The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-07-10

burning sun, Il vas annosn~cd that PoItrr
was approaching. OD looking towards'
the civ, cnlyalcade that flied up ever,
avenue 20 the gsiloys, was sceh drnNiQe
near. enyelopcd in cloud OF duy., wIi1ch
n i partially drew aside, only served T. :,
make tho crowd appear more dense. -
They cams on at slow pace, ATTENDED
sx.a ahrssg sl' officers and guards. Por-
ter was seated in a cast, upon his coilin.
and looked around upon the immense mass
ofpeople without any uncommon concern
Herwore shabby black hat, The remain
der of his dress being covered beneath
large white linen gown; 'fhc halter was
arouud his neck, and his arms were slight
sy tied tog ether at the elbows, behind him.
The hangman rode in the same cart, dis
-ruiscd in ragged suit Of prison regimen
stals and an,oId straw hat; his face was GOV
: cred with thick green veil. . .,a
The cart was prccededan followed by
the Marshall, his officer, the whole Of thc
city police, with troop Of cavalry in cti-
zens dress; and body Of Marines from
the Navy yard joined the procession at
the gallows. AT ten o'clock prcciscly,
tho culpr,t reached the gaIlows, and in a
few minutes ascended the platform, nc-
companied by the Rev. Mr.. Eemper, o.
The Episcopal Church, who hid attended
him since his conviction, and several other
clcrgymen.
The religious services Of the occasion
were then begun by the whole group knccI
ing to pray, which occupied about twcnt,
minutes. In these exercises the culpht
Joined with great apparent sincerity, and
when he rose, stood with firm and mnnly
front, looking upon the concon'sc which
filed the view on every side. Hc looked
subdued in spirit, and appeared TO be fully
aware fthe horrors Of his situation, tho
in passing down the prison steps to enter
the cart, he walked with cheerlulness
bordering on hilarity.
The attending clergy having concluded
their duties they each shook hands with
him and descended. The Marshal and
the hangman then appeared upon the
platform. The hands Of the culprit were
tied together by the latter nt tho wrist,
the cap drawn over his face, ead the cord
adjusted TO the beam above. Every thing
being thus far ready, the death warrant
was read by the Marshal from tho scaf!old,
having finished which, he lett the prison
ef alone upon the drop, he having no wish
TO address the spectators. He stood in
this position perhaps minute, when t,le
drop fell, and the wretchcd man ceased
70 live. Hr .H
He died almost instantly, there bein,.;;
. but slight peceptible struggle. The
moment the drop fell, tremendous rush
took place, among the crowd, from tl1o j.
dca that the rope had broke, and great
confusion was the consequence. Women
and young girls we're knocked down, tram
pied upon, stripped Of their. shawls and
bonnets, and some Of them without doubt
severely injured. Several panics Of this
kind occurred in succession after the drop
fell, and the rapidity with which the alarm,
extended itself was astonishing. The
whole mass ofpeople were apprised Of a
.rumor that Porter's friends intended to res.
cue him; and to this cause may be princi
pally attributed the wide, dangerous, bul
wholly groundless alarm which existed
So g ~, and irresistible was the rush, thai
the wonder is no lives were lost in the COT
fusion. sio2 Ia. rs
The cnlprit dropped at exactly half af
ter ten o'clock, and the body was not GU
down until after eleven. He fellnot lesl
than four feet, nearly out Of sight Of th'
crowd, and within two or three feet of thu
ground. The spine must have been efIcc
uaIly broken, and bis sufferings only mo-
nlcntary. a8 Am
II must not be concealed that great ant
violent dissatisfaction not only existed bu
WAS expressed, by hundreds ofthe spccta.
tors, at the absurd and unjust extension o
mercy to Wilson. All classes Of 'ris i'm
mense asscmblage were loud in their de.
nunciations Of tho President; though M
symptoms OF rescue wero any where ot
seryable. by twelve o'clock ,hc scene o
death was entirely, desertcd.---LN. York
Com. Adv. 3, sef+ y ~
Stole Of Rhode Isiaad and Propidene
a..