Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1859-12-06

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DECEMBER, DEC 6, ! 1855. i
Vas sorry to hear it, but immediately
changed the subject '''i 1's iH'' u az
The subject of the death of lis two sons
was spoken of, and Mrs. Brown remarked
that She had made some efforts while at
Harpers Perry for the. recovery of their
+bodies, to Which end, She said, Col. Bar
bopr had Kindly consented to give his as
| sistapce. Capt. Brown remarked that he
would also like the remains Of the two
Thompsons removed if theycould be found;
but suggested. that it would be best to take
his body with the bodies of his four sons,
and get pile of pine logs and buru them
all together; that it would be much better
and less expensive to thus gather up all
their ashes together, and take them TO their
final resting-place. Sheriff Campbell told
him that this would not be permitted
within The State, and Mrs. Brown objected
to the proposition altogether. ~
The prisoner snid that he contemplated
his death with composure md cnlmness.
| 1t would, undoubtedly be pleasant te live
longer, but as it was the williof God he
should close his career, he was content,
1t was doubtless best that me should be
thus legally murdered for the good of the.
cause and hewas prepared to submit to
his fate without murmur. Mrs. Brown
becoming depressed at these remarks, he
bade her cheer up, telling her that his
! spirit weuld soon be with her again, and
that they would be reunited in. Heaven =
With regard to his execution, he said
| that he desired no religious ceremonies,
either i'll the Jail or on the ScafFold, from
ministers who consent TO, orapprovc of the
I cuSlGvcment of their fellow creatures: that
he would prefer rather to be accompanied
to the scaffold by dozen slave children.
and n good old slave mother, with their
appeal to God for blessings on his soul,
than all the elOquencc of the whole clergy
of the Commonwealth combined.
During the past week several letters
containing checks and drafts had hecn for
warded to him by his friends in different
scctiOnsOft the country. These lie endorsed
and made payable to his wife, Mary a.
Brown Zone of them was for 500 and one
for S50) and handed them to her. #,-us
ro-pAY's nEpoilT., ''
The prisoner was brought ont OF jail at
eleven. Before leaving he bade aGicu to
all his fcllow-prisoncrs, and was very
atfectionatc to nll except Cooke. He
| charged Cooke with having deceived and
! mislCd him in relation to the support he
was to receive from the slaves; he was
led to believe that they were ripe for in
surrection, and hod foundathat his repre-
sentations were false. Cooke denied the
charge, hut made little reply.
]. The prisoner then told the Sheriff he
was ready. His arms were pinioucd, and
with IL black SLOUGH hat on, au;l the same
clothes he wore during the trial, he pro-
cGcdcd to the door, apparently calm and
cheerful.
As he came out the six companies of
infantry and one troop of horse with Gen.
| TaliafGrro and his entire staff, were de-
| ploying in front OF the Jail, while an open
| wagon, with pine box, in which was IL
| fine oak coffin, was waiting for him.
He looked around and spoke to several
persons he recognized, and walking down
the steps he took a seat on tho coflin-hOx,
along with tho Jailor, Avis He looked
with interest on tho fine military display,
but made no remark. The wagon moved
Off ilanked by two files of rifiemen, in
close order. On reRching the field, the
military had already full possession
/ Pickcts were stationed, and the citizens
kept back at the point Of the bayonct
from taking any position but that assigned
them.
Through the determined persistence of
DR.. Rawlings, of Frank Le.iie's the order
excluding the press was partially reScind-
ed, and they were assigned a position near
the Major-Gcnerals staff. The prisoner
walked up the steps firmly, and was the
first man on the gallows. Avis and Sheriff
Campbell stood by his side, and after
shaking hands and bidding an 0fTcctionate
adicu, he thanked them for theirkindncss,
when the cap WAS put over his face and
the rope around his neck Avis asked
him to step forward on the trap. He re-
piled, "You must lead nc;- cannot see.'
The rope was adjusted, and the military
order given, 'NOt ready YETI The SOL
diers marched, countermarched, and took
position as ii an enemy were in sight, and
were thus occupied for nearly ten minutes.
The prisoner, standing nli the time, Avis
Inquired if he was not tired. Brown said,
''N0, not tired; but don't keep me waiting
longer than is necessary" lie was swung
OFF at fifteen minutes past H. a slight
grasping of the hands and stretching OF
the muscles were seen, and then all was
quiet.
The body was several times examined
and the pulse did not cease until thirty
five minutes had passed. The body was
then cnt down, placed in coffin and con-
veycd under military escort TO the depot
when it was put in q car 10 he carried to
the Ferry by special train at d O'Clock
All the arrangements werc carried out
j With precision and military strictness
that was most annoying
The general conviction everywhere en-
tcrt:,incd was, that that the excitement res
cue was an cgreginuS hoax.