The St. Louis Republic., 1900-09-16
7E Eyewitness Tells of the Weird and Even
Smokey

Special Correspondents u The SUNDAY Republic
Bangkok. Siam, August. l$ca-Ny permit
10 attend tho execution Of Noccantasudn-
bubhsrauanaIocano. highwayHan and Tflur-
d,rcr was signed hy the CHIEF justice OF
BANGKOK and tr avoid being seen We start
81 on our Journey while il "1' stun "'ih' I'r
since tE,. Kings rc-ru from Europe, s-E-
cgal years ago. hrhcIdin2s Hr-' no Iohstr
pUblic shows. indeed, on" must nave III
fnca,e in tho highest circle 80 Obtain an
invitation ta ore rf these rare "tr'ifi"hi'9'
W, Irft The western part 90: the 'oWl a.
a ru with liberal fr"NiSiuiS OF '''t.iu
chocolate and rrVf crmint ~"hnrpS, MOVING
quickly along the grand av'nie " 'ht ~
ir.I -ra River N-igaW. until thc uSiWoGh
.J canals that extends through ~" principal
.t.,I~l3,.ir of liz. ...st sid" was reached lhtI'
lolvins thD t.aEuaas. the TaptrliE' Ei''di
,I...s of towers ard ;hn lofty narrow HoHicS
,,,.l, movable eiIdod v4nes behind, our boat
shot !ucu az, confer of f"atinS hoin,S''idS
,yRcrc III. ,.ur natives dwell In the east
sid. r.s.sr n1iIsabg..tS are said to he an
,rur,a. frai structures. built 90 lGht WOOD
and bamboo. with thatct'd roots "i pdlIh
l-Tg.-. I:y IN. .l.ht Of ttC moon We -"
1E,. pcacgful families sumheT on their mats
JOY the fronts OF the houses are e"'i'e'S
open.
Tho Place Of execution was n Wat Ma
,.,ss-,, orr 81 t.e walled -'ty quarters.
which Is now almost "A wilderness from age
and neglect. Tfr ruined temples. Shali'i'S
a-B Frf. v.r. deserted for tie t'':c heiiS'
yr.r~gtr,ra and inhabitants alike haNlhS
=. ,..s. driven out for the day by royal order
tH.Iy t-l,. Eriyi!..-s,i characters, the hrhZSS'
%. uri.Sts. had remained behind, ana most
4r l,.,n were making their toilet IN lhe
,.,..u :.i y, V.Js--i. Like the chinese I'm
1i,..o,'s. their official dress IS yellow and
consists of several parts. loin cloth the
1f.-u1lr1s and a Grtlt-clptif eEytIupinE the
I..jIrc from head to foot. The pa-nunC Is
about one yard in breadth. 10y three long,
and Is wrapped aI-Iui the waist by placing
ills center against the small Of the back SO
that the left hand end comes well
around the right side. being turned IN NJ
the waist. where "a long. narrow band noids
H. The outer garment is OF saifroB-colored
muslin like the ToSt-Budddh himself de-
creed IL SO.
Murderer and ENecutioncr-
The murderer sauattcd i'm an iron cage
rlaccd at the bottom os the police boat;
there wee a number OF army officers the
States attorney and several dozen soldiers
standing, or sitting about in animated con-
Ners.ttion They laughed ana smoked like a
crowd in a hotel corridor waiting for break
fast
At the stroke Of 6 the Judge made his ap-
YCarauce. walking uD IL an altar tempo
Iarily set up against a wall of yellow mus
lin Hundreds Of candles Were burning ON
ard about the place of worship, casting
IhCir light upon heaps of fruit rice and
fiOurs offered for sacrifice TO the gods De
vout people had sent them for the benefit
of the CuIprits soul. In the center of the
altar lay six broadsworas in red velvet
Sneaths
Upon 4 sign from the Judge, the execu-
tioHer walked uD to the altar. followed by
i've men. his assistants. They all prostrated
themselves before the image of Buddha.
prayed aloud and then gave themselves UP
TO ten minutes Of silent meditation. After
that the exeCutioHer anointed the fore
heads of his men with sacred oil. prayed
n gain and then handed 10 each one of ths
swords. Finally the Culprt. dressed in
Khaki and loaded with chains, was con-
Quoted into the center of the palace. He
looked pale and i'll at ease. The soldiers |
and policemen formed a circle about him |
and drew their sabres. !
To the Cross With Him.
After this precautionary measure, his arm
chains We're taken off, together with his |
Jacket, and he was moved backwards a 4
hundred steps until he reached wooden