Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-04-16

drop was united, and the Sherlti descend
ing The long flight Of stairs, pressed his
foot upon the trigger of the droP-there
was an instant of dreadful expectalion-s
momentary panse-,he drop fell, and the
souls Of four struggling beings winged
their flight into eternity.
Hymn Sung by Crop.-The follow
ing hymn was sung in clear, loud voice,
by Marion Crop. on the scalfold. Ii is
from 1.-The Pious Soogs,er," and is enIi-
tied Hail ye signing sons Of sorrow :"
Former friends, now must leave you,
All my earthly hopes are Ger,
But in Heaven hope to greet you,
There 10 meet TO part no more.
When few more moments wasted
And this dying scene is Der,
When this last dread grief Eve tasted,
] shall rise TO fall no more.
Fast my sun oflife's declining,
Soon twill sci in endless night;
But nv hopes, pure and reviving,
Rise TO fairer worlds Of Light
Cease this mourning trembling, signing,
Death shall burst this sulIen gloom,
Then my spiri. fulterirg, flying,
Shall be borne beyond the tomb.
The last, lingering lOok.-The last,
lingering looks Of the condemned were
full Of meaning, and though not skilled in
tracing the movements of mans mind
by the lines of his face, or by any means
expers in reading facial expressions, yel
we have thought or two, caught by an
observant eye, which we here propose to
put on record. ,.. ...
The glance of Gambrill, just before the
cap was drawn, was piercing. Like a
dart, It pierced our inmoss soul, and
haunts US still. Why, we cannot say,
but we never felt look so deeply pene-
rating. There was fascination in his
eye defying description, and at once con.
quering all prejudices, by its overwhelm-
ing flash. HeEce if really guilty Of mur.
der, his looks have surely not condemned
him.
The eye of Crop fell full upon us, and
fingered pensively, probably moment.
We shall never forge, its staring appear
ance. lis expression was SO irresislibly
imploring, and lis appeal so forcbly eld.
quen, as 10 start tear unbidden. Quick
as the coming and going of shadows, his
face would flush with blood, and then
pale again to snowy whileness. strong
effort a, self-command was manifest.
Buoyant with religious hope, he seemed,
and doubtless was, christian hero, but
behind all this we saw feverish soul,
peering piteously from his sunken, tear.
full eye-sockets. f'''
Corrie appeared more reconciled. His
eye was languid, and betrayed but little
emotion. He was evidently fully prepsr-
ed for the worst, though rather disposed
10 shrink from the earnest gaze OF the
multitude. Beyond very sad counle-
nance, however, we perceived nothing in
Corrie's looks denOiipg a serious mental
conflict. His thoughts seemed fixed, and
his courage equal to any emergency. Yer
TO say that there was no regret in his
look, would be unjust as well as idle. His
visage was care worn, and contained many
evidences Of grief long continued. But,
that he suffered anything more, Just al
the critical moment we speak Of, than the
incipient stage Of pain incident 10 the
death struggle, we very much doubt. His
religious confidence, whether well groun.
ded OF not. was certainly remarkable.
The negro Stephens, after Il ful glance
rolled his eyes heavenward. His last
look wss restless, as OF one sffirighted.
Fail ofths Drop and end offhe Ir0g-
drop fell al about 10 minutes
past IL and while in brealhless silence
spectators were watching The movements
Of The Sheriff. The victims fell dis,
lance of about four feet, and they received
q jerk which. while iimsy not have bro
ken tie necks Of all. made a jarring noise,
Is though the ropes had snapped but no
such accideu, happened. The trigger
vas ioucned by the foot of The sheriff,
usi SIS he stepped down from the scsGold. /
Crop and Stephens died hard, Crop, once
u twice, drawing himself nearly double.
After hanging 25 minutes, the bodies
we're partially lei down, when a medical
was made by Drs. E. 5.
Thomas, IL. p. p. YeaIes, aud o. S.