The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-07-08
tSlip from the Philadelphis Saturday Bull
lstin, published in the New York Com.
mercial Advertiser


(Sip from the Philadelphia Saturday Bul.
b lstin, published in the New York Com.
mercial Advertiser
The Execution. In conformity to his
sentence, the penalty Of death, was this day
inflicted on James Porter, the Mail Robbsr
the President having seen fit to commute
the sentence Of Wilson to imprisonment for
twenty years.
The gallows was erected on an open lot
Of about thirty acres, Immediately adjoining
Bush Hill, and as early as five O'Clock IN
the morning, crowds of people were obsorv.
ed to be stationed IN the vicinity Off wait
ing for the hour of execution. As the morn.
ing advanced the crowd Increased, and by
nine o'clock as many as fifteen thousand in.
dividuals had assembled on the ground.
They continued 10 arrive in large numbers
until about ten o'clock, when dense mass
ofhunan beings covered the fields, amount
ing we should suppoao, with what after
wards assembled, TO forty thousand specta-
tors, s,of which not less than two were women,
some Of whom had infants in their arms.
After standing for several hours in a
burning sun, it Was announced that Porter
was approaching. On looking towards the
city, u cavaicade that filled up the every av
enuc 10 the gaIlows was seen drawing near,
enyeloped in Il cloud Of dust, which as it
partially drew aside, only served 10 make
the crowd appear more dense. They came
on at a slow pace ATTENDED by a throng Of
officers and guards Porter was seated in
ocart upon his coffin, and looked around on
the immense mass ofpeoplc without any un.
Common concern. lie wore a shabby black
hat, the remainder Of his dress being cover
ed beneath a large white linen gown. The
halter was round his neck, and his arms
were slightly tied together Mt the elbows
behind him. The hangman rode in the
same cart, disguised IN ragged suit Of pris
on regimentas aud old straw hat; his face
was covered with thick green veil.
The cart was preceded and followed by
the Marshal, his officers, the whole of the
city police, with troop of cavalry in citi
zen's dress; and a body Of Marines from the
Navy Yard joined the procession at the gal
lows,and in a few minutes he uscended The
platform, accompanied by the Rev. Mr..
Kemper, ofihc Episcopal church, who had
attended him since his conviction, and sew
eral other clergyman.
The religious services Of the occasion
were then begun by the whole group kneel
ing TO pray, which occupied about twenty
joined with great apparent sincerity, and
when he rose, stood with firm and manly
front, looking upon the concourse which
filed the view on every side. lie looked
subdued in spirit and appeared to be fully
aware ofthe horrors of his situation, though
in passing down the prison steps TO enter
bordering on h,lsrity.
IL In1
their duties they each shook hands with
him aud descended The Marshal and the
hongman then appeared upon the platform.
The hands of the culprit were tied together
BY the latter at the wristth cap drawn O.
yer his face, and the cord adjusted to the
beam above. Every thing was thus far
ready, the death warrant was read by the
Marshal from the scah'old, having finished
which he left the prisoner alone upon the
drop,he having no wish to address the spec
tators. He stood in this position perhaps a
minute, when the drop fell and the wretch
ed man ceased TO live.
He died almost instantly, there being bat
a slight perceptible struggle. The mo
ment the drop fell, a tremendous rush took
place among the crowd, from the idea that
the rope had broke, and great confusion was
the consequence. Women and young girls
were knocked down, trempled upon, strip
ped of their shawls and bonnets, and some
Of them without doubt, severely injured.
Several panics of this kind occurred in sue
cession after the drop fell, and tho rupidty
with which the alarm extended itself was
astonishing. The whole mnssof people were
apprised ofa rumor that Porter's friends in
tended TO rescue him; and to this cause may
be principally attributed the wide danger
ous, but wholly groundlcss alarm which cx.
isted. So great and irresistible was the
rush that the wonder is, no lives were lost
in The confusion.
E,rhe culprit dropped exactly half after ten
o'clock, and the body was not cut down un-
ill after H. lie fell not less than four feet,
nearly out Of sight Of the crowd, and with |
in two or three feet Of the ggound. The
spine must have been eilectually broken,
and his sufFerings only momentsry.
I.must not be concealed that great and
violent dissatisfaction not only existed but
was expressed, by hundreds of the specta.
tors, at tho absurd and unjust extension of
mercy to Wilson. All classes Of the im-
menso assemblage were loud in their de-
nunciations Of tho President, though no
symptoms rescue were any where obser
vable BY twelve o'clock the scene Of
death was entirely deserted.
n - r IL Al