Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-08-04
[From the St. Louis Gazette, July 81
Execution of the Negroes.

Before o'clock this morning FRIDAY, July
81 the people began TO throng the city. Some
directed their course towards the gallows, which
had been erected on an island just south Of Dun
cans Island, below the city; and some centred
about the Jail, until Chesnut, Market and Fifth
streets, in the immediate neighborhood, were
completely thronged
The prisoners were soon brought out in the
custody of the sheriff and several others, depu
ties and constables, accompanied by the cler-
gymen who waited on the condemned to ad-
minister the last warnings and consultations OF
religion At about they took up their line
of march, attended before, behind and on all
sides by an immense concourse of people.
Thousands had already assembled on the ISL
and but Fourth and Fifth streets now seemed
nearly filled with sold moving mass of peo-
pie, from The jail wall nearly 10 the Island.
They arrived at the galows at about half
past l2---the military took their position in the
circular area as guard; and the officers and
clergymen, with the prisoners ascended the
platform. The prisoners were now placed in
their several positions under the gallows, dress
ed in white.
The gaows was constructed with four
sweeps on the same axle, made to swing up at
the same time, by heavy weight on the end
opposite to those to which the several ropes
were attached.
Prayers were now offered up by the reVer-
end clergymen, and also by The prisoners
Upon being asked if they had any thing to say
to the people assembled, they severally ad
dressed the crowd Warrick spoke but a few
minutes, and in rather low voice. He was
followed by Brown and Seward: and then Mad
ison. Seward seemed most affected and spoke
with more earnestness and in louder voice
than the others.
The tone of their remarks seemed TO indl-
cate sincere penitence, and they were earn
est in their warnings to their own race, and
even to white persons, 10 avoid the awful fate
to which their crimes had brought themselves
White caps were now drawn over their heads
and faces, and the nooses placed about their
necks, when the Sheriff proceeded TO read to
each of them his several death-warrant. This
being done, the block was knocked out, and in
an instant they were swinging in mid-ar. There
was convulsiye struggle for moment, and af-
ter few minutes, they hung still in DEATH.
Warrick never moved after the swinging mo-
ton was over, but hung with his hands closely
clasped before him.
Seward struggled violently for the first few
minutes, and Brown gave indications of life for
nearly ten minutes, but Madison seemed to die
without pang.
The block was struck out at about a quarter
before one o'clock, and in about half an hour
they were cut down, and their bodies placed in
their coffins.
Thus ended the last act in this awful trage-
dy. Thus may the guilty ever suffer the pen
alties of their crimes.
The surrounding mass Of human heads, num-
bering at least ten thousand, on foot, on horse
back and in carriages, and many on board the
steamers Detroit and Eagle, which were up
very near to the galows, now began to disperse,
thrOnging the streets in every direction.