Death by the Thousand Cats

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7868, 10 July 1905, Page 4

Death by the Thousand Cats

Not many months ago a pirate ckiei who iiad terrified the fisherfoik and country people around the mouth ol Canton "riu-r, ami who when captured on information given by one of | his followers hoasled of the atrocious crimes lie had committed, was thrown into prison al Makao awaiting extra--dition by tuc Chinese (.iowiiimciii. A few days since, says a Hong Kong telegram, he was taken on a gunboat to Canton, and while being marched to the Viceroys Yamen cursed the mandarins and sang popular refrains at. the top of his voice. After one night's imprison-

meat he and five oi his companions Were tied hand and fool ami tarrit-.i in ordinary big baskets to the execution ground. They had previously had food ami wine in liberal quantities, and did not appear to realise that their end was so near, as on the way to the ground they Weie singing to their bean's content. His confederates were quickly disposed of but Lum Kiva Szc, the pirate chief, was not to die so humanely. For him was reserved the lingering death "lingten," or death by the thousand cuts. A rough wooden cross was set on the ground, and lo this the felon was tied. The two executioners com-

menced their bloody work by sclicing Ihc victim to death, being careful lo guard against severing any arteries or wounding vital spots 100 early in the process. Commencing with the face, they removed the flesh from his body, ami it was' not before 71 cuts had been made thai the man was dead. Then his head was severed from Ihe trunk anil his heart and liver torn out. These were removed for another stage of the ghastly act. Near by a temporary shrine had been built, by :he side of which were arranged the ancestral tablets of the generals and captains of the army he had slain. One of the highest officials present was then handed a plate on which rested the remains of the dead brigand, and, approaching, knelt down and propitiated the deceased officials. This tale of blood is no mere fiction emanating from unreliable native sources, but it is ;.n account of what really happened at the city of Canton, a few hours steam from the colony of Hong Kong.