Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-03-08
eUIckEsr THING IN CHINA.
it L. am Execution which IL a yeyy
Summary Proceeding.


To say TO a Chinaman who is about
% journey TO another district, II will
zee you off by the West gate" is moth
ing less than gross insult, for the
reason that all executions in China
40 matter IN what province, take
place directly outs de the walls of the
West gate. his has been the custom
n China for centuries. Why it is sc
is that the Chinese believe that life
enters by the East gate and departs
by the West, writes a spondent
of the New York Herald.
While in The cfiy OF Moukden, Man.
churia, says d writer in Pearson's, ]
expressed a wish TO witness an eXecu
ton. Such an occurrence taking
place almost daily, on account of that
part of China being infested with rob-
bers and brigands, did not have long
to wait before curiosity was satisfied
AT 4 O'Clock one July afternoon, a
native and the writer hired carts and
proceeded to the execution ground
having heard that three robbers were
to be beheaded that day.
Arrived there and waiting about ten
minutes, the solemn procession was
seen emerging from the West gate OF
the outer city; first four soldiers, with
immense banners, then twenty more
soldiers with modern rifles and fixed
bayonets, followed by an open cart,
wherein sat the three culprits strip
ped to the waist, with hands securely
pinioned- behind them, and legs insert
ed in heavy wooden portable stocks
which were kept in position by heavy
iron chains girding the loins. Their
faces begrimed with dirt, and hair un-
kempt, burt tied up in a knot to leave
the neck clear, for they are not per-
mitted to do any toilet during the time
of incarceration.
The countenance of one evinced feal
at his approaching end, while the two
others had don't care" sort of ex.
preston. At their sides walked sol.
diers with long spears and trumpets
The latter were blown every now and
then.
Immediately behind, mounted on q
pony, with huge knife in a scarbard
sloped over his shoulder, came the OK
ecutioner. Several horsemen, among
whom was the district magistrate
brought up the rear. AS soon as halt.
I'd, the soldiers formed into a square.
the criminals were taken out of the
cart and placed in a row in a kneel.
ing position; then the eXecutionei
came along, and placing his hand on
bhe first victim. bent his neck into the
required position, and gripping the
handle of the broad-bladed knife with
both hands brought it up to his chest.
and with one swift downward stroke
severed the head.
The crowd uttered piercing "Ha!'
showing their approval of the skill
displayed by the executioner. Before
bhe headiess bedy-aad time to fall the
eXecutioner grasped it by the shout.
der, and thrusting forward a long
wooden skewer whereon were strung
some ten or more spongy rolls made
Of -four, he passed it through the body
until the rolls were thoroughly satu-
rated and then returned it to the on.
locker who originally handed it to
him, representative of some large
medicine shop, for the Chinese believe
that the only cure for consumption is
to eat the blood of those who have
been decapitated.
1T is needless to say that to obtain
this the executioner has to be well
bribed. The same process as above de.
scribed was gone through with the
second and third men, and directly all
three heads were off they were held
up for the magistrate to see, as he is
the party responsible for the proper
carrying out of the performance
he and the soldiers return
ed, the whole occupying not more
than seven minutes.