The hangman pulled the crank and Riel fell a drop of nine feet. Dodd and Cotton were below. The knot in the fall had slipped round from under the poll. The body quivered and swayed slightly to and fro. Dr. Dodd felt the pulse.
All sensation is gone.
The body ceased to sway. It hung without a quiver. Dead in two minutes. While inside that solemn and mournful tragedy was being enacted, outside the prison were many of the public and the reporter of the Leader, whose duty it was to watch what took place outside, gives the following description. The barrack square was suggestive of something unusual though all was so calm.