JAPAN—HARI-KARI, A TART OFFICER. MILL

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 348, 11 September 1868, Page 2

JAPAN—HARI-KARI, A TART OFFICER. MILL

(From the N. Y. Herald Correspondence.) United States Steamer Oneida, Hiogo, Japan, March 23.1868. At about eleven o'clock p.m. on the night of the 2nd of March, the execution of the native officer Ikidd Ise, Keral-no-Keral, or secretary of the Prince of Bizen took place inside the Japanese temple, a plain and unpretending building, situated on the main street of Hiogo. This was in expiation for the fiendish crime committed by him at the same place on the 4th of February last, in ordering his troops to fire without provocation, on all foreigners and the consular flags and buildings, some of bur men being

severely wounded on that occasion by the troops of the clan under his command. There were present only seven Japanese dignitaries and officials and a select party of an equal number of foreign ministers, consuls, and officers to witness the execution. The culprit was a tall, fine looking man, of about'thirty years of age and some one hundred anil ninety pounds in weight. He had urgently solicited intercession and a reprieve, but without avail, ahd now seemed quite stoical as to his fate, evincing neither want of nerve nor resolution. The temple exhibited some Buddhist idols, and was lighted up by suspended lamps and altar lights ; the floor was carpeted with green cloth, and near the altar stood a table having cutting instruments. At the foot of this a white cloth was spread, and at a little distance a red one ; subsequent events proved the latter to be the cloth of atonement. On entering the building Ikidd Ise wore the white winged dress called Kami-sho-mo, on which was embroidered in colored silk, between the shoulders, the device of his rank and clan; this is universal here. On taking his position before the altar and looking round, he bowed low, in the customary style, to the Japanese authorities present, and afterwards to the foreign representatives. He then spoke a few words endeavouring to palliate his crime, candidly confessing he gave the orders to fire ; also explanatory of his rank and position He said he knew he was to die, and asked if they wished to question him, and if they were satisfied ? To which no response was given. He subsequently engaged himself for a few moments in devotion with his minister, and on being spoken to by the executioner—- ' an office here devolving on the nearest of kin to the sufferer—he signified his readiness for the consummation. He was now handed the short sword of honour, at the same time presenting his own to the executioner. He then intrepidly Btepped upon the red cloth, sword in hand, gradually bowing, forward his head for the stroke, and suddenly plunging the sword in his side and sweeping it acrossthe abdomen the act eliciting an agonized " augh!" from him. Instantly the executioner,, with one sweep of the culprit's sword severed the head from the body,* jthe blood spirting up toward the ceiling fot : a height of about six feet, while th head rolled on the carpet and the body careened over. This self-inflicted wound is to save caste. There were few muscular twitchings and quiverings, then the body was carried away ■ by two officials, and justice stood vindicated. From the culprit's entrance to the fulfilment of the sentence a space of not more than ten minutes had elapsed. 1 This peace offering of retributive 3 justice, which to a certain extent the t stability and accountability of the 3 present rulers, and which, I trust, is ■ the last such eventf to chronicle, was kept extremely quiet to prevent any ■ excitement. The decisive and defen--3 sive measures of occupation taken, and i the firm and unyielding attitude as--3 sumed, has brought this bold and reckless offender to a condign punisht ment by the Japanese authorities.