Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-11-24


the unreal death struggles Of the dramat'
scene. The rumor winch. an hoMr previous
had been in circulation. that Colt WAS goln.
10 commit suicide and cheat us out OF tn
exhibition" ;" now seemed 10 have no crcdenc,
anOng tie spectators.
allow much time Is there leh2" was ih
common inquiry; und The answer was, "On
ly ten minutes"
Within The prison yard all is still. Th'
officers on duty are silent not n man moves
The Stiffness Of death prevails round tn
galiows. But without the prison walls ih'
crowd, which had now increased TO gren
number. aud which had throughout the da!
been horribly boisterous, sent up q conlinu
Gus aud dissonant shout as Of ten thousan'
voices.
II seemed like the hungry cry Of an arm!
of wild beasts, eager for their prey.
Al length, within five minutes Of The mp
pointed time, three or four men are seen run
ning round the corner TO which al! eyes arr
Instantly turned, and the stiffness within il
broken by the eager cry Of There comes
Colt" 'Colt !" "Colt !"
Mr.. Campbell Of The Police Court, the fore
most of the men who came round the corner
runs up to Justice Malsell and says, Colt il
dead" lie runs up The line where the pri
soncr expected to pass, excloiming "Colt il
dead Colt has made way with himself.
This announcement seemed to be receivet
ms though it were The echo Of a prcseniimcn
in every breast /; and every one seemed Il
say with the keeper Of the prison, "As
thongh."
While the crowd was rushing to the prison
door, and while vague runors were ahoat ila
Coli had cut his throat, that he had iakel
Prusslc acid or some other poison, and while
every mind sc,med wrought up 10 its uimos
pitch with the excitement of disappointment
and horror, as if to add to the terror of the
scene, that moment rang through The wall,
The cry-"fhe prison is on fire The prison
is ON fire !"
Al the same instant a broad stream OF
fame and smoke Aarcd up from the wooden
cupola. erected ON the top of the prison,
while the crowd rushed in from The gate, in
Franklin street, filling The prison yard. Little
attention seemed TO be paidlo the fire the
general inquiry was, "lIow did Colt kill him.
self?" ln the meantime the engines arrived
and The public mind having been satisfied
that Colt had stabbed himself to the heart
with a knife, the horror and terror that had
before prevailed seemed to be changed into
confusion and alarm.
A, precisely FIVE minutes before four the
door Of Colts cell was opened, and DIR. An
thon was about to enter when he started
back with trembling and outstrelched hands.
Again he looked in at the door and again
started back. The sheriff then entered the
cell and found Colt stretched on his coach,
lying on his back with his mouth and eyes
nor .n 4
IN his heart.
The sheriff placed his hand on the face Of
the dead man and found il still warm, Scve.
raj were admitted to see the body in this
state, when the coroner took the key and
locked the door. AT seven o'clock an inquest
was held on The body in The room of the
Court of Sessions, m account Of which will
be found below.
Probably before five o'clock intelligence Of
these events had reached every part Of the
city. A rumor was very prevalent also, that
Samuel Colt had been arrested on suspicion
Df setting fire TO the prison, with u view to
divert The attention Of spectators and thus
attempt rescue. But Mr.. Cal, has not been
arrested, nor is he in the least suspected by
he magistrates Of committing an act SO fool.
lsh.
The probable or certain cause Of the fire
was accident, The watchman in the cupola
wns ordered to keep in his room oil day, bu,
Just before o'clock he went into the yard
10 see the execution, when the cupola took
fire.
II is a noticeable coincidence, however,
hat friend Of ours was earnestly assured,
yesterday morning, by his housekecper, that
he prison would be fired. We do not know
whether her prediction was made on The
trength of a dream or merely under The in
luence of one Of those strong, g,undefinabe and
Impressions which sometimes
10 so wonderfully precede events.
AT every corner, as we walked home yes.
erday afternoon, were knots of people gazing
'p into the sky, where the planet Venus was
distinctly visible. Many seemed to regard il
IS porlent, or at least as rare and strange
occurrence but they were wrong. Venus
5 often seen in broad day light at this season
4 the ycuI.
We have received the following letter from
Dr.. Anthem, giving, it will be seen, promise
{ interesting details for our readers and the
ubic.
o the Editors ofthc Commercial Advertiser
1t was NY intention to give to the public,
trough your columns of this day, the "noles i
interviews" which ] read TO The Court al
~ examination last night, and my recollec.
ons oi The scenes IN the city prison, so far
5 ] was witness on the 18th. find my
rlf, however, not equal today to discharge
lis painful duty, which owe to the Church |
which am minister, to the community
nd 10 myself hope on Monday 10 place
y statement at your disposal. H
am, respectfully. yours. H
HENRY ANTIlON.
Rector Of st. Marks Church. H
Saturday, Nov. 10. Il