On the 24th ultimo, according toa native despatch from Wuchang, there was summarily executed at Hanyang one Lia Cthang-sheng, a native of Hunan and one of the principal chiefs of the great revolutionary society called the Kolao Hui. A man of fine physical appearance and reputed to have immense strength, his history is the same as that of thousands of others who have served in the army and deserved promotion, but have been_disappointed, being too poor to buy their way up. Three years ago Liu was not a Kolao Hu but a Sergeant in one of the few Hunanese battalions which went through all the fighting against the Japanese, beginning from in the Cha'ngpei mountains, west of Féng-Pingyang, in Coren, tothe Motienling Pass, huangeh'eng, East Manchuria. Here Liu's battalion served under General Nieh (now Titai of Chibli) who by stubbornly holding the Pass, against considerable odds, succeed ed in blocking the way of the Japanese in: their intended attack upon Moukden through that route. Liu frequently distinguished himself for his bravery and coolness in danger, and led many a party of his comrades when all the officers had. cither been shot down by the Japanese or had run away for shelter from the rain of bullets. With the signing of the peace, Liu got leave to return home with a pocketful of promises of promotion" but very little money. Getting home, and disappointed in his future prospects, Liu became an easy convert to the Secret Society agents. In any other country this man's war services and record for good conduct, etc., would have made him a mark for rapid promotion. The Kulao Hui Centre of Hupeh found him, appreciated their new convert, and in a short time he had risen from one grade to another until he was a full-fledged chief at the time of his arrest on the 22nd of July last. Earnest in everything he did, Liu was actively proselytizing in Hanyang, lodging in the house of a widow. Here a spy of the Government discovered the man and led_a strong surprise party of some 50 soldiers on the night of the 22nd ultimo who, surrounding the house, captured the Koluo Hui chief; but not without great trouble. In his baggage which was searched there were found the yellow banner of the society, the Pa (octagonal) seal of a senior chief, and some thousand odd membership tickets (printed on yellow calico) of the Motienshan and Takaoshan leagues of that Society. These tickets were evidently intended for new converts to the society. These were proofs enough, and Liu made no denial of his complicity as a chief of the Keluo Hui. When captured, the youthful son of the widow at whose house Liu lodged was carried off to the yamen. Fortunately solemnly declared that the youth was not a member of his society, otherwise the latter would have been executed at the same time as Liu, that is, on the second morning after his arrest.' But to teach hima wholesome lesson the authorities had the youth—who appears to have thought al'along that he was to be deco pirated also—bound and fettered for exeoution, and taken to the military parade ground in company with Liu, and there made to kneel next to the latter. When the sword fell on Lin's neck and severed his hend from the trunk the youth closed his eyes and waited for his turn. It did not come; but he was pardoned and released on the spot, much to the joy of ti idowed. mother, who had come to carry her son's se away with her. This is how in China in some other places men are made offend ders by the Government's neglect, and then punished for becoming so.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.