Sunday Washington globe., 1902-03-23
An Early Morning Hanging in
Manila.
ANGLO SAXON CIVILIZATION
On Tap for the Filipinos, Who Are
Treated to a Specimen OF Our SUI
periority in the Manner and
Method of Furnishing Criminals
CalIous Brutality Of American Offi-
clals.

Here is an account of an early morning
execution taken from the Manila AmericaR,
which must impress the Filipinos with the
superiority of what Senator German would
be pleased to term "Anglo-Saxon civili-
zation."
It is a fearful and terrible thing to rise at
half-past Ave in the morning and 60 to a
hanging. It's all Of that when some one
else is the victim, and it must be much
worse when it's your own hanging. Not
withstanding this, Seriaco Carreon, who
was hanged at Fort Malate, recently, for the
murder of Lazaro Santos, a teniente of
Malibay, in October, 1900 was by far the
most dignifed person present.
The affair really does not deserve to be
called an execution. It would be more ap-
propriate and truthful 70 say that Seriaco
Carreon was brutally tortured to death by
one L. Kuchenbriker, haugman so called.
This cold-booded and bunging amateur
made a sort of early morning reception
out of the affair and issued mis-spelt cards
or passes, signed by himself to his various
friends. Major Dent of the Twenty Fourth
Infantry was in charge of the killing and
there were dozens Of curious soldiers,
The condemned man was brought to the
gallows at about half past six. He was ac-
cOmpanied by a native priest who stad
with him until the end. Two women Of
his family talked with him for few min.
utes but, despite their hysterical sobbing
he never lost his nerve. The women then
retired outside the port and knelt behind
one of the doors where, still sobbing loudly,
they repeated prayers for his SOULS rest for
some time after the drop had Fallen.
The order for the execution was read to
the prisoner on the. scaffold aud then the
horrible part of the6agedy commenced.
Kucheubriker, the hangman, had failed
to provide straps to piuion the prisoners
arms and legs. Instead he tied his hands
and feet with small, unsubstantial cord.
The moose was too short and when the strap
was sprung Seriaco dropped barely 6ve feet.
His neck was not broken and he at once
began to make struggles and contortions
terrible to witness. A strong muscular
effort broke the cords which held his arms
and legs and the suffering native began to
kick violently and reach with his arms for
the rope over his head. His struggles
caused the rope to swing and his body
swayed from side to side like a gigantic
horrible pendulum.
Kuehenb-iker and an assistant rushed to
the swinging body and while the assistant
held the dying mans arms the chief
strangler again pinioned his hands and
legs The horrible struggles lasted for
nearly ten minutes. The condemned-and
executed-mau slowly strangling, again
brUke the cord holding his hands and the
latter were free when he was cut down.
So violent were his convulsions that one of
the low laced shoes he wore was kicked
from his feet
About twenty minutes after the drop had
fallen, Dr. r. L, Shortledge the medical
officer in attendance, applied his stetho-
scope aud said to Major Dent, Hes dead,
sir" Ten minutes later he again reported
the nan dead. Kucheubriker meanwhile
was paving over the body in a most dis
gusting manner.
Ten minutes after the second examination
DR.. Shortledge again applied his stetho
scope to the breast of the man whom he had
twice pronounced dead Strange to say. he
was still dead During all this time the
sobbng prayers Of the women were plainly
heard.
Nearly forty Eve minutes after the drop
had been sprung the corpse was cut down
and placed in a coffin for burial. Everyde.
tail of the execution was repuguant and re-
voting in the extreme.