The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1901-12-19
An Adventure
in Chin a ~ -
soseyv.sA. ,sss. ~ Asssess sysdsssssJ

soseyv.sAs IN. ~ Asssers sysdsssss,
A MAN stands outside the walls of
~ the legation having just closed
an Interview with the American min
lister. and standing there he expert
snces . sense Of relief At the accom-
plishment Of his mission. at the same
Zine being unable to resist . feeling
Of triumph. He feels that 10 10 not
given 70 many to outwit eastern d.
plomacy and oriental craft.
He has been chosen for this deli
cate and dangerous work chiefly on
sccount Of his familiarity with the
Topography Of the coantry, having. In
his college vacations. accompanied q
friend who was engaged la civil en-
giseering In China, while devoting
his own researches to ancient manu-
scripts Of eastern poetry.
Walking slowly and thoughtfully
through the streets of the Imperial
City, he recalls the anxious, wan
faces Of the legationers, who had
waited with such patience for help In
their more than dangerous situation.
and now. just as they were beginning
% lose hope, and all seemed dark. he
felt exultant over the fact that he
had been the means Of casting . ray
Of light on their gloom.
His exuitation. however, is destined
20 be shortlived. He suddenly feels
himself caught from behind. q strong
grip upon his throat. and. though he
struggles valiantly. he soon finds re-
distance to be useless. He feels that
death stares him in the face, but II
developed later that his nationality
preserved him from such danger.
Il seemed that the authorities had
tecome suspicious and desired to ex-
tort from him any knowledge that he
might possess. They had no wish to
It'll him. as his disappearance might
excite inquiry. They had not yet lost
ell sense Of future danger.
They were averse to adopting any
ordinary means Of torture. as u
might leave signs which would fortify
Ais subsequent complaint and cry fo'
vengeance.
Therefore, with oriental subtlety
they apply the sleep torture.
The sleep tortured Could mind oi
man conceive q more exeruciatinR az
enyf The victim Is suspended In a
strong silken net swung from the
ceiling by a slender cord OF SILK. II
sHectuaiiy confines It's tenant.
He is excessively wretched. for hs
has Inadequate room.
Attendants are in evidence whose
duty Il is to prevent sleep. They are
not TO permit q moments uncon
sciousness.
For more than 4s hours the prison
or has not slept. beginning Mt thi'
time, one OF the attendants who pos
sessed psychic powers. thus describes
his sensations:
The man is In pain. His limbs aese. ~
A oppressed with wesr!ness. More 'hat
ehis 4 dreadful desire overcomes him. y
h a longing for sleep. He erie, out 70 hi'
GODS. but they DO not answsr He wonoer'
Why this suffering has come upon MIN
He grappies with II as with q mao AM
nal Still there II no relief.
Nov he passes out OF this condition FOL
a little while. He becomes aware of bodily
suffering more keen Than all ne mas en-
comes nrst Just above the eyes. "wha
n that painY'' he cries. A knife Of molier
metal Is thrust into his skull. The poin
bresks and Is imbedded there. II spreads
IKE quicksilver. His ner - shout and pro
lest bitterly. The knife tries 10 regain III
point. II thrusts Its haft within th'
wound. The man feels such agony that hi
language supplies no words. lie canno
live. nor die. he wonders II within his grasI
q aend has seized him.
cannot tell more for the man has n,
thoughts. The nolseless lips with whici
the brain would speak are closed, ano ol
them eli comes q seal, coined with blood
marked with unknown signs.
Now the man thinks again. Riding upoI
his syeiids he sees faint specks. They ar
soft and black like those OF soot. So sof
they are that pain Is not. Yet they be
wilder and confuse. They increase TO mil
Hons. From out the upper lid IN troopinl
.hordss they pour. and falling down con
zeal the world. He thinks they come from
furnaces within his temples. whose fire
feed uncessinsiy this procession Of gloom
He prays for change, and answering hi
prays, change comes quickly. Each specl
Sakss upon II q brighter hue. and IN q mo
osnt Q tinse Of IRE pervsdes them oil
shs eyes are scorchsd and scanned Wit
His thoughts change 20 that he for
\ cts his Visions. How he longs 10
yslesp.
Yirss burn up bis blood. tn
sosm swings around him. No,
= be VINO reels and turns. He think
sAst he stands upon one foot .
that ssly the heel rests upon th
Aoor. The other foot IL lost. On
como giant hand 10 twisting hir
swiftly.
New he Aies faster and fastel
No renembers - . child how thi
vss snce . play. Yet never did b
spin - pow. He rocks and stagger'
The wallis Of the room disappear II
= In space. rushing, through th
sAArry sky. He calls upon the nam