Evening star., 1896-09-26
BURIED ALIVE IN PLASTER.
The HfdcOus Form of Execution Re
Gently Revived in Persia.

The HfdcOus Form Of Execution Re-
Gently Revived in Persia.
From the Philadelphia Times
A hideous form of execution which had
not been practiced before in twenty years
was revived in Persia not long since to
strike terror to the hearts of the people.
The murder Of the shah was followed by
succession of highn ay robberies and muir
ders by nomad tribes which made travel
exec edingly dangerous.
To set an example and frigh:en the out
laws into good beha vior Ruhkn-ed-Dowlei,
governor of Shirez, marched out OF prison
five men who had nothing whatever to do
with the outrages and had them buried
alive in plaster of paris This form of ex-
ecution is called "gatchinP." a hollow pill
lar Is erected over hoe about two feet
Deep so as to form kind of well. Into
this the prisoner is put with his head stick
ing out over the top. Plaster of paris is
then emptied In and, between each basket
full. water is poured into the well. The
plaster har1ens. soon stopping the c!rcula-
ton and causing the most excruciating
agony.
About am. on Sunday, May 10. the five
p-:scnt RS. chained neck to neck, were
| marched out of prison, and, slowly escorted
by large mob. who were kept from press.
ing too close by soldiers with fixed bay
onets and others with long sticks, they
were taken to the Koran gate, near the
Bagll-i-No. on the town side of which.
alongside the road. their wells had been
prepared. 1t took one hour to reach the
Bagh-i-No, but the torture of this form of
execution being unknown to the prisoners.
they walked along without sign OF fear.
They were taken into Il high-walled gar
den, guard being placed at the entrance.
and in short time the first to be executed
was bcoU-,ht out. Round his neck was a steei
collar with chain, which his guard held
| tightly In his hand. Some one offered hin,
pitcher of water. from which he eagerly
Il knnWinO n yx-hu
aw full death he was doomed. he walked
| calmly and without word to his well. 1t
| took nearly half an hour to fill the We'll
with Catch. during all which time the
| the crowd from pressing too close and
| hsampering the movements of those en-
| ployed with the Catch. After this the sec
ond was brought out.
| When the Catch became Gold and tight
ened OH the poor prisoner his yells were
| fr!ghtful to listen to- and as they were car
ried over the walled garden those waiting
their turn realized that the death to w..icl,
painless enc the:' ht-i hored for. was of a
| terrible nat,re.
! AS the fourth man was led from the gar
den he begged the executiorer 10 take him
| to the bazaar, where he would find somt
cne to give HIN ten tumaas (;lD, af:e.
! winch he could cut his head of. The fifth
| ran became even more frcntic as the yells
issued from the mouths of his companions
! "S-2-e me! Spare Eie: he cried. "anu
| will show you where 2WO humans lie hid, =
but his offer came too late. Three days
l,te- capii:!s were added - tn pillars
90, erng the heads Of the man.
! The cries of the poor Wet ms are +, -h:-
full. TIE + face turn red. then fpurpi2
then almost black and. often heir eyes
literally pop =ous Of their heads Deui., rs,,-
Ally .ce mes "a aA honr: leaving tte face dis
soitred xad often distorted from all sem
hlnnce OF a ,huh1a1 conateaance.
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