Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-10-13
CHINESE CRUELTY.
Horrors of the Place o. Public
Execution.
The Terrible Butchcry of Criminals Be.
garded by tho People ~ an OecasAun
for Joking and Rejoicing
Work of tho Headsman.

Work of tho Headsman.
Some four years ago I spent four
days in Canton, the metropolis Of
southern China, on a special mission to
investigate Chinese justice, and the re-
suits surpassed my most CHASTITY an
ticipation, says writer In Harper4
Weekly.
What l witnessed was nothing mn.
usuas. and is the daily practice OF the
country, but l 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, 4
and for weeks afterward 7 suffered
from perpetual nightmare.
The place Of execution, or "Matou,"
as it is called by the Chinese, is . filthy
yard, long and narrow, like blind
alley, and, singularly enough, It d
used as q potter's field when not re-
quired for execution.
On a cold January afternoon I pro,
ceeded thithcr to witness the fhal n,
lease Of batch of poor wretches who
had already undergone a 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 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 lkneeling posi.
ton.
At a nod from the presiding manda-
rim, and with incredible swiftness, the
butchery commences. The assistant
aeixes the first victim by the shoulders
from behind, whnc the executioner
steps up to his left side, armed with an
enormously heavy short sword with Q
broad blade and n razorlixe edge. With
out any conpulsion, 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 shrill burst of approving
"Hi-yahs" goes up from the crowd.
After the uncertain and clumsy oper.
ations of the medieval headsman, one
had been les 10 suppose that q human
head required great deal Of sever
ance; but so adept arc the Chinese en-
ecutioncrs that they seem to display no
more effort or emotion in cutting OFF .
head than they would in Topping .
poppy from its stalk.
With fearful rapidity the slaughter
proceeds, and not five seconds elapse
betwe,1 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. ea
The crowd is now in the most iovia]
r humor, and signifies its light-hearted
e enjoyment by ribald chaff at the en-
: pense of the remaining victims, whs
a frequently retort defiantly, and exhibit
the most stolid indifference to thei,
fate.
Suddenly a burst of merriment arise.
Y in one corner. A portly merchant ha,
e approached too near, and his Ions
white coat is splashed with blood. How
9 the bystanders laugh! Was there eve
: such good joke!
The last few heads are falling now
4 when my hand is pluclxed by an en-
y cited youngster of ten, dancing will
Q delight, who cries, eagerly: "Ho-tai?
: tIsn't it beautifully l repress a fierc,
desire to throttle him, and in a few sec
onds all is over. Jr5tice is indicated
and the crowd quickly disperses, all bu
the city gamius, who remain behind K
: rehearse tie whole proceedings and I,
skylark via the bodies.
: Horrible cSoaga Che sight has been
death has, at any rate, being swift and
mercifui, but anot:aer day the supreme
horror of Chinese justice is revealed Il
!. us.
n For certain offenders. notably parri
cloes ana women who kGl their hua
= bands, the penalty is the s.LinQ-chee.
. or Thousand cuts" This is too phasti,
Tor detailed description, but suffice it Z
q say that the victim is FIRST crucified to I
q low cross, and then slowly sliced 4
: pieces with knife.
n So slSillful is the executioner that Al
, though his vietisa soon becomes nm
!. recognizable as human being, vet "a
vital wound is inflicted till perhape hal
J. an hour of this torture has elapsed
h when the agony is ended by decapita
ton.
So superior an entertainment a thi,
is naturally rewarded by full house
!, and even greater merriment prevails
: than at mere housekeeping displaya
g which SAVIOR somewhat Of D9notonv r.
| the blase Cantonese.