The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-09-12
OF PROF. WEBSTER.

EXECUTION OF PROF. WEBS EN-
A. cvcry thing in connection with the closing
.cenes in the life Of Dr.. Webster, from c'rcum-
.t.nce., has assumed q strange interest, we puo-
li,h the following article from the Boston lfa.s-
crpt Of the 3lst ult.;--
The countcnance OF Professor Webster ~
death was serene and even pleasant IN ITS eA. :.
nre s.ion; exhibiting no discolorat'on or sign o.
distortion. The genial, bcaming smile, VII"
which he was wont to encounter . friend, seen,-
al n have JUS, passed over il, and left its trace
soon after the body was cut down, Or. fut-
nam rsnn;red to Cambridge TO communicate M
,ell;oence Of the execution 10 the bercavcd fam
IL For some DAYS, through the vague commu-
n;c4,;on Of a friend, they had been anticipating,
,ha, each interview with the prisoner might De
The last; although they left the cell and the laii
on Thursday, not supposlng that the execute"
would take place the next day. As they enter
ed their carriage, however, they no'leea Gus
from which they drew dreadful augurics OF the
;mm,nencc Of the fatal event; and when the VS.
Il az DR.. Putnam was announced yesterday morn
inn they AZ cnce knew that all was over.
I've drop the curtain over the scene 0t d0mce.
,;c anguish that ensued. Il was not unrelieved
nv hope., that the fathcr and husband had deep
" and sincerely repented OF his crime; and that
he bitterness Of death was alleviased by sincere
religious preparation and prayer TO the Most
High.
Yesterday morning, before the religious exerci'
ses in the cell, whether there were any points
he would like to have touched upon IN the pray
-. Professor Webster replied, that there were
two, which il would be agreeable 10 his feelings
Ia have introduced: one was, that the hearts OF
his fellow men might be softened towards him,
after he was gone; tho other that every consola-
lion from heaven Tor the suffering he had lntict-
ed might be vouchsafed TO the family and rola-
,iyes OF the late DR.. Parkman.
In the interview before the prayer, Professor
Webster alluded to his hope Of meeting in the
world, to which he was about 70 pass ~ epir'', a
tenderly beloved child, who died some years
since. He conversed, with perfect composure,
on various subjects, mostl. OF a religious nature.
During the walk to tho gallows the converse
ton was maintained mostly by nr. Putnam,
whose object i, was to keep the prisoners
thoughts SO occupied with sacred things, that
the appalling spectacle around him should not
10 the last. Not a nerve shiyered. To Dr. Put
nnm,s remarkable not regard any thing about
you-do not look"-as they entered the aren,
and approached the gallowe, he replied: 81 DO
not. Nv thoughts are elsewhere"
All the while the death-warrant was being
read, DR.. Putnam kept up cheering converse
ton with him, and the prisoner responded calm
ly appropriately. II would have been dithcult
to pre- scribe demeanor more becoming under
the Giro nmstances, than that which he exhibited,
or TO have invented words more suitable than
those which he uttered. nr. Putnam Piled hun
with remarks to keep his thoughts in tho right
direction, and to prevent any pause, during
which he might quail. The prisoner gratefully
seconded these humane efforts, but without any
furry Of spirits or nervous agitation. Dr.. Pat
nam continued near, conversing with him, while
the officers tied the prisoners arms and legs
while the moose was adjusted round his neck
and while the black cap was pu, on-nor did he
retire from his immediate vicinity till just ~ the
fatal drop was abou, to descend.
The flushed appearance Of the prisoners face
and tho effusion Of tears were produced nppar-
emily by the premature and momcntary tighten
ing Of the rope, aud not, as some supposed, BY
agitation.
The last audible words Of Professor Webster
as the cap was drawn over his face were: STA
rHsa. INTO THY HANDS COMMEND NY SPIRIT"
With regard 10 the statement that the prison
er had right to claim till Il o'clock yesterday
we have learned, that there was no special righ
on the prisoners part after O'Clock, the firs
hour mentioned in the death-wurrant.
The wish of the prisoner, as expressed, the
evening before, both to Sheriff Eveeih and Dr.
Putnam, was that the execution might be as
prompt as possible. He said that he would BE-
ready ut any moment after 8 O'Clock. This re-
quest the Sheriff observed SO far as the convent
ence and decorum of the occasion would allow.
For some DAYS before his death Professor
Webs,cr's favoritc reading, next 10 the Bible.
was in Caanning's Works. He also found much
to soothe him and crafty his religious and liter
airy taste in Bowring's "Matins and veeper,''
o,l Ill cf He
made presents of the last named works, with
appropriate passages marked in them, 10 vari-
Gus friends.
The body was taken to the house OF Mrs.
Webster in Cambridge last night. The funeral
will take place early tomorrow morning, the
services being performed a. the house by the
Rev. DR.. Walker.
TIE Iowa Statesman says that Delazon Smith
is seeking notoriety abou, these days" five
may Judge from the onslaught Of that and kim
dred Locofoco sheets throughout the State, upon
Mr.. Smith, he is finding no.orieIy. Tnoso edi-
tors are taking the proper course TO make Deiu-
sion great man.
Peaches The N. Y. Mirror of the 29;h ul'.
says, speaches were never more abundant than
At present, and never less remunerative TO the
grower. The market is perfectly glu,tcd, and
they are sold for mere tribe. A large quonti-
" Of very fair quality were yesterday disposed
81 at wholesale for six cents q basket-abou,
three pccks.'
The Minnesota Pioneer says, that the volume
Of water passing down the Mississippi, since the
onenno of m viz tion in much orenter this year