Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1845-07-17
: The Execution.


PHEN HoDoEs were hung in this town
on Tuesday last. From dawn until
the time appointed for the execution
The principal avenues to town were
crowded with people. The Steamer
Mermaid brought, down large number
from Blooming,on-,he Shockoquon,
alter bringing an immense load from
Me place whose name she bears, pro-
ceeded 10 Oquawka. from whence she
landed at our wharf a crowd from Iii.
nois. In the meantime one of The Steam
terry boats from Fort Madison-,he
Caroline-came loaded to the guards
with passengers--,he "New Pur.
chase" with large multitude from
Nauvoo. and places adjacent, arrived
too late for the passengers 10 witness
the execution. Long before the time
appointed our streets were literally
filled with men. women, and chill.
dren.
Al ~ o'clock, the guard, composed
Of three or four companies of riAemen
under the command Of Col. GEO. TEN.
PIE, arrived at the Jail, and soon after
ihe prisoners were placed in wagon,
which contained their collins, under the
care Of deputy Sheriff SMITH McKEN.
NEY, with his assistants. After all the
necessary arrangements were made I'm.
der the judicious direction of the Sher.
1T. JOHN II. McKENNEY, Esq, the
the procession took up its line of march
TO the gallows. The Band and Martial
music played appropriately solemn
tunes during the progress of The march.
The procession crossed the square from
the Jail and down Court to Third
street. through Third to Jefferson
street, through Jefferson to The place of
execution.
The place selected was on the Mt.
Pleasant road, Immediately ives. of
town. 1t was perfect natural amphi-
shea.re. The gallows was in the GEN.
tire Of the dell and in full view Of and
Immediately contiguous to the .hons.
ands Of spectators who covered the
hills. No movement could be made
nothing could be said-tha. all could
not see and hear. In fact we cannot
conceive of more appropriate location
for such scene.
IN their way to the gallows the
prisoners manifested no concern-no
anxiety. Had they not been dressed
in the habiliments Of death, none would
had taken them as the candidates for
the gallows. This stoicism did not
leave them. No change was even per-
ceptible in their countenances when
they came in sight Of the galIows-and
when they mounted the steps and ar.
rived on the platform they observed a
dsmeanor which showed that i, was
their study and their great business to
60 through the scene without any ap-
parent fear!ulness of their fate. AL
though they succeeded, their very sue
cess dried up the fountains of sympa.
thyin the breasts Of the spectators, as
all felt that such conduct lily became
men in their awful situation.
The gallows was occupied by tie
Sheriff and his Deputy, the Prisoners
and a. friend that had just arrived in
town, the Rev. Mr. White of the Cum.
berland Presbyterian. the Rev. Mr.
Coleman Of the Methodist, the Rev.
Bishop Loras Of The Catholic and the
Rev. Mr. Hutchinson. of the Congre-
ga'ional churches, together with the
Counsel for the prisoners, Messrs Mills
and Hall.
The exercises commenced with the
reading OF the 5lst Psalm by Mr. Cole
man. This Psalm was read a, the re.
questof the prisoners, and we cannot
but believe from all their conduct and
their refusal to confess their crimes to
their fellow-men, that they chung to
Ibis psalm and adopted its language as
an excuse for their refusal. They may
have thought their confessions to their
Maker were sufficient, and thus they
may have palliated their consciences.
After the reading of the Psalm, Mr.
White gave out the appropriate hymn,
NOW in the heat Of youthful blood" &c.
Alter the singing Mr. White offered a
most fervent and per,inen, PRAYER call.
ing upon God 10 shield The youth ,bon
present as spectators, from temptation
and sin. and ending their lives as those
before them we're about to do. Imme.
diately after The prayer,
SrEPnRs Hodges came forward 10
address the crowd. He was yerv