Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-11


always with him. SO that he could use il
If attacked by any Coreans at Shanghai
On the trip Hong paid all the bills and he
furnished Kim with money for his ex-
penses at Shanghai The two had rooms at
one of the good hotels, and it was in Kim's
own room that Hong shot him. Kim was
lying down in his chair reading and Hong
walking up and down the room pretend
ing that he was much interested in a book
During the walk he got behind kim's chair
and then pulled a revolver and shot him
again and again. killing him at the third
or fourth shot. You have all read how the
Chinese authorities protected him, and how
by l. Hung Changes order both he and the
dead remains of Kim were take to Corea
All this was barbarous enough, but per-
haps the most barbarous of all remains
to be told.
A Horrible story.
I refer to the treatment Of Kim Ok Kiun's
body. 1t was landed in Corea shortly be-
fore 1 reached here. and | sailed UP the
Han river the other day past the spot upon
which he was mutilatei. The body was
taken by the Chinese vessel of war to a
Port near Chemupo, and Il was brought
up this river by dcpu.atior from the
king. There is point abou. three miles
from Seoul, where Kim crossed this stream
during his flight from the c..ntry after his
rebellion. In hut beside this place the
body was left over night. The next day II
was taken from it's coffin, stripped of its
clothes, and laid face downward upon the
ground Then Observation-Disclosures al
ways perform the part Of executioners In
Corea-cut the corpse into six pieces with
blunt sword.
IAN eye witness has told me how it was
DONE" said he.
First the head was chopped Off then
the left hand was cut off at the wrist, next
the right hand at the wrist. and then the
left and right feet. The HAIR was Embossed
from the top knot, which ornaments every
Corean crown, and ne head was tied by
the hair with the feet and hands 70 the
crossings of three poles, which were propped
against each other Ike those of a tent
The bloody trunk was left lying on
the ground below these. Then upon
the coffin, which stood near nv and
paper, bearing in large Corean characters
the crime of Kim and a denunciation of
his deed. For three days the remains were
left in this condition. and the Japanese
them, which lies before me, and have had
q sketch made by my Corean artist from
the photograph. At the end of the three
days the remains were taken down, and
they are now well on their way through all
parts of Corea. They are carried by the
kings royal couriers and six of these men
have each a piece which they are bearing
to and from the governors of the six lead
ing provinces of the country. Each gov
ernOr 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 win be taken down and
will be given back to the courier who will
carry it to the mountain Of Che Pi San
This mountain Is about sixty miles from
Seoul. Here the different couriers will meet
som. weeks from now and derosit tho re-
mains, which time. decay and the birds
have left Of the body. They will throw 1t
on the spot, which Is considered the most
disgraceful of this dishonorable mountain
1t is, I am told, the only mountain In
Corea which does not point Its head toward
Seoul, ard this lack of consideration for
the majesty OF the king probably rauses
1t to be the place upon which the remains
of all executed rebels are thrown.
One of the most curious things that l
have heard in connection with Kim Ok
Kiun's execution, and one which gives
good insight into Corean character and the
condition of the country, was in relation to
the couriers who are carrying about this
dead human flesh. A prominent Korean
sad te me yesterday: These couriers will