Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1896-07-10
CHINESE CRUELTY.
Horrors OF the Place o. Public
Execution.
Tho Terrible Butchery of Criminals Re-
garded by the People as an Occasion
for Joking and Rejoicing
Work of the ueadsman.

Some four years ago I spent four
days in Canton, the metropolis of
southern China, on special mission to
investigate Chinese justice, and the re.
suits surpassed my most ghastly an
ticipation, says q writer IN Harper's
Weekly.
What I witnessed was nothing un.
usual. and is the daily practice Of the
country. but I am compelled to tone
down the details to make them pre-
sentable for publication. Nothing but
the strongest spirit of inquiry, sup
ported by an iron resolution, carried
me through the horrors of those DAYS,
and for weeks afterward suffered
from perpetual nightmare.
The place of execution, or "Matou,"
rs it is called by the Chinese, is filthy
yard, long and narrow, like blind
alley, and, singularly enough, it is
used as a potter's field when not re.
quired for execution.
On a cold January afternoon pro-
ceeded thither to witness the final re.
lease OF batch of poor wretches who
had already undergone q prolonged
course OF torture.
On this occasion the death squad
consists Of thirteen, who are tightly
bound hand and foot and carried in,
huddled up in baskets slung on a bam-
boo between two coolies. On arriving
at the center of the ground these living
loads are pitched out unceremoniously,
and Immediately seized by the execu-
toner and his assistants, who arrange
them in two lines in q kneeling posi-
ton.
At a nod from The presiding manda-
rim, and with Incredible swiftness, the
butchcry commences. The assistant
seizes the first victim by the shoulders
from behind, while the executioner
steps up to his left side, armed with an
enormously heavy short sword with a
broad blade and u razorlilSe edge. With
out any compulsion, the victim, still
kneeling, bends his head forward, and
almost instantaneously it leaps from
his body, severed by one swift stroke.
The assistant pushes the trunk over
forward, and n shrill burst of approving
"Hi-yahs" goes up from the crowd.
After the uncertain and clumsy oper-
atoms Of the medieval headsman, one
had been led to suppose that human
head required great deal of sever
ance; but SO adept are the Chinese OK
ccutioncrs that they seem to display no
more effort or emotion in cutting off q
head than they would in looping q
poppy from its stalk.
With fearful rapidity the slaughter
proceeds, and not five seconds elapsc
between the fall of each head. One
unerring stroke ends each life, and the
victims are so arranged that each can
witness the fate of all those in front of
him before his turn comes.
Tho crowd is now in the most jovial
humor, and signifies it's light-hearted
enjoyment by ribald chaff at the ex-
pcnse of the remaining victims, who
frequently rctort defantly, and exhibit
the most stolid Indifference to their
fate.
Suddenly burst of merriment arises
in one corner. A portly merchant has
approached too near, and his long
white coat is splashed with blood. How
the bystanders laugh! Was there ever
such good joke!
The last few heads nre falling now
when my hand is plucl1ed by an ex.
cited youngster of ten, dancing with
delight, who cries, eagerly: "Ho-tai?'
Isn't it bcautful? l reprcss fierce
desire to throttle him, and in few sec
onds all is over. Justice is indicated,
and the crowd quickly lisperscs, all but
the city gamiss, who remain behind tc
rehcarse tie whole proceedings and te
slkylark VITA the bodies.
Horrible taosgA chc sight has been,
death has, at any rate, being swift and
mercifa1, but another day the supreme
horror of Chinese justice is revealed t.
us.
For certain Offenders, notably parri
cides and women who kSl their hus
bands, the penalty is the "Ling-chee,
or Thousand cuts" This is too ghastly
for detailed description, but suffice it Il
say that the victim is FIRST crucified to
low cross, and then slowly sliced t.
pieces with a knife.
So slcillful is r.ae executioner that al
though his vietira soon becomes un
recognizable as a human being, yet n,
vital wound is inflicted till perhaps hal
an hour of tliis torture has elapsed
when the agony is ended by decapita
ton.
So superior an entertainment as thi
is naturally rewarded by a full house
and even greater merriment prevail
than at mere hcad-chopping displays
which SAVIOR somewhat of Donotony t,
the blase Cantonese.