The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1859-12-08
Thc Execution Of Brown.
The SCENE AT THE GALLONS.


AS the hour approached for his execution the
MEDICAL Faculty in attendance, the Sheriff of
The county and the officers. of the Jail, visited
ms room and conversed with him. Brown was
cheertaiand talked as though the hour which
was appointed for his death was Indifferent and
TAI In the future. Nothing of any material in
serest occurred in these interviews.
AT nine clock, agreeable to the general or
DER, the military companies commenced assum-
ing their positions. One company was station
Ell in front of the Jail another directly opposite
Of the Market House, and yet another in front
9th Court House. which was only few Yards
to the north of the prison. Two pieces of brass
cannon were placed near the Jail wall, on the
road leading to the scaffold.
The place of execution was not more than
half mile from the Jail. 1t was erected on an
eminence, in the centre of twenty acre field
The grounds were laid off, and small white flags
were stuck Ill the ground, beyond which no ci;-
zen was allowed to pass.
At the gate military company stationed
who refused to admit any person unless accom-
panied by military escort. The representa-
tivcs Of the press, after much trouble, were
corted into the field, and assigned a position
within one hundred yards of the scatfold.
The departure of the commanding officer from
the town was the signal for the bringing out of
the prisoner. furniture wagon was driven in
front of the Jail, and the military formed around
it Brown was then escorted from his room.
He was dressed i'll Il black suit, much worn, the
same he had on when he made his attack on the
Ferry. lie wore a sluuch hat, shoes, and red.
colored stockings. His arms had been pinioned,
and he marched out with firm step and upright
head. He was assisted into the wagon, and
took a seat on his coffin. t
The train then proceeded 10 the scene of exc,
cntion. Tie military escort was large and i'm
posing. There was no music, and nothing was
10 be beard save the slow measured tread of the
military, and the rumbllng of the wheels of the
Wagon which was conveying Brown to his death.
Following The military were about two hundred
citizens. The gate was entered, aud the com.
man brought to a halt. In few minutes it
again started, and proceeded to the galows.-
The wagon was stopped few yards from the
steps which led TO The platform, aud Brown was
assisted out, and immediately started for the
scaffold. On one side was the Sheriff on the 9TH
cr stood one of his deputies.
Brown ascended the steps with a cheerful look
a firm, mistaken step, and an unblenched eye
Not an exhibition OF fear was given. There
was lo evidence of a consciousness of the terri
bic tragic scene which was about to take place,
and in which lie was to be the actor AS SOON
as he reached the platform, the military which
accompanied him filed to the right and left and
took The positions which had been previous sly
assigned them. Brown looked at the crowd,
then glanced at the scaffold. The Deputy-Sher,
lit extended his hand and took that of Brown,
and, shaking it, babe him farewell.
No ministers were present owing to the fact
Brown had refused their offices. The Sheriff
approached him, shook his hand, and bid him
good bye Brown stepped forward, when the
Deputy-Sheriif tied his legs, while the Sheriff
drew the white cap over his head and placed
the fatal rope about his neck. AS soon as this
was done, Brown remarked to the Sheriff, "you
will have TO guide me from this out" The Shell
iii asked, Captain Brown, have you anything
10 say! To which he replied, Nothing
ShcTff-"Wil you take a handkerchief, and
use it as a signal, letting it fall when you are
ready ~
Captain Brownie sir, l am always ready.
Do not keep me unnecessarily long
The Sheriff then stepped aside willie the DOOM
ed man engaged in prayer. In a few minutes
he stepped softly from the scaffold' and. Oh
leaving 1t, the De putty Sheriff sprung the trap,
and John Brown was suspended between the
heavens and The earth.
After he had hung for twenty minutes, Drs
Giiard, ID. E. Mason j ohm A. SlAilh John Star
ry, and II. + Cook, assembled the platform, and
alter feeling his pulse holding their ears to his
chest, pronounced him dead. Ten physicians,
attached lie the different military corps. then
tied HIM. each one Of them felt his pulse, and
pronounced him dead
INCIDENTS.
On the road to the scatiold. Brown remarked to
the undertaken, who was in the wagon with him,
on observing military in the field ''They have
excluded all citizens" Yes" was the reply.
Capt. Brown said-.Gentlemen, you are calm
and collected much more SO than am, and yet
your condition Is much NOR critical III cool said
he, " l have suffered much more from modrsty
III my LIFETIME than have from fear. For thr.
ty years have been educated to look on fear as
a myth. and now l do not know what il is. -
After riding some distance further, and being be-
You'd the limits of the town, he said, addressing
the same gentleman:
What Il beautiful country You have / had
no ioeSS.Hfit it, beautes and the excellence OF It's
sol. ms IS the first time have had the pleas
ure Of seeing it," No other conversation took
place, and he quietly proceeded to his death.
just previous to starring for the execution,
Brown wrote the following and handed it to Mr..
Hiram O'Bannon
II am now convinced that the great iniquity
which hangs over this country canot be purged
without immense bluodahed. When first came
to This State l thought different y, but am now
convinced that was mistaken
After the body of Btown had hung for thirty
eight minutes, it cut down ard placed in the
coffin. The rope with which he was hung was
taken in charge by an sficer and afterwards cut
up INFO pieces and distributed to those who
we're ANXIOUS 10 nave III. IalLleS cut me tlnDefs
oi The gallows, ard carried away the pieces,
while o hers secured lock of his hair. When
the body was paced III the coffin, it was con-
| veye6 TO town and pl ced III the Jail.
| Many persons desired to visit the Jail for the
pup,se oi seeing it, but their curiosity was no,
! gratlhed special train OF cars was ordered
from the Ferry, and at half past six o'clock, un-
der strong military escort, the coffin was r..
moved ftcm Jail and taken to the cars where il
was placed III a special one, and an escort get
ting in the train proccededsto the Ferry, where it
arrived at halt-past seven o'clock.
HIS LAST INTERVIEW WITH HIS WIFE.
| On Wednesday afternoon an escort Of ca valry
accompanied Mrs. Blown from Harpers Ferry,
under command of Capt Moore, of the Rich
mond Montgomery Guards. The carriage which
conveyed her was stopped at the outskirts OF
| town.
! Capt BIewn was informed of his wife's arrival
and requested that she might be allowed to enter
his room as soon as possible. In few minutes
the lalioT conducted her into his presence. The
meeting was affecting, and at first neither party
spoke.
Brown embra ced her, pressed her to his DO.
sem and exclaimed, My wife !" No tears were
shed, but deep drawn Sigh told too we'll of the
intensity of the feeling which each was undergo
ing.
After few moments hus spent, the Captain
drew chair, and Mrs Brown sat down. He
ha,, Sp,,l.t t,,.b or ofh ,,a