Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-10-13

THE executioner then took from bis
person white coat, ia honour OF his
anticipated deliverauce a frock, pre-
pared with pitch and tar, was brought
to him, and wearing tbs, he was con-
Quoted TO the stake His hands were
bound, and two faggots, with straw
intermlxed; were placed beneath his
feet A wet rope was put round him,
and this was tied 10 the stake, when
partial ulurmur ran through those
who had been admitted within the gar.
den space. Huss started. An idea
crossed his mind that possibly Sigis
mund had relented; but this was i'm
mediateIy dismissed, when the priest
who bad before spoken to reprOve the
cries of The crowd, advanced TO give
expression to the feeling which had
Just manifested itself
'Huss was then tied round The mid
die with cords A chain was passed
over these, and chains were fastened
to his left leg and his neck. Thus Sc
curely bound to the stake, the faggots
provided for the occasion, were piled
to the chin; straw was placed beneath
and between them. where it was
thought likely most elfectually to con
tribute to the fierceness of the blaze.
a moment of awiuhsxpectation fol
lowed The executioner approa ched
with lighted torch; when the Duke
of Bavaria rode up to Huss, & loudly
called to him demanding that he should
now renounce his errors; at the same
time reminding him that in few mo.
ments it would be out Of his power.
Il thought the danger already past;
he replied, but happily lam nothing
tempted to gainsay what have hither
to advanced. i have taught the truth,
and am now ready to seal it with my
blood Ultimately it shall prevail,
though | may not see it. This day
you kindle the flames of persecution
about poor and worthless sinner but
the spirit which animates me, shall
Phoenix like, ascend from my ashes
soar majestically on high through ma
ny succeeding ages, and prove to all
the Christian world, how vain this
persecution, how impotent your rage. J
The martyr turned as far as his
bands would admit, and looked O
ards the executiOner, who now APP
preached to kindle the fire. His
movements caused some of the outer
faggots to fall. Upon this, the fam
ing torch was laid down, till the
wool could be replaced. The Bohe
mian saw the torch resumed, and in
the same instant he heard the crack
ling of the lighted straw. The rapid
ly extending blaze spread round the
pile; while, Selling the last moments
that remained to him on earth, Huss
prayed aloud. He was proceeding
when the rising fame seized his beard,
eyes, and eyebrows, and an involun-
tary start threw the cap from his head.
His voice was again heard above the
roaring of the volume of fire, which
now burst from the top of the pile be
bind the stake. Utterancc failed him;
but his upllfted eyes evinced, in that
awful moment, that his heart was still
awake to devotion, though his tongue
is mute forever. His face became vi.
olently distorted, and bowling down
his head he was seen to expire.
nough wood had not been provided,
and the fire failed before the mortal re-
mains of the martyr were more than
half consumed. His clothes had been
thrown on the pile in aid ofthe faggots;
but all was insufficient, and a new
supply of wood was necessary.-The
burning being at length completed, his
ashes were carefully collected, CARR
ed away in a cart. and thrown into
neighboring river, that admirers ofthe
Bohemian might possess nothing TO
recall the memory of their martyr
When / see the withered leaves
drOn from the tr eeS IN Tho heuiopiro - c