The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-30


then his wretched wfe-married but an hour-lei
him for the last time in this life. Colt drew her to
his bosom, and kissed her passionately again and
again, and followed her with his straining eyes till
she passed from his sight, almost sinking 10 the
earth. The clergyman enqured of the brother if a
coffin had been brought II had not. They thought
IT would not be needed The DR.. sent to his sexton
for one, and ordered vault TO be ready at shutdown
All this did not move Colt an atom. The coffin
was brought amid the Jee,s and shouts of the mob
which now had increased to 10000 around the jall,
and the excitement was tremendous Over 800
persons had now obtained an entrance into the Jail
yard, and they were wound up to an intense pitch
of excitement. Throughout the city the people
were in perfect fever, and numbers feared that he
would escape at last. Ii was drawing near towards
two, and bright star in the northwest, OF
uncommon brilliancy. twas Venus, but being so
unusual sight in the middle of the day, all be-
lieved it betokened something dreadful and that it
was mysteriously connected with the fate of Colt.
This increased the excitement almost beyond en-
durance
TWAS now close TO two p. NJ. His counsel
Tor, Mr.. Seden, bid him farewell for ever. He APP
peared less moved than any of his friends. Then
his brother entered his CELL staid but few minutes
spoke but few words, shook his hands with despe-
rate and nervous agony, and passed hurriedy but
calmly out OF his cell, and taking the arm OF the
wretched wife, left the Jail together. "Now," said
Colt, If there are any others here that want To
wish me good by, should be happy to see them"
Nearly all in the prison then passed his cell door,
one by one. He shook them heartily by the hand
kissed nearly all of them, and babe them Good
by" with Gods blessing.
1t was two o'clock, and all his business
arrangements except the last fatal one, were con-
summated. He seemed as if load was off his
mind. Now" said he, "give me watch" 1t
was given, and he compared the time to minute
by the Sheriff's watch ''I have two hours o
live," he said, " and dying man wants to k.ow to
a moment when his times come" The clergyman
then went into his cell at his request. "Now let
Us pray" said he; and he kne.t and prayed
fervently. DIR. Anthem rose and left him, saying
"Make up your mind to die with christian forti.
mde." 81 SHALL" said Colt hurriedly {" l shall die
with christian fortitude.'' DIR. Anthem left his cell
"Now,' said Colt to the sheriff, sternly let me be
left alone till O'clock" "You SHALL" said the She
riff; and his door was locked In ten minutes it was
opened again for sheriff Hyer to take leave of
him. Colt rebuked them for disturbing him, kissed
Hillyer, exclaimed, "Good by-God bless you,"
and turned away. Snow let me, ," said he, " on no
account be disturbed till four" II was promised,
and his cell door closed on him for the last time in
life. This was half past tive.
The mob increased inside and outside the ail-so
did their noise. Some talked of the star-some of
Colt-and all looked for something strange to hap
pen. Within the Jail there were forty persons, Off
GERS and doctors, all silent death-nearly all say
ing that Colt would commit suicde-but all wonder
ing how he would do it, In Colts cell all seemed
still as death Three o'clock came-the suspense
was terrlble-half past three-the excitement was of
frenzled character-quarter to four, and the mob
seemed about TO break into the jail-the sherifs
put on their death llvery-fve minutes to four-the
times up-bring him sut--now he's coming-where's
the cap and rope 1.-THE cell door is slowly unastened
and opened in stepped the parson, and mercul Pro-
violence, whaa sight met his glazed vision-there
lay Colt, stretched out his back on his cot, vel
tering in his blood-warm, but dead! He had stab
bed himself TO the hear-ater feeling for the exact
spot, and laying himself out as carefully and com
posedly, as a nurse would dead infant.
"My God, said the sheriff, she's deadr' DIR.
Anthem reeled into adjoining cell, and tainted
away. "He's Dead" said the doctors below, as
they rushed up stairs into his CELL and felt for his pull
saion "It's all over" said they; "let the coroner
take charge Of him." And the coroner closed the
cell door the murderer and suicide, with the knife
still sticking in his heart Butthe last scene Of
the drama was yet to come. At that moment
the Jail was discovered to be on fire. The excite
ment resembled madness. The mob outside raved
to get in, not believing him dead. Those inside,
raved to get out, fearing they should be burnt to
death in the jail The fire bells sent out their shr
and alarming tones-the mob yelled-the prisoners
in the cell screamed-the women shouted murder
enc maniac convict cried out "Burn away-hell is
broke loose at last, the large cupola of the Jail
was one sheet of fame-the fire engines and fire.
men clamored for admission to the jail-the gates
were opened-in rushed an engine, right over the
platform of the gallows-ln came the mob-out
rushed others-and the shrieks and yels and crack
ling and curses, and screams and shouts and noise
and confusion that ensued never have been equalled
since the burning of Babylon. At last, in an hour,
the flames were subdued the mob turned out, the
gallows taken away, the watchmen put on duty for
the night and preparations made for the coroner's
inquest, which was concluded about midnight
And thus ended one ofthe most eventfu DAYS that
New York can exhibit in her entire history But
although Colt lay stiff and stark corpse in his cell,
numbers as they went home to bed reluctantly that
night, declared that they believed Colt was still alive
and that the whole thing exhibition got up to
prevent his execution and to set all law and order
at defiance!
Take it all together, the murder-the boxing up
of the body-the alleged sailing of 1.-THE trial
firing pistols in CONTRIBUTING of the head and
bringing the scull of the dead man into Court-the
sentence, and defiance to the Judge-the Park
meeting the threat TO arrest the Sherif-the mo
ney that seemed to flow like water-the various
bribes-the mock plety-the holding sort of levee
in the cell the day of the execution-the horrid
marriage-the shocking suicide-and the burning
OF The jail, all combine TO form history that
throws fable and romance for ever into the shade