The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-08-25
An Execution in Spain.

An Execution in Spain.
A short tine before the fatal hour sounded |
was on The spot selected for the execution which
expected 10 see filed with Il dense crowd. Ia
tins, however, | was mistaken. 30 far from
witnessing the Duiis ade which d similar spocta-
Gle would draw In England / beheid cnl, a gecih-
ering, member numerous nor respec'.b.c. Such
n II Has, II was wholly romposei Of ;he loves
class of the popuiace. The greater part Of them
were formed INTO groups, which spread over the
area without preventing passage from one side
TO the othcr-a liberty which the wa,cr-venier.
were rot slow to turn 10 advantage, az WAS eyi-
from the cries that arose from every quarter
As yet the platform, round which ran slight
IRON railing, WAS without an occupant. so ,hat
there was DISPLAYED in full view The apparatus
of death rising IN grim state from the centre. IL
was as simple and Il devoid Of repulsIye features
as such an instrument could be, yet the heads
mans was uncerlain and lingering compared
with is fatal embrace. The machine was an
arn-chair; sody constructed Of dark wood, and
TO the back was attached substantial pos, abou,
four feet high Just above The place where TIE
neck OF a sitter would reach something Ike an
iron chain could be observed. This is the IN
mediate instrument Of death, for the cham, being
put round the neck OF the crinBu Is ti.hcned
b, Of IN iron bar in the hands of the exc
cujioner, who uses it IN the same nanncy that
the waggoper secures his bales. by twisting " .th
s,aii OF wood The cords that bind ,Aeai. A turn
or of the bar suliices produce sirangu!atioD
and that rh less a,uount Of pm l. The con
demned wretch, or. at all evcuts, with fewer to-
kens Of suffering, jhau probably any other meth
I'd Of exinsui>iling HE ado, .c1 by tie penal code
Of civilized nations.
Shortly after the clock Of the cathedral had
sounded the appointed hour, u few - diers ap-
pearcd on the platform, and took up their station
a, The back OF 1t; then came some oidr'S cloth
ed IN black, among whom the eXecat'0Aeg aal
his attendant ere io be distinguished by he pro-
iessIonal way in winch they inspected 'lia appara-
rus have descrhed and, finally, al ,F shoE,
delay, the criinnal himself came into yieV.
Neither .roans nor eXecrdtIons greeted hs ap-
pcaraHce and the deepest silence prevailed Vhe
he moved 10 the chair, though WITH feeble stJ p.
As soon as he placed himself N 1t, tac execution
c,s advanced 10 perform The frs; part of their Of
iice, which consists IN binding the legs and arms
OF the criminal II the spending parts Of the
char. THIS was the work of few moments,
during which bad tie opportunity iG no;e tie
remarkable garment III which IA WAS arfayed. II
WAS robe lha, eavclopcd him from the neck 10
The feet, so that. with The exception Of l's head,
hls person WAS wholly concealed, ard 'ls singu-
iarty arose from the strangcness of ine cOors,
which were white and yellow, the latter beng
apparantly daubed over The other III grea!
spt tshes.
Ii il dliculr TO give an ilea Of The exisaotdina-
" spectacle presented by III. wreiched nIan, AZ
he sat eucased in his ganjy and fantastic death
ar, vi hich seemed to mock the pale |i~-aSe lbai
surmouuted il. Such however, has been the
usage ia Spar for ages; and the murderer and
The hereto ha>e marched in this attire, the one
to he scallnld, and the other the stake, bearng
isnaniny of which It's devices supposed 20 lie
emblemai,cai.
The last strap being iruiiy bsaced, the eAecu-
,One:s retired, and gave place 70 the priest, "ho
formed one OF The surrounding group. lie now
came forward 80 receive the last confession OF
the criminal. and administer to h.'n tae conso!a-
tons Of his lath For this purpose tie hent bis
ear down 10 the mouth Of the ether, aud, r'aing
he SKIRT Of his back robe, drew ii ovef has own
head is we'll a that Of the criminal, "a order that
no part Of the conference mi ght reach the by
SANDERS near Lin. This, however, WAS perhaPs
needless precaution, for soon as he pro-
ceeled TO hs duty, the others on the platform re-
tired to lis furthest iiyiai. and eft him alone mlih
the cones>ing sinner.
When III. task was done, end he had = iih-
drawn to the back Of tie platform. the execution
err once more stepped forward and gr.spfd the
fatal bar, while an Rsss,ant placed hnsei on
his right hand The criminal then -egan 70 re-
as bis voice vas clear and hrm, Was distinctly
audible. Nben he pronouncen The words, " en-
so saico hiio Jesa ChtrSfo, the bar feyolved
sh the quic kness Of thought: The assistant cast
At the -amo instant, Il black cloth over hls idcc
aud his ps were sealed forever. ~ tie same
moment the oxciematiou .4re AiGric pr
( n ssima 20 burst with a shout iom ihe
lips of the spectators, some If whom con'moed
To repeat II for u icV moment, IA :! 1t could Feach
hls ears. Tie was. however, beyond the reach
Of mortal SQUADS, death appeared 10 be ns'an-
famous. \ com, ,ulaye Quivering Of e.Iimbs,
fer & second az two, WAS all that indicated HE
struggle of existence parting with is eainl Fame
and - hea ~ was oyer, and The cloth had been
removed from tie countenance, has features ex-
hbted 10 trace of paiu or suffering. bit were
as calm and placid as those of sleeper.
The crowd did not lnges upon the place after
Tins last act of the ceremony was performed, and
before half an hour elapsed 1t was deserted b all
but the few s;ragse,s it usually displayed.
We have heared Of the lion and the lam lying
down together, Of tie bEoDzsd Otheilo re9osing
on nubtiaI bed with the beautiful Desdemona-
Of The man who accidently walking mo motion
IRON In "A rolling m and stepping into cold AIR.