Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1855-08-23

time Andre stepped into the hind end of the
wagon, then on his coffin, took of his hat and
laid it down; then placed his hands upon his
hips, and walked very uprighily oack and
forth as far as the len ,'h Of the wagon would
permit, at the same time casting his eyes up
to the pole over his head and the whole see n,
cry by which he was surrounded.
"He was dressed in a complete British uni.
form. His coa, was of the brightest scarlet,
faced and trimmed with the most beautiful
green. His under clothes, vest, and brecch-
es, were bright buff; he had long and beau
tijul head Of hair, which, nggreeably to the
| fashion, was wound with black ribbon and
hung down his back.
"Not many minutes after he took his stand
upon the coffin, the executioner stepped into
the wagon with halter in his hand, or one
end OF which was what the soldiers in those
days called "a hungman's knot which he at
tempted to put over the head and around the
neck of Andre; but by sudden movement of
his hand this was prevented.
"Andre now took off the hanlkechef from
his neck, unpinned his shirt collar, and de-
li5erutely took the cord of the halter, put it
over his head, and placed the kno; directly
under his right ear, and drew it very snugy
to his neck. He then took hom his coat
pocket a handkerchief, and tied it before his
eyes. This done, the officer who command
ed spoke in rather a loud voice, and said:
"'HiS arms must be tiea'
"Andre at once pulled down the handkera
chief > hioh he bad just tied over his eyes,
and drew from his pocketo second one, which
he gave to the executioner, and then replaced
his hankerchicf
"His arms at this time were tied just a.
bove the elbow. and behind the back.
"The rope was then made fast to the pole
overhead. The wagon was very suddenly
drawn from under the gallows, which, togeth-
er with the length of the rope, guve him a
most treme ndous swing back and forth; but
in lew moments he hung entirely still.
"Durng the whole transaction he seemed
as little daunted as John Rogers when he
was about to be burnt at the stake, although
his countenance was rather pale.
"He remained hanging from twenty to
Thirty minutes, and during that time the cham
bers OF death were never stiler than the mul-
tltude by whom he was surrounded. Orders
were given to cut the rope and take him down
without letting him fall. This was done,
ant his body carefully laid on the ground
"Shortly after the guard was withdrawn,
and spectators were permitted to come for
ward to view the corpse; but the crowd was
so great that it was some time before | could
get an opportunity. When | was able to do
this, his coat, vest, and breeches had been
taken off and his body laid in the coffin, COW
cred by some under-clothes. The top of the
coffin was not put on.
81 viewed the corpse more carefully than
had ever done that of'any human being be-
fore His head was very much TO one side,
in consequence of the manner in which the
halter had drawn upon his neck. His face
appeared to be greatly swollen and very black.
resembling high degree of modification. 1t
was mvst shocking sight to behold.
! "rhere were, Al this time, standing at the
| foot of the coffin, two young men OF uncom-
| mon short STA ne. They were not more than
| four feet high. Their dress was extremely
gaudy One of them had he clothes just t0-
| ken from Andre hanging on his arm. took
particular pains to learn who hey were, and
| sent ~ from New York to take care OF his
clothcs-but what other business Ibid not lie arm d.
| 81 now turned to take view of the exc
cutoner, who as still standing by one of the
posts of the galows. walked near enough
to him to have laid my hand upon his shoul
der, and looked him directly in the face. He
| appeared to be ABOUT twenty-five years OF
age; his beard of some two weeks growth ;
and his wfole face covered with wha; ap-
peured to me to have been taken from the
outside of greasy pot more irightiul
looking creature never behe;d. His whole
! countenance bespoke him to be fit ins;ru'
rnent for the business he had been doing.
81 remained upon the spot VI til scarcely
twenty persons were left; but the coffin was
still beside The the grave, which had prey
ously been dug.
"ireturned to my tent with my mind ceep
" imbued with the shocking scene which
had been called to witness"