The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-14
A CHINESE EXECUTION.
Il Does Not Take as Long as Many 0iher
Ceremonies.

To say to a Chinaman who Is ABOUT
TO journey to another district. Il VIII
see you of by the west gate" Is moth
ing less than a gross insult, Tor the
reason that ali executions In CHINA, no
matter In what province, take place d.
rectly outside the walls Of the west
gate. This has been the custom i'm
China for centuries. Why IL Is 80 is
that the Chinese believe that life en-
ters by the east gate and departs by the
west.
While in the city of Moukden. Man
churia, says writer in Pearson's, i
expressed wish To witness an eXecu-
tion. Such an occurrence taking place
almost daily. on account of that part
OF China being infested with robbers
and brigands. | did not have long TO
wait before curiosity was satisfied.
At4 o'clock one July afternoon ma
tive and the writer hired carts ana
proceeded To the execution ground, hav-
ing heard that three robbers were to be
beheaded that day.
Arrived there and waiting about ten
minutes the solemn procession was seen
outer city: first four soldiers. with Inn
mense banners. then twenty more sol
diers, with modern rifles and fixed bay
onets. followed by an open cart, where-
in sat the three culprits stripped 10
the waist, with hands securely pinioned
behind them. and legs inserted In
heavy wooden portable stocks which
were kept in position by heavy iron
chains girding the loins. Their races
were begrimed with dirt and hair un-
kempt, but tied up I'm knot to leave
the neck clear, for they are not permit
ted to do any toilet during the time OF
Incarceration.
The countenance of one evinced fear
at his approaching end, while the 9TH
ers had don't care" sort of express
sion. AT their sides walked soldiers
with long spears and trumpets. The
latter were blown ever now and then.
Immediately behind, mounted on
pony, with a huge knife in a scabbard
sloped over his shoulder. came the exc
cutioner. Several horsemen, among
whom was the district magistrate,
brought up the rear. AS soon as halted
the soldiers formed into square, the
criminals were taken out of the cart
and placed i'm row I'm a kneeling posi-
ton then the executioner came along,
and placing his hand on the first VIC
tim. bent his neck into the required
position, and gripping the handle OF the
broad blades knife with both hands.
brought il up TO his chest and with one
swift downward stroke severed the
head
The crowd uttered piercing "Ha!"
showing their approval OF the skill dis
played by the executioner. Before the
headless body had time TO fall the exc
cutioner grasped IL by the shoulder, and
thrusting forward long wooden
skewer wherein were strung some ten
or more spongy rolls made of -four he
passed ii through the body until the
rolls were thoroughly saturated and
then returned il 10 the onlooker who
originally handed il to him, a represen-
tative of some large medicine shop, for
the Chinese believe that the only cure
for consumption is TO eat the blood or
those who have been decapitated.
It 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 sec
ond and third men, and directly all
three heads Were off they were held up
for the magistrate 10 see. as he is the
party responsible for the proper carry
ing out of the performance. whereupon
he and the soldiers returned. the whole
occupying not more than seven minutes.