The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-06-07
JUNE y, 1927


had my senses. that it was all of solid stone,
three feet thick, and that, if could pass
through crevice smaller than the eve of
a needle. had no chance of escaping. And,
in the midst of all this exertion, a faintness
came over me as though l had swallowed
pnison; and ] had just power to reel to the
bed place, where sank DOM, as think, in
a swuon; but this did not last: for my head
swan round, and the cell seemed to turn
with me; and dreau,et--bet"ec ping
and wakng---that 1t WAS midnight, aud
that Elizabeth had come back as she had
promised, and that tnsy refused tu admit
her. Ana thought that it showed heavily.
ana that the streets were Ill covered with il
as it with /. white sheet, and that saw her
dra,i--l3n.s in the fallen SNOW: and in the
etirkiteaf 1t the prison gate'--AS hen ca'fie
TO loy self, WAS struggling and breathess.---
In minute or 1wo, heard st. Scpulchre's
clock go ten; aud knew it was dream
had had. The chaplain OF the prison came
without ms sending. He c;;hortca ms So
lc,nniv ',to think no more Of cares and trou-
b,ea III this world but to bend my thoughts
lpon that to come, and to trv TO rcconcile
NV soul 10 Heaven; trusting that my sins,
though they were heavy, under repentance.
might have hope Of mercy" When he was
gone, | did find myself for a little whilc
nnre cnlcctrd; and sat down again on the
bed, and tried seriously TO commune with
myself on NY fate. recalled 70 my mind.
that had but few hours more 1T AL events
to live that there was no hope ON earth OF
cscaping--ad that it was 1T least better that
| should die dccently and like man. Then
Tired t0 rccolcct I'LL the tales that had
ever heard about death by han5ng--that y
was said 70 be the sensation vi a moment
To give no pain--to cause the cHtinctlou nt
life ihstantaneously---dnd 50 on, to twenty
other strange ideas. iaY degrees, my head
began to w..uder aud grow unmanagcabe
again. put m hand tightly 20 my throat
4, though to uy the sensation ot strangI'hg.
fhc;l frlt my arms at the places where
tho cord would BE tied. ! went through the
fasteniurs of the rope: the twin, OF the hands
together: the thing that fcis aosl aver>e
10, was the having the White cap mnliled
over nv ewes aa,l tace. If could avoid that
the rvst " x nor 50 very horrio,. u the
nitlst ut these talicit.s Il nnmbncss seemed
10 Greco ov.rin senses, lat giddines that
ho, ittt ss.te w.s to dull stupor. which
icssrnet. the pain that my thoughts g"vr,
iAan.h ! S5.i went M thinking. he
church. clock sang midnight: / was srnri1lt
ut the s4nmi, htit II reached Mt lAGisuncstN
-, tAnupn conIj.s throuah 'nant Cihari
cl0Irs or tro n !! tar distance. Bl ana 3$,
saW the objects 3vtnrc ms rilnd less aii.i less
clcp,lN; tncn 0niy partially; then they were
.@ue .!losetAr.. icil aslc"p.
II sl,llt until the hour .. execution. II
was seven O'Clock OH the ncHt murn.ilis,
when !. knocking ut the G9or Of my cell d
woke me- ! heard the sonnd as taonEh IN
nv dreams ter some moments before | was
fully awake; aud my first seMaat'oi y ia oniy
the dislike which weary man teria 1t -
ing aroused; WIS tired; and wished II duZc
on In a minute after, ths ba.ts Oh the out
side of nv dungeon were drawn; tdrhkcY
CARRYING Il sialll lamp, and followed " tue
i master OF the goal and the chaplain entered;
looked up--a shnddcr like the sheck oi
electricity, like rluase into Il BATH ot ltc.
ran throu IL me; one !,taacc wis sniticett.
/ SlreD was gone as though | had never
slcpt-.ycn rs never WAS 10 sleep asaln---l
y,as conscious of my stuAton. -, sdil
~. master to mr, in i sub lucfl, bnt steady
ranc. 1T il time tol you tp iise.' / nc chap
Lain asked ne how | had passed the night,
and proposed that we should jnlh III prayer.
! rrY.hcrcd mVself w. and remained seated
on The side of the bed place. MY tetth
rhatteretl, anl my knees Knocked toSetDer'
in despite Of myself 1t WAS barely daylight
\ vrt.n ana. as the cell door stood open, could
scc into the small paved court yard beyond,
thc morning was thick and gloomy; ana
/, slow bit settled rain was coming down.
II is half past Z O'Clock. r., SAID the
master. | Just muttered an cntreaty to be
lett alone till the last nomcnt. had 20 MIN
utes to live.
II trie,! 20 make another observation
when the master WAS leaving the cell; Dut
this time, could not get the words out; my
tongue Stuck 70 the roof Of my mouth, and
NV speech seemed gone; ! made two dcspe-
rate efforts; but it weld not dol could not
utter. When they left mic, never stirred!
from my place on the bed. | WAS benumb-
cd with cold, probably from the sleep and
at the inaccustomcd exposure, and / sat
crouche,l together, as it were. ~ Keep my
self warmer, with ny arms tedcdiacross my
breast, aud my head hung down shiHerins;
and nv body felt as ifit were such weight
TO me. that WAS unable 10 move it, or stir.
( The day was now breaking. yellow and heav-
ily; and the light stole by degrees INTO my
| dungeon, showing me the damp stone walls
and desoate paved floor, and, strange as it
was-with all that could do, ! could not
keep mvsclf from noticing these trifling
shings-thongh pcrdition was coming upcn
me the very next momcnt.--l noticed the
| lamp which the turnkey had lett ON the floor,
and which was burning dimly, with a long
w;ct being clopved with the chill and