The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12

corpse into six pieces with blunt sword.
An eyewitness has told me how it was
done.
First the head was chopped off, then the
left hand was cut off at the wrist. and then
the left and right feet The hair was IN
loosed from the top knot, which ornaments
every Korean crown, and the head was
tied by the hair with the feet and hands
to the crossings Of three poles. which were
propped against each other like those Of a
tent The bloody trunk was left lying on
the ground below these. Then upon the
coffin. which stood near by. and upon the
poles, were fastened strips of paper, bear
ing in large Korean characters the crime
OF Kim and denuncatiOn of his deed. For
three days the remains were left in this
condition, and the Japanese photographer
of Seoul took a picture of them, which
lies before me, and have had sketch
made by my Korean artist from the photo
graph. At the end OF the three days the
remains were taken down. and they
are now we'll on their way through all
parts of Korea. They are carried by the
Kings royal courlers and six Of these men
have each piece which they are bearing
to and from the Governors OF the six
leading provinces of the country. Each
Governor will receive his portion of the
dead body with fitting ceremonies, and for
three days it will be hung over the main
gate of his capital city as warning to
traitors. After this time it will be taken
down and will be given back to the
courier, who will carry it to the noun
tain of Che Pi San. This mountain is
about sixty miles from Seoul. Here the
different couriers will meet some weeks
from now and deposit the remains. which
time, decay and the birds have left of the
body. They will throw it on the spot
which is considered the most disgraceful
of this dishonorabIe mountain. 1t is, l
am told, the only mountain in Korea
which does not pontits head toward Seoul.
and this lack of consideration for the
majesty of the King probably causes it to
be the place upon which the remains of all
executed rebels are thrown.
One Of the most curious things that
have heard in connection with Kim Ok
Kiun's execution, and one which gives
good insight into Korean character and
the condition of the country, was in reIa-
ton to the courers who are carrying
about this dead human flesh. A promi-
nent Korean said to me yesterday, These
couriers will earn a great deal of money
by carrying Kim's body from place TO
pl ace"
How SOP" said L 81 suppose the
King pays them well?"
NO" was the reply. "They don't get
it from the King. The King Will know
nothing about it, but they will earn it on
the road. Each courier is, you know, on
the Kings business, and according to
law it would be almost death to
retard him. The couriers will travel
very slowly, and they will levy a
tax on every man they meet. Take, for
instance. the man who is carrying the
bloody and now half-decomposed head
He has to take 1t to one of the southern
provinces, and he could go there in ten
days. 1t will probably take him month
and he will earn money all the way. sup
pose he comes to the door Of rich mans
house. he will stop there. knock on the
door, and tell the rich man that he is tired
and that he would like to rest in the neigh
borhOod for dav or so. He will lay the
bloody head down on the mans parlor
floor. aud will order him to keep it for
him until he is ready to go. The man
Will uOb udTo W SLTike HltD, LOT ne Is the
Kings courier. He will cry, ooh, take it
away! Take it awayP and the courier Will
earn much money from that man. A little
further on he may meet peddler with a
pack on his back. BE will ask the peddler
to carry the head Tor him, and the
peddler will be glad to pay to get free.
You know. one of the best businesses
in this country is in salt. There are salt
merchants in all the villages The salt is
kept in big bags, and as it pays taxes it is
very high. When the courier comes to a
town he will enter such store, perhaps,
and say to the merchant, L find this head
is not keeping well. and will leave it here
for day 10 preserve it, He will there
upon thrust it we'll down into one of the
merchants salt bags and he has to earn
good deal of money if he takes it away.
he thus goes on earning money from every
man he meets, and he will do better on the
return trip than at the outset. The more