Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-15
I'll isteIIaueous.
The Execution of Maj. Andre.

The following account OF Andres execution
is one of the most minute and interesting that
we have ever read 1t was furnished to Mr.
William Il. HaeSelbarth, of Rockland County,
the history OF which he is engaged in writing
1t was taken down from the lips of soldier in
Col. Jednthan Badwin's regiment, a part of
which was stationed short distance from where
poor Andre suffered =
I" One of our men, whose name was Arm
strong, being one of the oldest and best work
men at his trade in the regiment was selected
to make his coffin, which he did, and painted
it black, as was the custom at that period
:" At this time Andre was confined in what
was called the Old Dutch Church, small
stone building with only one door, and closely
guarded by six sentinels
When the hour appointed for his execu-
! ton arrived, which was at o'clock in the af-
ternoon, guard of three hundred men were
paraded at the place of his confinement. A
kind of procession was formed by placing the
guard i'll single file on each side of the road
In front were large number of American of
fccrs of high rank on horseback These were
followed by the wagon containing Andres cof-
fn then large number of officers on foot, with
Andre in their midst.
|
ately rising ground about quarter of a mile
to the west. On the top was field without
any enclosure and on this was very high
gallows, made by setting up two poles or
crotchets and laying pole OH the top
- The wagon that contained the coffin was
drawn directly under the gallows In a short
time Andre stepped into the hind end of the
wagon, then on his coffin, took off his hat and
| loiJ + +bn,
hips, and walked very uprightly back and forth
as far as the length of the wagon would permit,
at the same time casting his eyes up to the pole
over his head and the whole scenery by which
he was surrounded.
He was dressed in complete British uni
form. His coat was of the brightest scarlet,
faced and trimmed with the most beautiful
green His under cloths, vest, and breeches
were bright buff he had a long and beauti-
| full head of hair, which, agreeaby to the fash
, ion, 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, on one
end of which was what the soldiers in those
days called "a hangman'S knot" which he
attempted to put over the head and around
|
ment of his hand, this was prevented.
Andre now took off the handkerchief from
his neck, unpnned his shirt collar and deliber-
ately took the cord of the halter, put it over
his head, and placed the knot directly under
his right ear, and drew it very snugly to his
neck He then took from his coat-pocket a
handkerchief, and tied it before his eyes. This
done, the officer, who commanded spoke in
rather loud voice, and said
| " HIS arms must be tted"
Andre at once pulled down the handker-
chief, which he had just tied over his eyes, and
drew from his pocket a second one, which he
gave to the executioner, and then replaced his
| handkerchief.
His arms at this time were Just tied above
the elbow, and behind the back
The rope then made fast to the pole
overhead The wagon was very suddenly
drawn from under the gallows, which together
with the length of rope, gave him most tre-
mendous swing back and forth but in few
moments he hung entirely STILL
- During 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 chambers of
death were never Stiler than the multitude by
whom lie was surrounded Orders were given
to cut the rope and take him down without
letting him fall Tais was done, and his body
carefully laid on the ground.
"ShortIy after the guard was withdrawn
and the spectators were permitted to come for
ward to view the corpse but the crowd was
so great that it was some time before | could
| 7 20 Il
this, his coat, vest, and brecches had been
taken off, and his body laid in the coffin, cover
ed 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 before
His head was very much on one side, in con-
uuencc of the manner in which the halter had
drawn upon his neck His face appeared to be
greatly swollen and very black resembling IL
high degree of modification. 1t was indeed
most shocking sight to behold.
There were, at this time, standing at the
foot of the coffin two Young men of uncommon
short stature. They were not more than four
feet high Their dress was extremely gaudy
One of them had the clothes just taken from
Andre hanging on his arm. took particular
pains to learn who they were, and were inform
ed they were his servants, sent up from New
York to take care of his clotheS-but what
other business ! did not learn.
Z" | now turned to take view Of the exc
cutioner, who was still standing by one of the
posts of the posts Of the gallows. | walked
near enough TO him to have laid my hand upon
his shoulder 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 whole face covered with what
appeared to me to have been taken from the
outside of greasy pot. A more frightful
creature | never beheld His whole counten-
aace bespoke him to be ftinstrument for the
brsiness he had been doing