Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-03-21

+, seemingly in search Of something he dar
t not see. He allowed his eyes to sink fur
t lively around the scene, until they reste,
on the corpse, and he looked that way n,
: more.
! tie staggered like man shot. III
looked at the tree tops, then burrowed hi
aching gaze in the earth at his feet : bu
IN VAN, the image was everywhere. |,
despair, he closedlhe lids on his painec
sense; but the figure of that black an,
: purifying girl susik into his eyeballs lik,
Goals OF FIRE. The summer flies, whicl
were rapidly gathering and buzzing abou
j the dead girls face, darted off from tbei,
sickening meal, and he felt their shiny
feet crawling over his cheek. Ina fit o
uncontrollable frenzy, he yelled like &
madman and fell to the earth.
Remove him, : said the Judge, quiet
| ~, "and see that he is secure.
The next witness was Hunter Braintrec
who stated that in searching the beach,
just below Pct Rocks, he had found in an
eddy the articles which he had previous
ly given to the Judge (as we have detail
ed), VIZ, woman's glove and shred OF
cloth, with a silk button attached. The
cloak worn by S.anburgh was produced,
and the cloth and button fitted rent in
tie collar exactly.
or course not doubt existed in refer
ence TO the prisoners guilt but the form
Of his punishment became matter for
discussion. A majority of them were in
favor of hanging him TO the limb of a
tree over their heads instonter. But the
more humane prevailed, and the Judge
ordered a dozen men to their cabins for
Their rifles, preparatory to the execution
of the sentence, which we will d,s.ribe
hereafter
The mass of men formed a hollow
square, and placing the prisoner in the
centrs, marched down the bank of the
river mile, where, being intercepted by
the rlilemen, halt was called. The
ground was level as floor, and ran down
to the waters edge free from obstruction
~ 'aIi' COCK, ea>lss sr~iaaraan with arms
dred PAGES from the bank and the pris-
oner, stripped to his trousers, placed
midway between his executioners and
the river, which at this point was per-
haps four hun5red yards in width. The
settlers spread themselves over the open
field, OF watched the rapid stream from
favorable points, in mingled awe and Gu
riosi.y.
Never did falconer watch for nobler
game. The victim stood at least six feet
in height, with a grace and strength Of
form which might have served as a model
to Phidias. He drew a long breath as
the exercise swelled his muscles, and.
with expanded nos,rils, waited, like a
noble racer, for a signal to start.
Now, Stanburgh," said the Judge,
not unkindly, as he approached him watch
in hand, "when / count one, two, three,
dash FOR the river. Your clothes are on
the other side awaiting you If you sue
Geek in swimming the stream you are
safe-otherwise you will go to the bottom,
with dozen bullet-holes in your carcass. .
He added, in much lower and kinder
tone, g Remember, you have but five
minutes before they are after you-and
God help you.
The eulprit heard the Information with
out moving muscle, just glancing, al
most proudly, over his shoulder, at tht
twelve leaden deaths which were levcllet
at him, and awaited the world.
"One, two, three p said the officer
and with a defiant laugh the young mar
| broke like deer for the river, crossed thu
space with a few bounds, leaped the banl
and was breasting the waves like giant
in moment.
For tive minutes did that row Of rifle
1 men stand as motionless as if cut from
the solid rock. For FIVE minutes did tha
strong swimmer in his agony" fgh
the current with his young arms, while
thoughts of home, of his aged mother
with her venerable and loved face o
his orphaned, dear little brother of hi
guileless and beautiful sister, who Nigh
be conyersing now, even now, in atfec
tion and confidence of him-him, the Sc
ducer, the murderer, with a thousane
1 voices of execration ringing in his ear
"a thousand adder-hisses of remorse ant
shame and fear at his heart
1t was not for life that he dashed
through the waves. No; life was Of n,
more value than the feather molted from
the wild birds wing, in its flight. Blu
to die there-there midway in the suean