The Savannah morning news., 1904-08-05


crucihxions and one. beheading is the
record of Chinese justice I witnessed
to-day. The crucihxions, though, are
only means for securing justice; as
to the beheading, it is a means, OF
supposed means, for roofing out the
bandit evil of which all Manchuria is
suffering. The battlefield of justice
is an open square outside the western
gate, in the center a stone slab, where
the delinquent kneels to receive the
death stroke, and nearby a well, sur
mounted by a half demolished pagoda
The latter is the receptacle for the
heads. The bodies. or trunks, are
thrown into a doorless vault fodder fof
the dogs. Chinese charity puts the
head seat of the GOd-giVen brain and
root of the much honored pigtail, out
of reach of animals; about the rest
of the cut up human beings it does not
concern itself.
AS the procession with to-days vic
tim was not yet in sight, there was
time to pay a visit to the open air
torture chamber, situate on the other
side of a low wall, which we scaled
standing on the backs of our
coolies.
No less than ten Chunchuses (bri-
gands) were undergoing torture and
slow death by crucifixion there-may
/ never be forced to see anything so
horrible again. The crosses were Sc
cured horizontally on piles, rising about
four feet from the ground, pillar
under each of the four ends. The vic
TINS were nailed to the wood with one
hand and one foot they must be able
TO cat and drink. says the law
Yet these terribly tortured human
beings were innocent in the eye of the
law, according to the American way
of thinking. The Chinese law pro-
vides that no person burst be executed
until and unless he confesses to the
crime of which he stands accused. To-
days batch of criminals, charged with
brigandage had refused to do so
hence the attempt to coerce them.
For awful as the punishment must be,
il is not uncomfortable. Witness one
man who stood it for two long
years.
The latter I would not believe. but
the Dsonsun, Chinese viceroy in Muk-
den. corroborated the story after con-
sulting the official records.
The cross to which the two years
sufferer was nailed stood aloft, over
looking the place of execution. Per
mission having been secured. through
a large bride. the delinquent's friends
raised the awful instrument of torture
in the hope that the vista of quick exc
cutions beyond the wall might induce
their relative to give up his struggle
against fate, confesss and allow him
self TO be beheaded. Horrible to re-
late, the crucified man, though he has
seen many hundreds of heads cut off
within the last twenty-four months,
persists in prolonging his myriads OF
agonies.
Twice a day his faithful wife sup
plies him with food and drink at the
end of a long stick. His partners in
misery obtain their nourishment more
directly, the jailers placing it within
reach of their free hand. / purposely
drop the subject, emitting all details
of what l saw and heard, passing by
the agonized appearance of the vic
tins Of this strange savagery, the re-
hearsal would be unfit reading for
civilized people.
From the top of the wall fellow
correspondent, left behind to watch
proceedings, shouted. They are COM
ing" whereupon we returned to the
place of execution. But only a big
cloud of dust was visible in the di-
rection of the city. Il called you
back to help me drive off these con-
AOullQCu Jugs Sdiu our NDiiedRuG.
there is a heap of stones. let's give it
TO them"
! counted seventeen gaunt, haggard
ours feeding of the bodies of three
men, executed the day before. With
their teeth they had dragged the head
less trunks from the vault, and de-
spite our persistent fusillade were un-
willing to let go of their prey When
! left in my 'rikshaw'' an hour later
I a 40
bones, distributed over the square.
Procession Arrives.
Suddenly horn signals and toms.
a convoy of horsemen, foot soldiers
and civilians, shining bayonets and
prancing ponies. while above the
throng fioated two enormous black
banners. inscribed with Chinese letters
in white. The viceroy's mounted
guards, heading the column. outlined
three angles of a wide. hollow square,
while the fourth was formed by infan-
try in black jackets, ditto turbans, and
with bayonets fixed.
Behind the soldiers of the Son of
Heaven came a troop of Russian in
fantrymen, who seemed to regard the
sorry business a festive occasion, for,
in defiance of accustomed discipline.
the men smoked and INDUCED in jests
of all sorts.
Now a two wheeled cart, drawn by
two horses, tandem fashion. The first
animal bore the executioner, "A POM
pous individual in long robe. shout
dering a broad sword. The hands of
the prisoner were unfettered, but when
he was taken off the cart we noticed
that his feet We're stuck in wooden
blocks.
At that moment an "Ah" of appre-
citation went up from the reporters
gallery" Barring the correspondents.
of course, the culprit was the best
looking man in the audience never
saw Chinaman with a more open,
straightforward and pleasing face. 1t
had energy and character in it, "A
finely modelled nose and a firm mouth.
And such elf-possession-a judge de-
livering an opinion intended to estab-
lish his reputation forever and a day
never appeared on better terms with
himself. On account of the wooden
anklets the headsman's helpers were
obliged to assist their prey I'm walk
ing. They did so in a friendly spirit
and the prisoner rewarded them by
smiles and jokes.
When the party reached the line Of
rikshaws where your correspondent sat
enthroned with others, the prisoner in
dulged in a low obeisance. held ont his
left hand and drew the index finger Of
his right across in imitation OF writ
ing. He understood that he was good
copy for us and seemd to be rather
proud Of the fact.
short Proceedings.
Another signal; preparations for the
last toilette. The delinquents coat and
undercoat are removed and all is