CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7] — Page 244

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

233

statement

The "pressing rod" was next resorted to. More than once he fainted away but as often he was brought back to life. Still this had no effect in changing his former statement even a little. His body was now covered all over with bruises, no part of it was uninjured. He was so feeble that he seemed more dead than alive. His Worship ordered him to be taken back to the prison, there awaiting a further trial. Sz suffered so much from the effect of the torture that he had to be assisted in his movements the next day. It is feared that his days could be numbered.

We learned that Sz had many friends and relatives who knew the people in the Yamens and who had frequent intercourse with them; but when he got into trouble, all his friends and relatives forsook him, simply because they were afraid that if they went to assist him it would be like going to help extinguish a fire in a bamboo leaf coat - they would be in danger of getting into distress themselves. Thus there was no body to attend to him ever since he was put into prison.

The jail-warders, seeing that they could get nothing from him in the way of extortion (i.e., the God of Wealth did not respond to their prayers), doubled their cruel treatment of him. They placed him by the side of urinals (i.e., tubs of urine) and made him sleep on damp and dirty places. Alas, born of a good family and brought up among luxuries, and now exposed to such hard circumstances.

2. This is another means of torture in China. The prisoner is made to kneel on the ground; a steel rod is placed horizontally on his legs just above the calves. One man then stands on each end of the rod.

Edit History

2026-05-31 18:16:19 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
233 statement The "pressing rod" was next resorted to. More than once he fainted away but as often he was brought back to life. Still this had no effect in changing his former statement even a little. His body was now covered all over with bruises, no part of it was uninjured. He was so feeble that he seemed more dead than alive. His Worship ordered him to be taken back to the prison, there awaiting a further trial. Sz suffered so much from the effect of the torture that he had to be assisted in his movements the next day. It is feared that his days could be numbered. We learned that Sz had many friends and relatives who knew the people in the Yamens and who had frequent intercourse with them; but when he got into trouble, all his friends and relatives forsook him, simply because they were afraid that if they went to assist him it would be like going to help extinguish a fire in a bamboo leaf coat - they would be in danger of getting into distress themselves. Thus there was no body to attend to him ever since he was put into prison. The jail-warders, seeing that they could get nothing from him in the way of extortion (i.e., the God of Wealth did not respond to their prayers), doubled their cruel treatment of him. They placed him by the side of urinals (i.e., tubs of urine) and made him sleep on damp and dirty places. Alas, born of a good family and brought up among luxuries, and now exposed to such hard circumstances. 2. This is another means of torture in China. The prisoner is made to kneel on the ground; a steel rod is placed horizontally on his legs just above the calves. One man then stands on each end of the rod.
Baseline (Original)
2 233 statement The "pressing rod" was next resorted to. More than once he fainted away but as often he was brought back to life. still this had no effect in changing his former statement even a little. His body was now covered all over with bruises,no part of it was uninjured. He was so feeble that he seemed more dead than alive. His Worship ordered him to be taken back to the prison, there awaiting a further trial.Sz suffered so much from the effect of the torture that he had to be assisted in his movements the next day. It is feared that his days could be numbered. We learned that Sz had many friends and relatives who knew the people in the Yamens and who had frequent inter- course with them; but when he got into trouble, all his friends and relatives forsook him, simply because they were afraid that if they went to assist him it would be like going to help ex- tinguish a fire in a bamboo leaf coat they would be in - danger of getting into distress themselves. Thus there was no body to attend to him ever since he was put into prison. The jail-warders, seeing that they could get nothing from him in the way of extortion (i.e. the God of Wealth did not respond to their prayers), doubled their cruel treatment of him. They placed him by the side of urinals (i,e,tubs of urine) and made him sleep on damp and dirty places. Alas' born of a good family and brought up among luxuries, and now exposed to such hard circumstances 2. This is another means of torture in China. The prisoner is made to kneel on the ground; a steel rod is placed horizon- tally on his legs just above the calves, One man then stands on each end of the rod.
2026-05-31 18:16:19 · Baseline
View content

2

233

statement

The "pressing rod" was next resorted to. More than

once he fainted away but as often he was brought back to life.

still this had no effect in changing his former statement even

a little. His body was now covered all over with bruises,no

part of it was uninjured. He was so feeble that he seemed more

dead than alive. His Worship ordered him to be taken back to

the prison, there awaiting a further trial.Sz suffered so much

from the effect of the torture that he had to be assisted in

his movements the next day. It is feared that his days could

be numbered. We learned that Sz had many friends and relatives

who knew the people in the Yamens and who had frequent inter-

course with them; but when he got into trouble, all his friends

and relatives forsook him, simply because they were afraid that

if they went to assist him it would be like going to help ex-

tinguish a fire in a bamboo leaf coat they would be in

-

danger of getting into distress themselves. Thus there was no

body to attend to him ever since he was put into prison. The

jail-warders, seeing that they could get nothing from him in

the way of extortion (i.e. the God of Wealth did not respond

to their prayers), doubled their cruel treatment of him. They

placed him by the side of urinals (i,e,tubs of urine) and made

him sleep on damp and dirty places. Alas' born of a good family

and brought up among luxuries, and now exposed to such hard

circumstances

2. This is another means of torture in China. The prisoner

is made to kneel on the ground; a steel rod is placed horizon-

tally on his legs just above the calves, One man then stands

on each end of the rod.

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.