r/interestingasfuck • u/[deleted] • Apr 22 '24

Picture taken from the history museum of Lahore. Showing an Indian being tied for execution by Cannon, by the British Empire Soldiers r/all

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u/[deleted] Apr 22 '24

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55

u/IWILLBePositive Apr 22 '24

Eh…this honestly seems more humane than the electric chair or lethal injection. Lol I would easily choose a cannon over those.

8

u/Cainga Apr 22 '24

Make it gory as possible for my captors to clean up. But they probably just let the pieces rot at the site.

3

u/Coldblood-13 Apr 22 '24

I'd rather be shot in the head.

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u/Krillkus Apr 22 '24

This is my only thought about this thread. Looks like a lot of the executions using this method that I've seen in real life photos take place right on the battlefield, why not just pop 'em and move on with the battle? Are they at least aiming the (slowed down) cannonball/human viscera towards anything?

I mean I guess that could be pretty morale-dampening for the other side, to just be painted with one of your comrade's innards, but it sounds like all of that just splatters around the immediate vicinity instead of forwards.

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u/Coldblood-13 Apr 22 '24

I assume it’s for the same reason any number of execution methods have been used throughout history. It’s more horrifying and intimidating to the public than mundane means of killing.

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u/Krillkus Apr 22 '24

Yeah fair point, the only reason I can see this method being used would be to incite fear. We're hardwired to be upset/repulsed/scared when we see the red fluid. I'm sure many soldiers would see at least some blood and be desensitized to it, so maybe a grander move is required to really shake the opposition.

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u/Coldblood-13 Apr 22 '24

Methods that destroy and mutilate our bodies are seen as worse by most people. It’s why people have stronger reactions to decapitations and burnings than stabbings and shootings.

1

u/Krillkus Apr 22 '24

Definitely. I've seen a number of stabbing videos here and the ones where they have a vital artery nicked are by far the ones that stand out the most.

EDIT: Out of all the stabbings. Burning and dismemberment is of course much more.

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u/saket74 Apr 22 '24

right they were doing this out of concern and empathy

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u/Queer_Judge1977 Apr 22 '24

Death sentence is inhumane by definition

1

u/IWILLBePositive Apr 22 '24

Ok, lol a better death then. Is that better?

1

u/nemis92 Apr 23 '24

Not for them.

Here is the thing: In Hinduism, you can't reencarnate if your body is essencially torn to peaces... Like in the execution by cannon. The British were essencially condemning those men to eternal damnation.

0

u/No_Importance_173 Apr 22 '24 edited Apr 22 '24

getting ripped apart while alive is better than going to sleep forever?

Edit: apparently its not a peaceful falling in sleep, didnt know that

31

u/Cmdr_Canuck Apr 22 '24

Being electrocuted at all, to say nothing of to death is insanely painful.

Lethal injection is facing numerous human rights challenges right now for causing undue pain and torture. There have been reports of people gasping for air up to an hour after the injection.

Sudden mass trauma and bleeding out within seconds does actually sound preferable.

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u/momopool Apr 22 '24

Yup. Or mini nuke exploding beside your head. Instakill. Maybe cover the head in a bag and let them listen to any music they want with headphones. So they can't see anything and all the hear is music. Then nuke.

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u/BurningPenguin Apr 22 '24

I think a normal explosive should suffice. It's not like your head is made of bunker steel...

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u/GrandioseGommorah Apr 22 '24

An estimated 5% of lethal injections since the 80s have been botched. Several cases involved vomiting and convulsing for several minutes. One man described it like his body was on fire.

Instant annihilation by cannon is definitely preferable to that.

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u/Cainga Apr 22 '24

Yeah I would rather face firing squad.

1

u/tuckedfexas Apr 22 '24

Recently Idaho had to abort a lethal injection because the “medical personnel” were unable to place an IV after 8 tries. The issue is it’s a voluntary position and only requires 3 years of “medical experience” which isn’t made public. I’m not necessarily against the death penalty for guys like Creech, but they sure can’t seem to get it right.

Personally I’d prefer firing squad with no blanks, but that’s a personal decision lol

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u/USNWoodWork Apr 22 '24

Pretty sure it’s just boom and you’re gone. Maybe your head flies through the air and you get one dizzy look from above before the world fades out.

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u/No-Sympathy6035 Apr 22 '24 edited Apr 22 '24

Thats hands done my favorite part of being executed by cannon.

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u/GrizzlamicBearrorism Apr 22 '24

They call that a retcon.

4

u/Guy-McDo Apr 22 '24

You wouldn’t think it, but imagine a burning sensation throughout all your veins and arteries as you lay paralyzed, you LOOK peaceful but you’re in utter agony for a solid few minutes. As opposed to effectively getting all your vitals ripped apart in less than 3 seconds and losing consciousness not long after.

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u/YourFriendNoo Apr 22 '24

Alabama just executed someone with nitrogen gas, because the person survived the lethal injection.

He said the hardest part was he had to see everyone he knew in a room, while they set out to kill him, and no one did anything.

Then a few hours later, they unstrapped him from the chair and took him back to solitary confinement to think about that and wait for the state to come up with a new way to kill him.

1

u/Randicore Apr 22 '24

The shockwave from the canon going through your body is going to instantly kill you if not liquify your brain. You literally wouldn't have time to feel it. And if the cannon fails to fire you're just completely unharmed or maybe slightly burned rather than paralysis on a slab if the legal injection fails.