Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-11-07

able to fashion, was wound witha 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, on thesone end Of which was
what the soldiers in those days called a
g ,hangman' s knot, '',wh hich he attempted
to put over the head and. around the
neck of Andre but by a sudden moYe>
ment of his hand this was prevented.
I Andre now took off the handkerchief
from his neck unpinned his shirt collar.
and deliberately took the cord ofthe hal-
ter, put it over his head, and placed the
knot directly under his right ear, and
drew it very snugly tohis neck. He then
took from his coat handkerchief, and
tied it before his eyes, This done, the
officer who commanded spoke in rather
loud voice, and said:
's His hands must be tied.''
Andre at once pulled down the hand'
kerchief which he had tied over his eyes,
and drew from his pocket second one,
which he gave to the exeCuLioner, and
then replaced bis handkerchief.
His arms at this time were tied just
above the elbow, and behind the back.
The-rop was them made fast to the
pole overhead. The wagon was very
suddenly drawn from under the gallows,
which, together with the length of the
rope, gave him tremendous swing back
and forth but in few moments he hung
entirely still.
During the whole transaction he seem
ed as little daunted as John Rogers when
he was about to be burnt to the stake.
although his countenance was rather pale
He remained hanging from twenty tc
thirty minutes, and during that time the
chambers of death were never stiller than
the multitude. by whom he was surrouu'
lded. Orders were given to cut the rope
and take him down without letting him
fall. This was done, and his body care
fully laid on the ground.
| Shortly after the guard was withdrawn
and spectators were permitted to come
forward and view the corpse; Eut the
crowd was so great it was long time be.
fore could get an opportunity. Wher
! l was able To do this, his coat, vest and
brecchcs had been taken off and his bo
| dy laid in the coffin covered by some un>
der clothes. The top of the coffin was
not put on.
viewed the corpse more carefully thar
I had ever done that of human being
before. His head was very much on one
side, in consequences of the manner il
which the halter had drawn upon his
neck. His face appeared to be greatly
swollen and every black, resembling a
high degree OF modification. 1t was in
deed most shocking sight to behold.
There was, at this time, standing a
| The foot Of the coffin, two men OF uncom
mon short stature Their dress was ex-
trcmcIy gaudy. One of them had the
clothes Just taken from Andre hanging or
his arm. | took particular pains TO learn
who they were, and was informed that
they were his servants, sent up from New
! York 10 take care OF his cIothes-but
what other business l did not learn.
Inow turned to take view of the exc.
cutioncr, who was still standing by one o
the posts Of the gallows. | walked neal
enough to have laid my hand upon hi:
shoulder, and looked him directly in tllc
face. He appeared to be about twenty
Eve years of age; his beard Of some two
weeks growth and his whole face COW
cred with what appeared to be of grea
sy pot. A more (rightful looking crea'
ture 1 never beheld. His whole countc
nance bespoke him to be a fit instrument
for the business he had been doing.
remained upon the spot until scarcely
twenty persons were left ; but the cotlir
was still bedside the grave, which had
previously been dug.
returned TO my tent with my mind
deeply imbucd with the shocking scene
which l had been called to witness.