Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-08-14
THE EXECUTION OF A SLAVE.


immortal dostinies, launched, by the hand of his
fellow man, from the gallows into eternity, even
when we know il is done in vndication of violated
justice; but when every sentiment of our hearts
and every instinct Of our nature rovols against the
punishment as undeserved, and we feel that justice
has been outraged and trampled upon by the brute
force of arbitrary law then such a spectacle is
something more than soemn,-lke the sight Of
MURDER it is awful, terrific. An execution of this
latter character we once witnessed, and it made an
impression upon our mind which time will never
eiace
In the month of February, 1871, large, valua-
BILE negro, belonging in Berkeley Co., Va. impcled
by the cruel treatment he had long been suffering
from the hands of o merciless MASTER resolved up
on the desperate alternative of liberty or DEATH.
Accordingly he set his face towards the pole star,
and, with every muscle knit and every snew strain
ed, he followed it night after night beacon
! lighting him on to the land of freedom. AS he
neared the State line, and his heart began to beat
high with hope, he was overtaken by his pursuers
and when the Sheriff who accompanied them at
tempted to secure him, the horrors of the condition
which again awaited him flashed across his. mind,
and filed him with such desperation, that he siez-
cd knife from his bosom, and plunged it to the
officers heart. Thus freeing himself from the
Sherif's grasp, he made an almost suporhuman eff
| fort to escape. But in vain. lie was oyerpowered
by numbers, dragged to the county jail tried with
in week by single Judge, and sentenced TO be
executed, with but a brief fortnight in which to
prepare to meet his God.
1t was on fine frosty morning of the day ap-
pointed for the execution, that we started on horse
back, in company with young friend, for the Ma
tonal Capitol, hundred miles distant in order to
be present at the Inauguration Of President IIarr-
son. As the County Seat of Berkeley was directly
upon Our route, and such course would not mate
rally interfere with our previous arrangements, we
concluded TO stop and witness the execution
ride Of twenty five miles brought us to the spot
where was to be enacted the terrible tragedy. The
whole country, for leagues around Of all sexes,
ages, colors, and conditions had assembled to be-
hold the exhibition. The scene had already open
ed. company of infantry stood drawn up in
front of the prison waiting to escort the death-de-
voted criminal to his grave He soon made his
appearance arrayed in white shroud, and singing
with loud full voice psalm expressive of Joy and
triumph in redeeming grace. lie seated himself
in wagon upon his coffin. The soldery formed
a hollow square about him. and in a silence unds-
turbed by naught but his hymns of alteration and
praise, he was conveyed to the place or execution
about mile distant from the village 1t was in
deed horrible spectacular armed funeral pro-
cession bearing living corpse enveloped in is
winding sheet, to the damp, dark, silent grave =
That brief but terrible death march was soon over
and with a firm step the doomed man assembled the
gallows clergyman put up prayer in his be-
half to the throne of the Omnipotent. The poor
victim Of the laws revenge then turned to the
crowd, among which were great numbers of his
fellow bondmen, and expressed sorrow for the
deed which was now to send him into another
world. He did not mean, he said, to infct NOR
tai blow, but only to disable the officer and there
by effect lis escape. He forgavc his enemies, ex-
pressed his belief that just God would regard
him with mercy, then sung the hymn beginning,
"When can read my title clear,o
with more imprisoned warmth and stirring pathos
than ever heard from mortal lips before or since
The rope was then adjusted about his neck. He
took his last look of the bright spotess sun which
was resplendently shining down upon the awful
scene; the hood was drawn over his face, and a
handkerchief was given him to be dropped when
he was ready to be ushered into the presence OF
his Eternal Judge. The multitude was hushed in
breathless silence. He uttered short fervcnt
prayer, and as he reached the word Amen, he lie,
90 the fatal signal, and the drop fell. For an in
slant all eyes were rveucd to the spot. But sud
denly every cheek was blanchcd and every heart
thrilled with horror. The rope had broken and
he, whom we fondy hoped was just crossing the
Threshold of eternity lay PROSTATE upon the earth
at our feet. He was for a moment stunned by the
shock then slowly raised himself from the ground
and the cap being removed from his eyes, looked
about him for moment with bewildered air. anC
then, unassised, staggered up the steps Of the scat
fold. The drop was replaced. The rope, whicl
singly had been proved too weak to sustain hl
weight, was doubled. To allow this to be done he
had to stand upon tip-toe He evidently was mos
inpatient to die, and ready to do any thing to ia
cilitate his own execution. The cap was agar
drawn over his face-another prayer he uttered
another fearful Amen he pronounccd--the sigma
WIS again droppee---5ut even then the King o
Terrors delayed his coming. The apparatus was
out of order, and the curse of life was on him still
There he stood painting for Death, and Dealt
would not come! Our very blood ran cold will
HORROR and we could scarcely refrain from covering
our eyes and rushing from the dreadful scene
The apparatus after few minutes which seemed
an age, was adjusted. Another prayer ascendet
from his lips, another Amen was spoken, and like
a leaden weight he heavily swung off into the air
For a minute he remained motionless; he hel
struggled for moment and all was over. Thu
spirit of him, who was no more murderer at hear
than any individual of the vast crowd which sur
rounded him. was before the bar of Jehovah. Hi
body remained suspended about twenty minutes
a physician then assembled the scalTold and aite
n thnrnnnh examination nrnnnnncnd il llfnlnss |