New-York tribune., 1900-11-04
EXCITING CHINESE CRIMINALS
wENTY-THREE MEN BEHEADED II
TWENTY MINUTES.


rom The North China Herald of September ls
The 10th inst, was another grand day for for the the
cen xed the 9th. but owing TO the great intiux
sightseeTs it was P9stponed Vas not made
ubc thqusanas Of people E had Which
ans due north and south. past the Great Pagoda
. the execution ground: As the principal prisons
recession faa & 10 1i pass o They are are Coming Rere
eapd In front were the soldiers banners. and
ffcers on horseback; then came the prisoners
fere ali he'd securely with stout cords in a most
la borate fashion. Four pieces of rope were USED
rom the ankle irons piece was wound d m spray 9a
ound each leg up TO the hips and NE same fo Wss Tss
5asy Sns FGgn@ @ me te arms Wo reanag m pieces The four
ords thus securely tied. one to each limb, met
Trough them A more iendish way Of carving
.risoners could hardly have been deHlseo, as "nea men
y the end Of three mile walk they have buried
Each prisoner was accompanied by some half
tozen soldiers and TWO runners, and a yeo% nag
Ie was allowed TO trousers. and in his long
matted nair there was attached wooden peg with
n inscription to facilitate identihcaron after cut
Following the prisoners came some oficiaisIthree
magistrates with JheiE rennres as Faoaed
= hacked streets to its destination. 1t seemed
houel all soo-Chow had found its way to the
he Spectators The soldiers formed square when
he Ground Y was a ike sd s1q ahT sns P
rhe officials mounted the pavilion, standing to
:zlutations the Flu seated himself in the middle,
he magistrates 10 the left and the military Officers
hat all were in readiness, and forthwith five pris
,ners brought within $50 feet Of the pavilion,
he FIRST on the left raised in a kneeing position,
cad placed al the proper angle The eXecutoner
stOod distance of fifteen PAGES TO the LETT OF
n culpr:t made hasty advance with his sword,
il were concealed behind his back stopped
sAort. took glance at the prisoner: hastily drew
solley IT the moment cut off the mans head A
Ti!d shout Of appreciation rent the air from the
thousands that had gathered outside the square.
This was a once suppressed by the soldiers. The
second criminal followed. and it went Till
grewsOTe operation lasting twenty minutes. The
leaGs Were placed in bags, to be dispatched TO the
districts where the crime had teen committed Run
GERS carried brisk trade by dipping charms in
he blood As the heads were being taken back 70
rushed out and stuck little flags and other
bleHs into the bags containing the heads.
W hen the last hTad had fallen the officials rose
from their and exchanged courtesies The
coFolhg 70 ra;!k- me writer who witnessed the
entire proceedings must bear testimony the
good behavior OF what was the greatest crowd of
Chinese ever seen in Soo-t'how City.
IN all slNty-etght executions have taken place. and
an idea that the present is the right to show
their power and strike into hearts OF the
was widespread Al Yang-ChoW the prisons were
found full Of arms and ammunition.
The following occurrence shows the nervous ten
the ninfh head soldier carcisssTy let f IL laie ] oi
This terrified the executioner that he missed his
aim shout raised. They are coming,"
Who The insiders who had promised delIyerance
! general stampede took place OF soldiers and
spectators alike with the result that several per-
The only military officer who remained al his nost
managed. however II restore order after time
]; must not be- forgotten that prisoners condemned
n death are allowed. some time before execution.
to parrake Of p coed feast. wine in abundance and
10 DOUBT opium as well Wren carried along 70
meet their fate they already dead 10 the world
tr nor aid a Of hem @ rove Iirnb SoerG tF6m
while lying il 4 heap on the execution ground