The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-10-07

Fyom ~ S.. fte~siseo Hsysia. Aug. rs.
Ressytsss AnM ExsG1(tan .ef Whittakex ~
Msx41sie.
About QaaTtsr pa& two o'clock yesterday
afternoon, the Jail was forcibly entered by . d.
yimion at the vigilance committee, consisting VI
thirty-stx members, and the prisoners Whitaker
and Mckenzie taken and carried to the room OF
tho committee. on Battery street, where they
were hung.
The circumstances of the proceeding are az
follows The Rev. MIR. Williams, as has been
his custom on Sundays for some weeks past,
was engaged in religious exercises with the pris-
oners, who had been brought out from their
cells into the yard or area between the inner
wall OF the prison aud the high wooden fence
that surrounds it. There were about eight spec
tators present, and among them two children OF
the clergyman. The hymn had been concluded
and the minister was offering up prayer, when
noise as of persons endeavoring To force the
door in the wooden barricade was heard. Capt
Lambert attempted to keep it fastened, but II
was burst through, and the detachment of thirty.
six men rushed in. One portion instantly PIN
Toned the officers on guard, and etfectually pre-
vented any interference on their part, while
another portion seized Whitaker and McKen-
zie TO bear them off They. however, struggled
and resisted until forcibly carried off by their
captors. During this scene, the other prisoners
remained overcome with fear, and profoundly
quiet
Several shots were fired during the melee it
il probable, as nobody was hurt, that the shots
fred by tho attacking party were aimed at no
one, but were merely signals One Of the
guards, Of whom there were four, including Capt
Lambert, on duty at the time. came down from
his post on the top of the Jail into the yard, and
a scufiie ensued between him aud one OF the at.
lacking party.
THE ROUTE TO THE COMMITTEE ROOMS.
In the meantime, the prisoners had been hur-
ried off in carriage, provided for the occasion,
standing at the corner Of Dupont and B OF 1way
q reefs, but few steps from the Jail. INTO this
they were thrust followed by a guard of the
committee The driver piled his whip, and off
dashed the vehicle at the utmost speed, up Broad
way to Stockton street, along Stockton to
Washington street, down Washington to Du-
pont street. and through Dupont, Sacramento,
rooms Of the committee, on Battery street.
The whole affair was conducted with such
expedition, that before those in Montgomery
street, who knew of the rescue almost as soon
as it occurred, could run down to the committee
rooms, the prisoners had been carried within,
and the carriage was returning. Before they
had yet reached the rooms, however, the bell Of
the Monumental engine commenced to strike the
well known signal for the instant assemblage of
the committee. All understood in an lstant
how matters stood, and the whole city seemed
rushing towards Battery street.
THE EXECUTION
In an incredibly short spsce Of time, ropes
were reeved through the two blocks that hung
from beams projecting from the front of the
rooms, over the doors in the second
story, and the two ends were taken inside the
ooms. Nooses were made ut the end of each,
and in minute the two criminals were seen led
to the doors in their sh : sleeves The ropes
were adjusted around their necks, and in an in
slant they were jerked simultaneously into the
air, until their necks struck the blocks, They
descended a little distance, and were again
jerked up to the block, causing them to swing
violently to and fro Their arms were pinioned
to their sides; but McKenzie's hands being Free
he car ut the rope by which he was elevated in
his lie hand he was lowered for an ns'ant
causir him to loose his grasp. and all was over
They said nothing to the multitude, who stood
gnz e upon them; and when at last they ceased
to vIbratc, not CONFUSION or movement of any
kind could be seem As they were launched into
eternity, a tremendous shout Of satisfaction
went up from the crowd There they hung
slowly swinging round, now exhibiting their
to the spectators, and again avert
ing them. Not a movement Of any kind was
made 10 interfere
ADDRESSES TO THE PEOPLE, ETC.
When they had been hanging about half an
hour, Mr. Samuel Brannan came to the open
toor in the second story Of the committee
building, and briefly addressed the crowd, in
forming them that the prisoners had confessed
heir guilt, had acknowledge that they deserved
Heath, but affirmed that they would not have
been led to Tursue the course which had ended
1t the gallows, had it not been for the akness
and corruption of some of the authorities Mr.
Brannan stated that the committee were fully
sensible Of the solemnty Of the occasion, the
fearful responsibility which the first law Of ma
lure, self preservation, imposed upon them, but
they could not act otherwise tlan they had with
but holding out direct premium to crime. He
trusted that the committee would be supported |
by the citizens when they did right, md would
receive their frowns when they acted wrong |
No innocent man need fear--it was no gratifica |
lion to the committee to be compelled to take
the life of a fellow being, and in no case would
they do il unless the proof ofg guilt was beyond |
,avl. He was followed bv DR.. Robinson, from |
m elevation on the wharf, but his speech could |
Dnly be heard short distance from where he |
stood. Mr.. Pnyran was called for by the as
semblage, and briefly addressed them, he con- |
,luds by stating that il was the request of the !
committee that the bodies of the unfortunate |
men be allowed to hang until the going down
Of the sun, TO be then delivered TO the coroner,
should he demend them.
About this time, while the crowd was densely |
packed upon the wharf cry WAS raised that the |
railroad cars, load, with earth, were depending. |
immediately panic seized upon portion of
he crowd, who rushed wildly from the spot. |
By the exertions of gentlemen present, they /
we're induced to halt, otherwise in the dreadful |
press, serious accidents might have taken place
After the doomed men had been hanging |
about an hour they were lowered, and Mckenzie |
AIKEN into the rooms and bled by physician |
present, to acc if life was extinct. Strange to |
'ay, even after hanging such length Of time.
blood followed the stroke of the lancet; he was
exported not yet dead, and agai, hauled up
nto the air. The crowd stood quietly watching
his scene for several hours. Gradually, how
'ver, they began to dispense, and towards sun.