The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-01-19
DECAPITATED.
GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF a
CHINESE MURDERER'S END.
Eehcadcd with Pomp and Cerem ony
Hatchery Made a Public Spec
tacle and Witnessed by
Many Europeans.


Francisco by the last steamer
from China contain q graphic
description of q native exc
cution at Kowloon which was attended
by all the Europeans within d days
journey. The victim, Lai Nit, had
murdered Chinese detective, and his
punishment, with all its barbaric re-
pnlsiveness, was made as conspicuously
puolic as possible as mi example TO
ovildoers. Extensive arrangem ents
were made for the carrying cut of the
,xecution. Flags were flying from
the battlements Of the old fort and
from three war junks lying hear tho
pier, and large numbers of Chinese
were gathered upon the beach.
About 3.l5 p. m. war junk was
sighted around the point and a salute
was fred from the fort. This vas the
signal for the final arrangements for
the reception of the Chinese officials.
salute OF three guns from the fort
was replied to by the Ma ntau Junk,
and then the junks alongside the pier
opened fire. Other salutes from the
fort were followed by loud beating of
gongs and salutes from the junks.
The soldiers now cleared square on
the beach close to table Mt which
were placed three chairs. The first 10
arrive from the junk were the Namtau
court officials, who arranged the table
for the reception of the Mandarin.
The wooden cage containing the pris.
oner was taken up out of the hold of
the junk and carried along the pier
by coolies, aud then set down in front
of the Mandarin's table. The prisoner
was rather roughly pulled out of the
cage and forced down upon his
launches. He scowled fiercely on all
around him, muttering imprecations
upon his guards. One of the officials
stuck long bamboo to which was at
tach ed long envelope bearing Chin
csc characters, down the back of his
clothes.
All this time the crowd mad been
jostling and pushing round the pris-
orer, AMI the miserable specimens OF
coolie soldiers were ordered to clear
the way to the execution ground. AZ
ter several unsuccessful attempts had
been made TO clear passage, tho SOL
diers braudishing rattans eventually
cleared sufficient space to allow of the
passage of the prisoner and his guard.
The executioner-a tall muscular
Chinese followed behind carrying his
sheathed knife.
At the execution ground the pris.
oner was ordered to kueel down on his
knees. He was shacklel with old
rusty irons, his hands being tied
behind his back. His Queue was
wound around his head and his Jacket
was pulled down from his neck, which
was quite bare. The executioner with
drew the knife-A weapon about five
feet long -from the sheath and set the
prisoner In position, signifying to hiH
to point his head forward, and en-
phasiziu3 his instructions by kicking
the prisoner lightly in the chest. The
executioner then pulled away the
envelope from the prisoners neck.
Punctually mt 4. 40 o'clock the exc
cutloner swung down his blade and in
me stroke the head Was severed from
tue body, just as Lai Nit was cursing
ne delay. The head was thrown face
pward and the eyes were staring
Y ide open. The soldiery immediately
ON the fall OF the knife fred OF a
running volley. The executioner
lifted the head and placed it at the top
OF the iifeless trunk and then cut the
strings which secured the shackles
around the arms aud legs. Among the
large crowd of Europeans who wit
messed the execution was one woman.
The head of the deceased was hung up
in cage which was lying on the beach.
The body will probably be allowed to
remain on the beach some time.