The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-06
TorIgInall


washee-washee man, called Charlie
Fung by his Mclean" acquaintance
was accused Of revealing the secrets 81
the III Whang society, Of which he was
a member Summoned before the SO
ciety to answer to the charge, he was
assigned counsel and duly tried. Though
ably defended, he was convicted OF
having revealed certain methods Of the
San Francisco Chinese underground
railroad for smuggling Cinnamon into
the United States. The punishment
was death, and the sentence was to
be carried out Immediately In the pres.
ence OF the assembled members OF the
society.
Call the executioner," said the pre-
siding officer in solemn tones that re-
verberated through the silent hall as II
some DR. .ad stf-uck gong.
A%FChinaman eyptered from anoth.
err room, carrying ontN Of those large
sharp double edged swo1 us with which
culprits' heads are stricke I'D ogf In Chi
ma. Over his face he WORN Wooden
mask representing distorteC% features.
The culprit was led into the Middle Of
the room and forced on to his\ knees.
Another Chinaman, also on his Nxnees
before him, caught him BY his piNtal
and drew his head down so that %he
neck was laid bare TO the ak. Then
the smock was pulled over his shouN-
ders. The executioner, taking thet
hnnato - hte sx,ard - ba4h hapse
threw himself into position, raised the
weapon, swung it high over his head
and brought 1t down. When within
more than hairs breadth from the
neck it suddenly stopped. From that
point 1t was slowly and carefully low
cred till the edge rested on the cul-
prit's neck. Then he held it that it
might not cut the skin.
Now, in China, whether from the
great power of these societies. from in
effective law, or what not, the cul-
prit's head would have been separated
from the body. But in America diff
ferent conditions exist. There are not
only judges and juries who do not
respect the DEGREES of Chinese secret
societies, but John Chlnaman has no
pull with them. A headless murder
would not only lead to the punishment
of those instrumental in it. but would
shs 'prejudicial to the continued efforts
of thousands of the copper colored
brethren in America who are washing
hard night and day for living.
The executioner after holding the
sword upon the culprits neck for a
few moments removed it and, resting
its point on the floor beside him, turn
ed to the judges and said:
The Faitor Is dead"
The elecuted man arose to his feet
and looled about him. No one inter
fered with him, for he was dead. No
ore saw him, for he was dead. He
said something to man near him.
The man made no reply. Why should
he reply to a dead man? The mem
bers of the society were arising from
their seats and leaving the hall. The
decapitated man called to one who
had been his bosom friend, but with
out avail. Death separates the quick
and the dead, be they friends or enc
mics.
Charlie Flung followed the others out
into the street. There he saw a poster
proclaiming to Chinatown that he had
been executed that evening A police
man, seeing the notice, to him unintel-
ligible, with Cinnamon standing about
1t. wondered what the yellow devils
were up to now. Could he have read
it he would doubtless have carried a
dreadful story to police headquarters
The dead man wandered about like
ghost from the spirit world. No one
saw him; no one spoke to him; no one
gave him smile or a frown.
If he had had money. he might have
returned to China, but would he have
Jared any better there? Would not an
agent Of the society he had betrayed
follow him and do really the work that
had been done fguratiyely. No: Char.
lie was dead. and nothing could bring
him to life.
t. Charlie was not really dead. he
was really dying that is, he was get
ting into a condition where death
would be preferable to life. The post
ers announcing his execution remain
~ on the walls, and, go where he
would In Chinatown, be saw them.
They we're the only mention of himself
that he encountered. In all other re-
streets he had passed into Oblivion. He
was thirsty. but no one would give him
drink. He was hungry, but no one
would give him bread or meat.
st last Charlie could endure the
strain no longer He wandered Off into
the ''afelicans district and procured a
revolver. 1t was Supposed he stole it.
Going back among those who had been
his fellow Cinnamon. he sat down I'M
der one OF the posters notifying them
that he had been executed. put the re.
voiver to his head and effected in reali-
II the execution that they had effected
In form.
Not only is 1t possible to kill a person |
without doing any bodily harm. but
death so init ted may be made more
cruel than aty physical torture that
has ever been invented.
] Ellen INGLEHART.