL made of hard,
tough wood lscquered to represent black
iron incrusted with mother Of pearl. the
hit is of black iron nodded in the form
OF full-blown rOs~, the pedals of which
have been drilled with small holes and
these filed with bright brass bars
The most curious OF the lot TO my eve is
the so-called warriors two-biaded sword
from Ho-nan. 1t is only about two feet
long and in the scabbard looks very Ike
the sword bayonet OF our own army The
scabbard is p ain, but very neat and COW
cred with white shagreen or sharkskin and
trimmed with brass mountings. When
you draw it the blade divides into two,
each fac smile OF the other, double
edged and spear pointed. The twin b AIDES
drilling seven holes about IL inches and
put in 8 zigzag line from hilt 10 point
These are filled with pure copper, which is
ground down to form a smooth surface
flush with the steel and polished to
miTor-hke brightness.
These seven stars. as they are called,
are found in nearly ali the martial
weapons of Ho-nan and are relics OF tine
old astrologic faith that still prevails in
many parts of China. It's hold is so strong
that it the copper falls out of one of he
sword holes it is accepted as sure pre-
cursor OF death, and the luckless wielder
of the blade usually commits suicide to
escape further trouble
The short stabbiDg daggers which find
favor CHI iefy with pirates and revolution
lists form a strong contrast with the
weapons described. They are generally
so ugly that they would be ludicrous were
II not for the purposes TO which they are
applied. l have one which looks like q
queerly-made ace OF spades fastened into
wire-bouud handle. To increase the ar
tistic effect of the weapon the armorer has
followed out q shallow spoon-shaped con-
cave on either side OF the blade and
filled in with blood-red lacquer, the effect
of which when suddenly drawn from
black sheath is very startling. Spades are
not the only suit in the pack that is popu-
lar in the Monaghan mind. l have an
other weapon whose blade is q perfect ace
of diamonds All four sides are ground
down to an almost concave edge and the
blade is made hideous by Chinese red
lacquer work made TO represent drops of
blood and gouts of gore. Still another
dagger is about the clumsiest affair of the
4 4 Id ha LII e.
long, about three inches wide and one
half an inch thick. With Its heavy brass
hilt and gigantic guard it weighs over
three pounds. If set with long hand Q
it could be used as an AK. 1t is used
chiefly by the Black Flags ano other Celes-
tial outlaws. who, in addition to using il
in the ordinary manner, throw it with
fatal precision.
1.-The ex-president OF Tonquin told me
that during the late war he had known
instances in which tn knives were thrown
with such force that they would 90
through a mans body and show two inches
OF bloody steel beyond his back The
handles of many of these instruments of
death are finished with what we call
pistol grips The most dread Unlocking
weapon of all was the executioner's sword
used by the late headsman of Annoy. II
is of Manchurian type, being long. almost
straight, very heavy and keenly edged.
1t is used with one hand and is shaped
and wound 80 as TO give the executioner a
a powerful hold upon his weapon. Upon
the blade near the hilt are Chinese char
acters recording the tragic events
in which it has taken ac-
tive part My interpreter told me
that they record no less than 1913 human
lives which it has taken out Of the world.
This record enhances its value. A new
sword of the same kind could be bought for
$40 or SIP, but for this sword with its
CHASTITY history, the thrifty broker wanted
5000 cash. He evidently thought, although
it came high, l must have it, and accord
ingly raised the ante. He was very
heart-broken creature when / returned it
with the editorial line go familiar to the
spring poet, Declined with thanks A
word of caution as to these oriental
swords and daggers. Very many of them
are poisoned, so that mere scratch will
cause death. The venom is produced by
stepping in decayed human blood and is
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