The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-10-16
From he San FIaacisc0 Herald. Aaenat IS


Tered by a division Of the Vigilance
Committee, consisting OF 36 members.
and the prisoners, Whitaker and Nc
kenzie, taken and carried to the room
Of the committee. on Battery St, whore
they were hung. -<
The Rescue. The circumstances Of
the proceeding are as fplIows:- The
Rev. Mr.. Williams. as has been bis Gus
tom of Sundays for some weeks past,
was engaged in religious exercises with
the prisoners. who had been brought out
from their cells into the yard or area be.
tween the inner wall of the prison and
the high wooden fence that surrounds it,
The hymn had been concluded. and the
minister was offering up prayer, when
a noise as OF persons eDdeavoring to fnrce
the door in the wooden barricade
was heard. Capt. Lambert attempted
to keep it fastened, but it was burst
through, and the detachment Of thirty
sixty men rushed in. One portion in
stantly pinioned the officers on guard.
and effectually prevented any interfer-
euce on their part, while another portion
seized Whitt1ker and Mckenzie to bear
them off. They, however. struggled
aud resisted until forcibly carried of by
their captors. During this scene, the
other prisoners remained overcome with
fear. and profoundly quiet.
The Route TO tie Committee ROOms.-
10 the meantime, the prisoners had been
hurried off in carriage, provided for the
occasion, standing at the corner of Du.
pont and Broadway streets, but few
steps from the Jail Into this they were
thrust. followed by a guard OF the com.
mittee.-The driver piled his whip, and
off dashed the vehicle at the utmost speed
to the rooms of the commilte on Battery
street. r.r ..a
The whole affair was conducted with
such expedition that before those in Mont
gomery street. who knew Of the rescue
almost as soon as it occurred, could run
down to the committee rooms, the prison.
ers had been carried within, and the car,
riage was returning. Before they had
yet reached the rooms. however, the bel
Of the Monumental engine commenced
to strike The well known signal for th'
instant assemblage of the Committee
All understood in an instant how matter
stood, and the whole city seemed rush
ing towards Battery street. v rta.-t
| The ErecGtion-ln an incredibly shor
space oftime, ropes were reeved through
the two blocks that hung from beams
projecting from the front Of the commit
tee rooms, over the doors in the second
story, and the two ends were taken in
side the rooms. Nooses were made a
the end ofeach, and in minute the two
criminals were seen led to the doors il
their shirt sleeves. The ropes wore ad
Ijusted around their necks, and in an in
slant they were jerked simultaneousl,
into the air. until their necks struck tn,
blocks. They descended little dis
tance, and were again jerked up to th'
block. causing them to swing violently II
aud fro. Their arms were pinioned t,
their side; but McKenzie's hand beul
free. he caught the rope by which he
was elevated in his left hand; he wa
lowered for all instant, causing him t.
loose his grasp, and all was over. The.
said nothing to the multitude, who stoo'
gazing upon them; aud when at last the
, ceased to yibrate, moi q convulsiou o
movement Of any kiud could be seer
As they were launched intneternity,
tremendous shout of satisfaction went U
from the crowd. There they hung. slow
, ly swinging round, now exhibiting the
countenances to the spectators, and 1
gain avertng them. Not movement {
any kind was made To interfere. A
seemed to be conducted with the utmos
order aud according to a pre- arrange
plan. There was no confusion--no hall
ing or hesitation. N"7 pre- taaH
) When they had been hanging abou
. half an hour, Mr.. Samuel Brannan cam
f to the open door in the second story {
the committees building, and briefly ad
, dressed the crowd, informing them tht
! 1.-The prisoners had confessed their gull
!. and acknowledged that they deserve
death, but affirmed that they would nj
+. have been led to pursue the course whic
has ended at the gallows. had it not bee
!. for the weakness and corruption Of som
). of the authorities. Mr.. Brannan state
that the committee were fully sensible
the soemnity ofthe occasion, the fearfi
n responsibility which the first law Of n
ture, selfpreservation, imposed upc
v them, but they could not act otherwit
|. than they had without holding out d
rect premium to crime. He trusted TIL
i the committee would be supported |
a the citizens when the ydid right, and wou
!. receive their frown when they acted ron
/. No Innocent man need fear-it was /
+ qualification tothe committee to be cor
:. pelled 10 take til Q life Of fellow bein
4 and in no case would they do it unle
] the proof Of guilt was beyond cavil.
q After the doomed men had been ham
!. ing about an hour, they were lowere
ri and Mckenzie taken into the rooms ar
d bled by physician present, to see if il
}. was extinct. Strange to say, even aft
hanging such length oftime, blood f
lowed the stroke Of the lancet; he W
A reported not yet dead, and again haul'
o up Into the air. The crowd stood quiet
/. watching this scene for several houl
II Gradually. however, they began to d
'. perse. and towards sundown they allh
ia left the spot