The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-11
CHINESE CRUELTY.
Horrors of the Place of Public
Execution.
The Terrible Butchery of Criminals Re-
garded by the People "a an Occasion
for Joking and Rejoicing
Work OF the Usadsman.


Some four years ago l spent fou
days in Canton, the metropolis o
southern China, on a special mission t,
investigate Chinese justice, and the re
suits surpassed my most ghastly an
ticipation, says a writer IN Harper
Weekly.
What l witnessed was nothing ur
usual, and is the daily practice of tn
country, but | am compelled to ton
down the details to make them pre-
sentable for publication. Nothing bu
the strongest spirit of inquiry, SUI
ported by an iron resolution, carrie
me through the horrors of those day:
and for weeks afterward l suffere
from perpetual nightmare.
The place of execution, or "Matou
as it is called by the Chinese, is filth
yard, long and narrow, like blin
alley, and, singularly enough, it
used as a potter's field when not r
quired for execution.
On a cold January afternoon 1 pr
ceeded thither to witness the final r
lease of batch of poor wretches wi
had already undergone a prolong,
course of torture.
On this occasion the death sd
consists of thirteen, who are tig
bound hand and foot and carr
huddled up in baskets slung on
boo between two coolies. On
at the center of the ground tl
loads are pitched out uncered
and Immediately seized w
toner and his assistant
them in two lines in
ton.
At nod from Che
rim, and with incred
butchery commenl
seizes the first vict
from behind, whs
steps up to his left
enormously heavy
broad blade and Il
out any compulsion
kneeling, bends his
almost instantaneod
his body, severed by
The assistant pushe
forward, and shIill
"Hi-yahs" goes up frd
After the uncertain'
ations of the MEDIEVAL
had been led to suppos
head required a great
ance; but 50 adept are
ecutioners that they 50
more effort or emotion
head than they wou
poppy from its stalk.
With fearful rapid
/ proceeds, and not
between the fall
unerring soroke en-
victims are so arr =
witness the fateI
him before .his
The crowd is
humor, and sig
enjoyment by ~
pense of the re-
frequently rotor
the most stolid
fate.
Suddenly a buk
in one corner.
approached to-
white coat is sp
the bystanders
such good
The last fq
when my ha,
cited youngst
delight, who
Qsn't it beas
desire to Chre
onds all is 90
and the crow
the city gamiA
rehearse TIE WIN
Sllylark witl the bl
Horr;ble tSo&gA NJ
death has, at any ratd
merciful, but an9"aez # s
horror of Chinese jus;iN
US.
For certain Offenders, nd " -
cides and wonaen who ksl their h
bands, the penalty is the "Ling-che
or "thousand cuts" This is too ghas
for detailed description. but suffice il
say that tae victim is Grst crucified t
low cross, AID tAea slowly sliced
pieces with 4 knife.
So skillful is t9e executioner that
though his via,iga soon becomes
recognizable as human being, yet
vital wound is inflicted till perhaps h
an hour OF tiis torture has elaps
when The agony is ended by decap
ton.
So superior an entertainment as t
is naturally rewarded by q full hot
and even greater merriment prev
than at mere head-chopping displa
which SAVIOR somewhat of monotony
hA ~ ,A,~.,