Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-06
Baltimore Correspondence.
BALTIMORE, August 5, 1870 p

DALIlAonE, huSoSe lo0o-IO +. ~.
The execution of Thomas conpor to-day,
produced some excitement, especially in the
region of the Jail. The surrounding eminences
were completely covered with people of all
colors, ages, sex and sizes. On the house tops
and on trees there night also be seen hundreds,
voracious to witness the revolving spectacle.
A large proportion of the populaee was fe-
males.
The ceremonies of the execution, am told.
were painfully exciting and rather badly
managed. An Irishman, quite intelligent, a
friend Of Mr.. Foley. the priest. sat up with the
cu!prit last night, and was with him through
all the trying scenes Of his last moments, gave
me some account # it. When the malefactor
dropped off the first time, the rope broke, and
he fell distance of twenty feet to the ground.
Being somewhat stunned and severely choked
by the conclusion, he remained insensible for
q moment. When consciousness returned,
his first expression was to protest his limo.
cence Of murder in the first degree, alleging
as proof thereof tho breaking of the rope
Next he called on Jesus, and asked to have his
arms united. He said that just as he fell he
saw the Saviour in heaven, and those there
were about unloosing the cords that he might
embrace his Master. The saints also told him
that his mother would soon be with him in
heaven. He did not complain of being hurt,
was anxious to die, and expressed full and en-
tire confidence in future happiness. Afteran
intermission of half hour, he again assembled
the scaffold with firm step, and was swung of,
yielding up his spirit without the slightest emo
tions of pain. He said he did not desire par
don or communication of punishment, but would
rather atone for his wrongs by death. His
Saviour. he affirmed, had suffered thousand
times more than he had, and as he had been
bad boy, even to the breaking of his mothers
heart, and the killing in cold blood of an in
nocent man, it was right that he should atone
for these many offences
1t is now near ten o'clock We have had
slight storm, and another seems approaching
from the south The whole heavens ap-
pear shrouded in gloom, except when lighted
up by fash after fash with vivid streams of
lightning followed by deep muttering thun-
der. know not that I have ever seen so sub
lime spectacle.
go night, and storm, and darkness,
We ARE wondrous sfrOng.''
The advices by the steamer Niagara, which
the Star published in advance o-day, are of
highly pacific character, confirming previous
accounts by the Washington, which also APP
peared in your columns ahead. Although it
is conceded there will be no war-a thing 1
have all along predicted-still, more positive
conhrmatory intelligence is wanted to com.
pletely settle the public mind, and give STA
bility to commerce
Flour has advanced. Sales to-day Of 800
barrels fresh ground Howard street from old
wheat at S. 25, and 500 do from new white
at S. 81, an advance. The market closed
firm Wheat has also advanced. Sales in all
of $4,000 bushels at 81 IL q 81 Is for red, to
81 Is 81 % for white. Yellow corn 81 cts,
white 63 IS cents. Oats 80 u 40 cents Rye
% a 10 cents. Provisions are firm at previous
prices. Whiskey Is a rs cents. Tobacco
steady. Money easy. Stocks quiet, and rather
heavy. RoDERIcK.
During the storm last night the wires of the
telegraph centering in the new Sun iron build
ing, were struck repeatedly, and the fluid
seemed to roll off at the instruments in balls
of fire, exploding with reports like those of
rife or pistol. 1t is supposed by some unsafe
to be near iron or large body of metal of any
kind, during the prevalence of a thunder
storm. In my opinion the reverse is the fact,
for the iron attracts electricity; and if an iron
building be struck, the columns forming the
very best conductor, must naturally conduct
the fluid harmlessly to the earth The Sun
building has been constructed with view to
this fact, and from each granite pillar upon
which the iron columns rest and the support
ing columns in the centre are iron rods, (the
granite, unless saturated with water, being a
nonconductorD which are designed to convey
the fluid to the earth, where it disperses No
structure can be more safe from the effects Of
lightning than an iron one. This is one among
their many advantages. r.
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