The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-12-08

stationed, who refused to admit any
person unless accompanied by mill.
tary escort. The representatives Of
the press, after much trouble, were
escorted into the field, and assigned a
nos;tion within one hundred yards OF
the scaffold.
At this time the military had assumed
their positions on the field, and in the
woods, to the north of the field OF ex
ecution. The cavalry were seen scour
ing in every direction, while mounted
men were stationed all along the fences
of the field of execution, and could be
seen riding to the south and east, ap-
parently anxiously looking for the an
ticipated rescue.
Thus matters stood at half-past 10
o'clock. when Gen. Taliaferro, with his
staff, consisting thirty-seven men, in
various uniforms, and all mounted on
spirited chargers, entered the field, and
proceeded, with all military decorum,
to position in front of the gallows,
and in the rear of the Cadets from the
Military Institute.
The departure of the commanding
officer 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 black suit,
much worn, the same he had on when
he made his attack on the Ferry. He
wore a SLOUGH hat, shoes, and red-col-
ored stockings. His arms had been
pinioned, and he marched out with a
firm step and upright head. He was
assisted into the wagon, and took a
seat on his coffin.
The train then proceeded to the scene
of 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 con-
vey ing Brown to his death. Follow
ing the military were about two hun
dred citizens. The gate was entered,
and the command brought to halt. In
a few minutes it again started, and pro-
ceeded to the gallows. The wagon
was stopped a few yards from the steps
which led to the platform, and Brown
was assisted out, and Immediately
started for the scaffold. On one side
was the Sheriff, on the other one of his
deputies.
Brown assembled the steps with a
cheerful look firm, mistaken step, and
an unblanched eye. Not an exhibition
of fear was given. There was no evil
dence of a consciousness of the terrible
tragic scene which was about to take
place, and in which he was to be the
actor. AS soon as he reached the plat
form, the military which accompanied
him fled to the right and left, and took
the positions which had been previous
ly 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, babe him farewell.
No ministers were present, owing to
the fact that Brown had refused their
Offices The Sheriff approached him
shook his hand, and bid him goodbye.
Brown stepped forward, when the
Deputy-Sheriff tied his legs, while the
Sheriff drew the white cap over his
head, and placed the fatal rope around
his neck. AS soon as this was done,
Brown remarked to the Sheriff. "yon
will have to guide me from this out"
The Sheriff asked, Captain Brown,
have you anything to say? To which
he replied, "Nothing."
Sheriff-"Will you take banker
chief, and use it rs signal, letting it
fall when you are ready ?"
Captain Brown-"No Sir, am al
ways ready. Do not keep me unnec-
essarily long"
The Sheriff then stepped aside while
the doomed man was engaged in prayer
In few minutes he stepped softly from
the scaffold, and, on leaving it, the
Deputy Sheriff sprung the the trap, and
John Brown was suspended between
the heavens and earth.
After he had hung for twenty min
utes, Drs. Girard, D. E. Masor, John
A. Straith, John Sturry and ii. P.
Cook, assembled the platform, and, after
feeling his pulse, holding their ears to
his chest, pronounced him dead. Ten
physicians, attached to the different
military corps, then visited him, each
one of them felt his pulse, and pro-
nounced him dead.
After the body of Brown had hung
for thirty-eight minutes, it was cut
down and placed in the coffin. The
rope with which he was hing was tax
en in charge by an officer, and after
wards cut up into pieces and distributed
to those who were anxious to have it.
Parties cut the timbers of the gallows.
and carried away the pieces, while
others secured lock of his hair.
When the body was placed in the coffin
it was conveyed to town and placed in
the Jail.
Many persons desired to visit the
Jail for the purpose of seeing it, but
Their curiosity vas not grati6ed. A
special train of cars WAS ordered from
the Ferry, and at half past O'Clock.
under strong military escort, the cot.
fin was removed from Jail and taken to
the cars, where it was placed in spec
lal one, and an escort getting in, the
train proceeded to the Ferry, where it