Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1859-12-10

of, and small white flags were stuck in the
ground, beyond which no citizen was allow
ed to pass.
At the gate a military company were
stationed, who refused to admit any person
unless accompanied by military escort.
The representatives of the press, after much
trouble, were escorted into the Geld, and
assigned position within one hundred
yards of the scaffold.
At this time the military had assumed
their positions on the field. The cavalry
were seen scouting in every direction, while
mounted men were stationed all along the
fences of the field Of execution, and conld
be seen riding to the south and east, appa-
rently anxiously looking for the anticipated
rescue.
The Richmond Company F. were assign
ed position to the south Of the scalfold,
and within ffty yards Of it, while the Ca
diets from the Virginia Military Institute,
we're stationed in front, and within about
the same distance. A Company of Caval-
ry were riding about the field, and two or
three campanies of infantry were stationed
within twenty yards of the fences as pick
ets
Field officers, staff officers, and officers
of the day, and officers not of the day, to-
gether with Aids to the Governor, were
dashing along on spirited horses, riding to &
fro apparently giving exhibitions of excel
lent horsemanship, and rivaling eaoh other
in this accomplishment.
Thus matters stood at half-past ten
o'clock, when Gen. Taliafarro, with his
staff, consisting of thirty-seven men, in va
rious uniforms and all mounted on spirited
chargers, entered the field, and proceeded,
with all military decorum, to a position in
front Of the gallows, and in the rear Of the
Cadets from the Military Institute.
The departure Of the commanding off,
Ger from the town, was the signal for the
bringing out of the prisoner A 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 in IA black suit, much
worn, the same he had on when he made
his attack on the Ferry. He wore a slouch
hat, shoes, red coored stockings. His arms
had been pinioned, aud he marched out
with firm step aud upright head. He
was assisted INTO the wagon and took q
seat on his coffin.
The train then proceeded TO the scene
of the execution. The military escort was
large and imposing There was no music
and nothing was to be heard save the slow,
measured tread Of the military, and the
rumbling 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,
and the command brought to halt. In
few minutes it again started and proceeded
to the gallows. The wagon was stopped
few yards from the steps which led to the
platform, and Brown was assisted out and
Immediately started for the scaffol1. On
one side was the Sheriff, on the other one
of his deputies
Brown ascended the steps with cheer
ful look, firm, mistaken step, aOd an I'M
blanched eye Not an exhibition of fear
was given There was no evidence of the
consciousness of the terrible tragic scene
which was about to take place, and in
which he was to be the actor. AS soon as
be reached the platform, the military which
accompanied him filed TO the right and left,
aud took the positions which bad been pre-
viously assigned them. Brown looked at
the crowd, then glanced at the scaffold
The deputy sheriff extended his hand and
took that of Brown, and shaking it bade
him farewell.
No ministers were present, owing to the
fact that Brown had refused their Offices.
The sheriff approached him, shook his
hand, and bade him goodbye Brown
stepped forward, when the Deputy-Sheriff
tied his legs, while the Sheriff drew the
white cap over bis head, and placed the fa-
tai rope about his neck. As sool as this
was done, Brown remarked to the Sheriff,
"yOu will have to guide me from this out"
The Sheriff asked, Captain Brown, have
you anything to say ?' To Which he re.
Piled "Nothng"
Sheriff-"Will you take handkerchief,
and use it as a signal, letting it fall when
you are ready 7"
Captain Brown-"No sir, / am always
ready. Do not keep me unnecessarily
long"
The Sheriff then stepped aside while the
doomed man engaged in prayer. In few
minutes he stepped softly from the Scaffold
and, on leaving it, the Deputy-Sherif
sprung the trap, and John Brown was
suspended between the heavens and the
earth.
Not a sound was heard except the creak
ing of the timbers of the seaffOld and thu
whipping sound Of the wind, as it played
with the naked branches of the trees.
After he had hung for twenty minutes
five Drs. assembled the platform, and, after
feeling the pnlse, holding their ears to the
chest, pronounced him dead. Ten physi
clans, attached to the different military
corps, then visited him, each one felt hi
pulse, and pronounced him dead. Thu
ended the tragic scene, which commenced
in violence and murder, and closed in shame
aud death.
INCIDENTS.
On the road TO the scaffold, Brown re
marked to the undertaken, who was in tn
wagon with him, on observing military ii
the field: "They have excluded all citizens'
Yes" was the reply Capt Brown said
Gentlemen, you are very calm and collect
ed-much more so than | am; aud yet you
condition is much more critical. am cool :
said he; II have suffered much more from
u