The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-19
From the New York World .

Chemulpo, Korea, Sept. 3, via San Fran
cisco, Aug. 19.-Sinee the Han dynasty
was established Korea has had only
glimpses of wholly independent gov
ernment, though its vassalage to China
has. for the most part, been virtually
nominal.
From time TO time the taxes have been
lichtened. until the amount now is such
that il is more profitable to paw
than not to pay, on account of the trade
accompanying it. Yearly, and some
times half-yearly,- the tribute is sent
10 Pekin, accompanied by a host of mer-
chants, who bring back profits, it is said,
much greater than the amount of the
;ribute.
The Chinese emperor has to acknowl-
edge the heir to the throne ere he can be
regarded as such, though the choice of
the king is always sanctioned. The Chi
nese emperor invests the new king with
his title, sending special ambassador for
the purpose.
People have come to think the greatest
despot on earth is the car of Russia. but
there are two rulers who surpass him in
autocratic power-the king of Korea and
the emperor of China.
Few have any idea of the crime, cor
ruption and cruelty in those countries, so
common as to be scarcely noticed by the
natives.
KOREAN TORTURE.
In China there are more than enough
barbaric fortunes practiced, but in Korea
there are many more and worse.
Beating on the shin with an iron instru-
ment shaped like an Indian tomahawk is
a common mode of punishment, which
often ends in death. Women and men
alike are treated to this cruel punishment
for the smallest otfense. The World cor
respondent saw one woman die in the
greatest agony.
The Korean system of punishment for
crime is borrowed from the Chinese, but
is cOarser and more brutal.
The Korean method is unspeakably
cruel so that it is not uncommon for
wretch to be manned for life. The stick
is heavy, hard and inelastic The blow
INJURIES every tissue beneath it. In the
llghtest cases 1t means incapacity for
work for two or three weeks. and the
heaviest blow means death.
CastigatiOn, for example, is employed
in both countries. The Chinese sheriff
uses bamboo, or other light rod, so that
while causing pain he does not infict
serious injury except when ordered to
do so
One trick the Koreans have in punish
ing is to beat prisoner on the small of
the back with three blows each side over
the kidneys. This is called fatal BAN
boo" and invariably results in death
There is another spot further up. the back
where 1t is said five blows will cause par
alysis; this punishment is employed for
political offenses- offenders whom it is in
advisable to kill, but who, from motives
Of public policy, are to be deprived of &C
tiVitY.
BEATEN TO DEATH.
Sometimes in case. of murder in the first
degree the culprit is bound to a log or
other piece of wood and slowly beaten to
death. If he is very rich and pays a
heavy bride to the eXecutioner, the first
or second blow is struck on the back of
the head, causing either unconciousness
or death With the very poor man the
same course is adopted to save time and
trouble. But woe to the iuckless man
who, if he is rich or can raise money
from his kindred and refuses to pay to
corrupt officials He is slowly tortured by
the revengeful executioner until death
hindly puts an end to his awful suffer
ings.
The same cruel law applies to thieves
of all sorts. Tue fercest highwayman
and the poor devil who steals loaf of
bread are treated alike. This is cited as
one reason why dishonesty is compare
lively rare in Korea. But, as a matter of
fact, judging from my own experience,
rarity comes from corruption of the
judges and officials rather from the pro
bity Of the people. You can catch your
servant stealing from you, but if he has
any money or has relatives who have
money, or belongs to an influential family
or clan, or is related even in the seventh
degree to an official, it is impossible to
secure his conviction, nd almostimpos-
slbe to obtain his arrest.
REFINEMENT OF CRUELTY.
Unjust say that Koreans show much in
genuity in their punishment No one can
be in the country three months without
seeing enough to give food for Nightmares
for several years. On one occasion I saw
man in Cangue suffer fearfully origi-
nal and painful punishment There was
broad platform an inch thick, three feet
wide and five feet long, having one large
and two small holes arranged in a line
and about equally distant. Through the
large hole at one end protruded the man 5
mead, through the second hole an arm
and through the third leg. He was ut
terly unable to free his arm or head from
any insect that might light upon them,
and equally unable to eat or drink. He
was condemned &c wear the hideous in
strument for thirty days, and if it had
not been for the kindness of the common
people he would have died in five days
from starvation, thirst and exhaustion.
IN THE CAGE.
Another punishment, which, believe,
Is confined to cases of wrongs inflicted
upon women, is the death cage. | have
seen it but once, and don't wish to see it
again. The cage is square, very much
ike those used for canary birds, but on a
lar larger scale. 1t is made Of iron or
wood. The condemned man or woman is
suspended by his neck from the ceiling
OF the cage, the tips Of his toes resting
upon the bricks in the bottom of the cage.
II the bricks fall over or if his feet tire
and can no longer support his body he is
slowly strangled tc death. During the first
Gay the novelty and the excitement keep
the man in good condition He rests upon
Jne tips of his toes, talks, laughs and
chatfs with the crowd that invariably
gathers around him, and now and then
makes futile attempts TO wrench the bars
asunder that encircle his throat. The
second day there is a reaction. His face
SsWells, his eyes protrude, heavy and
oloodshot, his tongue swells so that he is
compelled to keep his mouth open, and his
lace turns reddish brown from conges-
ton Of the blood. Day after day after
mat his condition grows worse. His
Keeper occasionally gives him food and
prlnk, and is compelled by Paw TO prolong
ms life as far as possible. There have
oeen cases where these Gagged men have
uVed for sixty days Others have expired
On the sixth or seventh. The majority