Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-08-27
EXECUTION OF JopN n ,oNrs

EXECUTION OF JOHN NJ JONES
LfNcHBuRo, August I9.-On Mondav
'"rniny last, a hurried rush of men. wom,n
ma ci'iurrn might have been seen i'm Nh,
hu rent avenues leading into town. all
''s'en'ny with rapid steps and anxious coun.
ienances, ;o the least nt death"
AT length, the "Iptuu cur,osit " or IN. inn
mense multitude wa. gratiiied. -Preceded hy
the officers ut Justice, aud followed bv I'm,
ministers of our Holy Religion, the missioner
came forth, handsomely dressed i'm n sui, nf
bluo broadcloth. His couniennpce betrayed
~ .mpi, M of fear or anxiety; but as calm
and unrufled rs though he had been released
from h,s dungeon only 10 DO reunited tn his
friends and 10 society. His step, loo, was
firm and elas,ic-and his movements were
irec aud uncrnsiraiurd. Having assembled
The cart aud taken his seat, the procession
moved forward /" the place "f execution, sit
uated about hali mile from the JAIL in a ra-
vine surrounded by slight eninences
ho'ut hall after | o'clock the Rev Mr..
Ca",why commenced the religious services
"s"a On such occasions, by SIM inr and pray.
ing and afterwards, IN compliance with a
special request ot the prisoner, he preached
nm animated, feeling, and appropriate sermon.
re was followed by DIR. Holco,nbe, in n pa.
thctc exhrtatinn, which drew tears from
many eyes. albeit unused to tho melting
mood Ills exhnrtation was followed bv
singing hymn, and by an earnest PRAYER to
me THRONE "i Grace, IN behalf, not only of
him VIII STOOD on the threshold of eternity.
about tn launch his bark ON that vast and un-
tried ocean. unseen by mortal eye" but
also ot the crowd at spectators who stood u
round, gazing, some with ind. ference, others
with heir,lcss Ievlty, but the great minority
WIN evident interest, On the thr Hing scene
before them.
The religious services concluded, tho pris-
"ner shook lianis with the Rev. Clergy, and
WIN many at his old acquaintance who
pressed around the cart fnr the purpose of
bidding hun IA last farewell, and then taking
his seat, appeared tn be deeply absorbed for a
few moments IN prayer u the Father oil Spir-
ITS About three o'clock, he signiticd Ia the
Town Sergeant his readiness Tor the last act
oithe affecting tragedy. His hands and feet
were then, as is customary, tied together, the
fnIsner behind him, and the rope adjusted TO
the transverse beam of the Taiows; when,
with a Guinness aud indifference. euualled
only by IT'S Ii: mness, he pulled off his shoes
stripped oil hls coat, partially unbuttoned his
vest, and umtasleued' the collar Of his shirt
aud then with an nnshaksns STEM mounted Tho
scah'd.--While the cap was being prepared,
To Conceal ms face when agony "f death should
/ convulsc his features, he was engaged. with
| with great carnestncss, in audible prayer
which continued until his vis,ge was almost
entirely hidden from view. AS an instance
ut his ca!ui, heroic iortliude, we may relate
u circumstance which now took place The
Sergeant had turned off. for the purpose
at letting the drop fall, when jones
called To- him, and with manner and
tone which one would have used nnder The
mns' Indifferent circumstances, asked hun 10
draw the cap lower sn as Ia conceal his
month more efcc,ually Every thing being
now ready, The drop tell, and tie rope broke
On the instant, rush was mide by the spec.
taiors towards the spot where the pour ielnw
lay. but they were soon checked and, after
u lew moments, Jones was again raised on his
feet. A CHAIR WAS handed 10 him. i'm which
he sat down, drew the cap from his face,
lnol muscle OF which. NOR cvcn It's color was
changed. asked for drink of walter, which,
having drank, The rope was again adjusted
aud although his feet aud hands were tied,
he re-ascendcd the scaffold with veIy little
assistance. y minute mnrr elaps, d-tle drnn
again fell He struggled scarcely an instant.
The only evidence al mortal agony which
we behcld, md we Were within II very few
feet of him.. were Exhibited from iva l., seven
minutes after he had been suspended, in the
twilchings and cuntractinns of his chest and
legs. and the qu,verinS of his feet.--We
lean that his neck WAS not broken and he was
therefore permitted to hang within Il few
minutes of an h,ur When Ills body was cut
duwn, ii WIS delivered INTO the hands If his
friends, whn had caTried "a the spot the habi
iiiHrnls at the grave. II coffin and hearse n I'D
they mnvcd off Immediately with the bndy
we presume TO the residence of his father, %
or ~ r'i"S 'r .'n lis rl1ce - Virg;nian