Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-09-03
= g e. Er.ae..sa BaIls.Ia. Jsly 8.
CAlIFORNIA NEWS.

! Execution NJ slosepA HetherlHgtoH GlaG t,ha-
I Iander Bnncc-RorriBIe iSeeRes-EIFeat Dir
pLeg Of tie PigilaRss S0Ldiery- IEl1leHse
CF9pd Of Spectators
Joseph Hetheringtoa and Philander Brace
have died the death Of felons They were hung
BIZ the Vigilance COMMITTEES yesterday afternoon
at ten minutes before o'clock, on seatioid
erected on Davis, between Sacramento and Com
uercial streets The display Of soldiery that
) surrounded them; the immense crowds that
tIlronged the streets, and roofs and buildings m
j the ncighborhood for many squares around and
/ the peculiar circumstances under which the
Inurdcrers died, the submissiTeness Of Hether-
ington and the hardened, abandoned, iinpions
conduct of Brace 70 the last, served 70 make the
/ scene awful and impressive in the extreme
PREPARATIONS FoR THE ExEcTTIoS.
I The vicinity of the Vigilance Committee Rooms
| ON Sacramento street had been crowded more or
less during the day, as it was generally under
stood that two men were at least to be executed.
BY the middle of the afternoon the crowds be-
| came immense, and all the open spaces, streets,
Windows, balconies and roofs in the vicinity
were thronged to their utmost capacity. Every
point, four or Eve squares around, that COM
manded view of the scene of action, was per-
fectlT black with people, and it was supposed
that from ten to fifteen thousand spectators wit
messed the execution.
The whole body Of the Vigilance Committee
/ had been ordered under arms, and ct an early
! hour in the afternoon the companies, with load
ed muskets, were marched out aud posted IN va
rious positions about the streets. They did de-
| ty moving about, and driving the crowds back,
surrounding the place Of execution, and also
posting themselves soas u command every APP
| proach TO it. The cayalry troops was also out
/ in full strength, performing its duties at more
removed points. Several brass cannon were PLAN
ted with matches lighted, at the street corners.
| THE MILITARY.
BY the time the scatfoId was completed, the
military had taken their positions, filing the
streets in various sections, and completely sur
| rounding the square, made by Sacramento,
Front Commercial and Davis streets, said to be
between four and five thousand men under arms,
and in every direction, their bayOnetS were gilt
| tering in the sun. A dense square of soldiers,
four or five deep, surrounded the scaiFold. Sac
ramento street was densely filled with soldiers,
and the housc-tops of the Committee buildings
! were covered with mugketeers.
APPEARANCE OF THE PRISONERS
Everything being then in readiness the pro
cession, consisting of the Executive COMMITTEES,
n company of pistOlmen, consisting of delegates
from each company Of the General Committee,
and the prisoners in carriages. entered the en-
closure. The Executive Committee took a po-
sition to the north Of the seaold, and the pistol
men surrounded it. The first carriage drove to
the steps Of the scaffold, and Brace, a young man
mere pantaloons and Panama hat, got out and
assembled the steps. His face was pale and he
was strongly excited, though using every endeav-
or to nerve himself up for display His arms
were tied behind at the elbows and he walked
Iup the steps with his hands in his pantaloons
pockets. He was placed on the side of the scat.
fold towards Sacramento street. He kept his
eyes nearly closed and all could see that lie WAS
straining and working himself up to die game.
The second carriage drove up, and Hether-
ington, a tall man, with Sun-burned face anti
large black whis&ers, dressed in black with a
straw hat, assembled the scaifo'd. His arms
were likewise bound, hut there was none of the
ibrayado about him; he wore serious express
Isinn He was placed by the right side of Brace,
both facing west Several persons had ascend
led to the platform with the prisoners, and a.
mong others the executioner, an individual
dressed in black muslin robe and cap.
As soon as the criminals were placed in their
positions, tlicir legs were bound Immediately
below the KEGS and the eXecntiOner then opel-
ed Braces collar and took OFF his ncckcrchieE-
He then placed the moose around Braces neck,
land as he did so, Brace twisted up his mouth
and threw into his expression all tue scorn he
could command; but as yet said nothing. While
this Neas going on, Hetherington undid his own
ineclsclolh and unbuttoned the collar. The exc
Icutioaer thea placed the moose around his neck,
land was drawing it tight, when Hetherington,
turning towards him, in a low voice told him
not to draw il 20 tight, as he wanted to speak
As soon as the ropes were adjusted, the execu-
Itioner stepped back and made the white caps
READY.
Brace then held out his hand, and he and
Hetherineton shook hands HetheringtOn like
wise shook hands with several others standing
linear him.
HETHERISGToSs SPEECH AND BRACES CURSES.
Altera few moments of dcathiike silence
Httheriugton, in n slow deliberate, but distinct
voice, spoke as follows
"Geutlemen you may think that am hard
ened sinner; but appear before yon mild, IN
concerned and pleased know that in a few
moments must meet my Maker 10 the best
of my knowledge have not lived one day, that
was not ready to meet my Maker that night.
Do not think | am Boosting. Such is not my
case. The Rev. Bishop Kip has been with me
all day, or nearly all day
Hethcrington then turned to the Reporters
and asked tHaye you got that all DOWN" At
the same time Brace, who had been nerving
himselfup, cried out: "Oh, go on! say what
you've got to say Here am !, Brace, murder
ed by the Vigilance Committee! SO and SO, like
a-!n
Hetherington: am not more penitent to-day
than have ever been.
Brace: Go on, old fellow!
HetheringtOu seemed to be discomposed by
the interruption; and, evidently abiding to Bish-
op Kip, proceeded:
"Our conversation turned upon religion"
Brace: you, 60 on. If could would
kick you off there. Here am, 80
Hethcringtoh attempted to proceed, but Brace
again cried out, ooh. go on! you!
don't palavcr! Idon't want to be here to be
stared att
HethcringtOn 1.-THE gentlemen in whose hands
III am, wish, Twill stop.
Cries from the crowd: Go on, go on.
Hetherington: / have not disobeyed any of the
rules since was first put into that house, and
should not like to do so now. If you say go on,
Brace. Gentlemen, I'm drunk! am all
right! Go on; am going to talk at the same
time. Gentlemen, 1 hope you will glut your
lnrrtlernns owes in looking upon my death strng-