The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-04-19

$50.
Qaaaruple gxeculisa IN Balsimsse.-
CyR6uss
Baltimore, April eth 1859.
The ,Quadrupte execution Of Henry Gabrill
for the murder Of policeman Benton Of Mariol
Crop and Peter Corrie, for the murder Of police
man Rigdon, and Of John Oyphus alias Stevens
! for the murder Of John King, took place in th,
yard Of the county Jail this forenoon.
The event caused great excitement among
the rowdies. Verify, severe blow has beer
dealt to the progress Of Plug Uglyism in thia
city. The men executed-at least, three o
them-were chiefs among these rowdy organi
cations, and their loss will be sensibly felt by
every member Of the "Plugs," "Trip Raps,
"Backsnakes," &c. In the hanging Of Gam
brill \ Co. the conservative portion Of COM
munity have gaineds . signal victory over the
forces Of the shoulder htters, which will serve
for time to check the spread Of crime and
bloodshed with which the fair fame Of cur city
has so long been tarnished.
RowDY ORGANIZATIONS IN BALTIMORE.
In Baltimore there are some twenty FIVE or
thirty well organized clubs, ostensibly Of po-
litical character, but really composed Of persons
| WuO nave uO UtuGg WOISC tuAu luot OI BlDOu-
shed and riot. At our elections they appear
armed with knives, pistols, muskets. and even
cannon on many occasions have been brought
| into the field. The authorities, until within q
few months past, have been awed and intimida-
ted by these clubs and respectable citizens have
been driven away from the polls, until the priv
ilege Of the elective franchise has become nul-
lity and farce. With such impunity could
these organizations pe.petrate crime that the
public prosecutor and the courts could not pun
ish them, and it is only now that the first blow
has ever been struck at the roots of this crying
evil.
| Foremost among these dangerous and ever to
be dreaded organizations is the Plug Ugly Club.
The Plugs number some two or three thousand,
and predomlnate in the Twentieth Ward.
! Young Gambrill was member Of this band, and
always took an active part in its movements.
The Twelfth Ward 10 also controlled BY this fac
| ton, and whenever assistance is needed, the
entire force can be concentrated here by hoist
ing flag, which is the signal used for grand
rally of the Plugs on election days. and never
fails to bring out the club in its full orgaDiza-
ton.
the Rip Raps hail from the Fourteenth Ward,
and are considered second to none in point Of
ferocity and rascality. Crop was ember of
this club. The Rip Raps were organized in 1854,
and have been in active operation ever since
II was this club that raised the riot in Washing
ton in June, 1857.
The Blacksnakes inhabit the Eleventh ward,
on the outskirts of the city, where Nally was
murdered, and are a much dreaded gang.
The Empire and Pioneer clubs hold ou. in the
First, Second and Third wards, and at one time
were powerful organizations. They are COM
posed of Democrats, and deadly opposed to the
Plug Uglies, Rip Raps and Blacksnakes.
THE PROCESSION TO THE GALLows
At ten minutes past Il o'clock the procession
started from the prison in the following order:
First came the Sheriff, followed by Gambri
and Corrie, then Crop and last of all the negro,
Cyphus The culprits we're attired in black
clothes, each having shawl of the same color
thrown over his shoulders to conceal the pin
ions. They walked with firm step through the
file Of spectators. Ganibri especia ly was man.
y and collected, and attracted much attention.
The prisoners were very pale, but all bore up
with remarkable frmness the cortege slowly
passed on its way to the scaffold.
IMMENSE CROWD OF SPECTATORS.
Soon the multitude the outside caught
glimpse of the procession, and suppressed
shudder ran through the frames Of fifty thou
sand persons. Never shall forget the sight
that this day beheld. For half mile on every
side Of the scaffold the streets we're lined with
men, women, and children. The rich and poor
alike crowded forward in order to obtain q view
of the proceedings, yet the strictest order ap-
peared TO reigL among that mighty gathering
all were breathless with attention. The house
tops in the vicinity were black with human be-
ngs in TACT, as far the eye could reach, there
was nothing but heads. It was an imposing and
melancholy spectacle
ARRIVAL AT THE sCAFFoLD
And now the procession reaches the front OF
ho Fold Tho GhoriH in with
Gambrill, first ascends the steps. Then Corrie
followed slowly, but unfalterng. Next comes
Crop, stout, thick set mana perfect model Of
physical strength. He, too, seems collected, but
there is not that air OF composure and resigna-
ton about him which characterized Gambrill.-
Ha appears the most nervous of the party. The
negro reaches the gallows last, and ranges him
self by the side OF Crop. He appears self-pos-
sessed, but like Crop, is somewhat agitated.
SPEECH ON THE GALLows, IN WHICH GAABRlLL As.
SERTs HIS INNOCENCE.
Gambrill was the first to break the silence
which reigned supreme at that moment. Step
ping forward to the front of the platform, in
clear and manly voice which could be heard far
and near, he thus addressed the immense gath
eriDg:-
Fellow citizens-I am about to die, but before
God am an innocent man. When you see this
trap fall from under me, you will see an inno-
cent man depart from you. Goodbye, fellow
citizens, go, d-bye!
The cnlprit then resumed bis place in the line,
when Crop advanced pace or two and sang
hymn, in which all joined.
Gambril's voice was especially clear, sounding
louder and more distinct than Crops even. At
the close of the hymn Crop exclaimed Fare
WELL" in a loud voice, in which he was followed
by Corre and Gambrili.
CYPHUs ALSO ASSERTS HIS INNOCENCE.
Cyphus then stepped forward, and addressing
the crowd as follows :-"You are now going TO
hang another innocent man. Twas wrongly
convicted and am now to be unjustly punished.
Thank God, have the opportunity OF telling
you all that am an innocent man. Farewell.
THE LAST OF EARTH.
All being now in readiness, the executiOner
took charge Of the culprits. The white caps
were drawn over the faces of the unhappy men.
The ropes were drawn down from the. cross
beam above, and knots were properly adjusted,
the condemned uttered their last farewell to the
world and in moment afterwards the trap was
strung, and the unfortunate men we're launched
into eternity.
THE CLOSING SCENES.
The fall varied in each case from. four to FIVE
feet. Gamb.ill and Corrie, who had the lowest
fall appeared to suffer least. Indeed their
bodies we're motonless three minutes after the
trap fell With Crop and Cyphus the case was
different. Thev had fall OF fully five feet, yet
they struggled violently for six or seven min
utes. Crop especially died very hard, and his
epasms sent cold shudder through oil who
were spectators Of the awful scene. Csphus,
too, struggled hard, his body swinging to and
fro in the air, and presented . most horrible
picture.
As the platform fell suppressed wall burst
from the assembled multitude. They all was
still as death itself. The struggles Of the dying
men were swatched with breathless attention;
and not q word was spoken above . whisper,
until all signs of life had gradually ceased. In
tently that vast concourse gazed upon the bod
les Of the criminals, ~ they danged high in
mid air and remained fixed in their positions,
until the corpses we're lowered and removed
from their sight.
The WHEAr CRoP OF lS59.-The New York
Herald has large number Of extracts from pa
pers in all parts Of the country respecting the
cheat cron Of 1870 IL speaks of the prOsDects