Lewiston daily teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1901, 1900-11-24
BOXERS PAY THE PENALTY.
chinese Merchants and Native Christians Are
Paving OFF Old Scores by Delivering Up
Roxsrs For Public Execution.

Boxsrs For Public Execution.
PEK1N, Sept23.-[Special Correspond.
epce. Scarcely day passes now but
what some luckless boxer, relying too
confidently upon the assistance of his fell
low countrymen to conceal his move
ments strolls into Pekin and gets HIM
self promptly executed. The Celestial is
a great fellow to nurse grudge, as inn
placable aud unrelenting as the Ameri-
can Indian in his hatred. He does not
hesitate to sacrifice patriotism to private
revenge. Pekin is big city, but not
big enough to hide for any length of
time boxer who is unfortunate enough
to number among its million inhabitants
single enemy Of his race.
Complaints are being lodged constantly
with the police authorities of the various
foreign armies in their respective districts
by Cinnamon against Cinnamon. Since
the city was captured there have been
hundred or more executions. Ninety
per cent of the victims were arrested by
reason of information obtained through
Chinese sources. In nearly all the cases
the infortner has b.en some Pekin mer-
chant whose shop was looted by the box
ers during the siege. The particular
boxer against whom the complaint is
made may or may not have been con-
cerned iu that particular job of footing.
The merchants particular grievance is
that he was cheated out of few copper
cash" in a business transaction wears
ago by the man who is now at his mercy.
But the willy dealer does not mention this
to the authorities. He is able to adduce
abundant proof that his shop was act
ually looted and burned, and his friends
are readily enlisted to testify that the
prisoner is boxer. That is sufficient for
the military court and the victims fate is
sealed.
Shooting is the customary method of
terminating the convicted Boxers career.
These executions are for the most part
conducted privately. The English, how
ever, have adopted the plan of public ex-
ecutions for the effects they may have
upon the spectators. The condemned is
dragged from his place of confinement
in the Temple of Heaven and through
the south gate Of the cit y to point two
or three miles outside, the accompanying
guard compelling all Cinnamon encount-
cred along the route to join the process
sion. AS rule they are perfectly will
ling to witness the execution for curiosity
is the Celestial ever mastering passion
The Americans have not officially exc
cuted any Boxers. Several have been
arrested however. in Uncle Sans sphere
of influence in the capital and "attempted
to escape" They meyer have the privilege
of making more than one such attempt.
This unofficial method of terminating a
Boxers career, has certain advantages in
that it saves the bother of trial and pos
sible censure from home should he be
convicted aud executed under orders off
a regular tribunal.
dictive against the Boxers than the native
Christians who suffered so greatly at
their hands. A few days ago two men,
iather and son, alleged to have been
ringleaders among the Boxers in the
nelghborhood Of the old American Board
OF Missions compound were arrested by
the Japanese. The prisoners where
abouts had been disclosed by the Chris
tan Chinese to the superintendent of
the American Board who had promptly
reported the circumstances to the Japan
csc commander in that district. The
sentence pronounced by the Japanese
military court was rather unique. 1t was
mat the prisoners should either be exc
cuted that same day by the soldiers or
turned over to the missionary, according
as the latter should desire. If the mis-
s'onary cared to assume charge of the
men he could dispose of them as he saw
IT.. Apparently the Japs who do not
entertain very exalted idea of mission
aries in general, felt that the fate of the
condemned would be none the less
certain and perhaps even less pleasant in
the hands of the American Board super
intendent.
Inc latter, however, who is not all |
"ioodthlrsty in disposition, was naturally
somewhat chagrined when he heard the
verdict. If he did not take charge of the
PRISONERS, he felt that he would be per-
Sonaliy considered responsible for their
execution. He demurred from thus as
Stunning the posifion IF arh,ter Int the