(Communicated) Public Executions in China (1865)

Source: The Friend. Honolulu: May 1, 1865.

The theoretical question whether man has a right to authorize, by legal forms, the extermination of human life, as a means of deterring crime, has long been discussed, and frequently disputed, but experience seems to show that nothing less than death is required to protect society from the assaults of those who are unmindful of the sacredness of human life. At least such is the basis of modern law, among ourselves. 

Among the Chinese, the last resort of the law is far more extended in its operation. Murder, piracy, robbery, brigandage, and some other crimes which need not be mentioned, are all punished by decapitation, while rebellion against the authorities, as being the most atrocious of sins, is expiated by the most revolting tortures imaginable, the details of which are unfit for publication. 

In December, 1864, the great city of Loo-Chow (the Paris of China) was captured by the Imperial troops from the Tai-ping rebels, many of whom were condemned to be decapitated, though owing to the influence of the European mercenary force, the torture was omitted. The writer visited that city on the 18th of that month, when he beheld the execution of sixty miserable wretches, whose crime consisted in differing with the mandarins on the subject of government. The writer having joined several military officers, who were equally curious to witness this display of the law's dread authority, we proceeded in a body to the outskirts of the city, where lay the execution ground, and which we had been told might easily be found, from the circumstance of two towers standing just outside the same, and called "The Twins." 

We soon reached the place, and discovered the execution ground to be simply an immense court-yard, enclosed by a high brick wall, some thousand feet square. We expected to have seen execution-blocks, or at least some preparation already made for the tragedy which was to follow, but the hare ground, four whitewashed walls, and a few Imperial soldiers lounging listlessly about, were all that as yet had appeared on the scene, but we had just arrived in time. 

A long cavalcade of officials and their attendants began to tile into the yard and take their places on and around a low platform at one end, which had at first escaped our attention. The prisoners were then driven in, the whole number, (sixty) being chained together by the necks. Five executioners then came forward, and placing twelve prisoners in a row alternately, on their knees, retired to the platform. The presiding officer then read tho Imperial rescript, or warrant. While this was being done, the closest scrutiny could not discover the slightest concern on the part of the condemned. They did not laugh, but otherwise seemed as indifferent to their awful situation as though it were a matter in which they had not the slightest interest. However, we were afterwards informed that they had been drugged by the jailors previous to their leaving the prison. The warrant having been read, the executioners advanced to the end of the row which we had chosen, and there awaited for a few moments, when an officer, advancing towards the prisoners, waved a small flag. This was the signal for the bloody work to commence. The five executioners then bared their arms and began to deal their blows, using a short hut broad and heavy sword. 

Each head was cut off at one stroke, the man first taking a sight at the necks, adjusting the head straight, and then dealing his blow with great dexterity, sometimes using one and sometimes both hands. These human butchers carried on their work with astonishing rapidity, running from one criminal to another so as to avoid the jets of blood that gushed from the falling trunks, and occasionally changing their swords. The task was finished with anatomical precision, and not a groan was to be heard, nor did one prisoner flinch from the impending fate. In exactly four minutes, all the victims had been disposed of, and released from their sufferings. The officials now left the spot, while the heads were all carefully collected, and placed in small wicker cages, to hang from the walls of the city, as an in terrorem to all the rebelliously disposed. Sickened by such a barbarous display of the murderous form of Chinese justice, we hurried from the loathsome execution ground of LooChow. 

Outre Pali.