New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-05
THE EXECUTION OF CAPT. BROWN.

From Our Special Correspondent
BALTIMORE, Dec. 3, 1859.
TeleQIaphng from CharlestOwn or Harpers Ferry
to TIT TRIBUNE being out of the question, am forced
TO lose day and write from this place The execu'
ton was in the highest degree imposing and solemn,
and without disturbance of any kind Lines Of patrols
and pickets encirced the field for ten miles around,
and over FIVE hundred troops posted all about the
calows. At O. clock in the morning workmen began
TO erect the scaffold ue timber having been hauled the
night previous At troops began to arrive. Troopers
were posted around the field at fifty feet apart, and
two lines Of sentres further in. The troops did not
form below around the gsows, but were so disposed
as te command every approach. The sun shone
brightly and the picture presented 10 the eye was
really splendid As each company arrived II took s
allotted position. On the easterly side were the
Cadets, with their right wing fanked by detachment
of men with howitzes; the northeast, the Richmond
Grays; on the south Company + Of Richmond; on the
north. the Winchester Contnenals and, TO preserve
order in the crowd the Alexandra RiAemen and Capt.
Gibson's Rockingham Company were stationed at the
entrance gate and on the outskirts. At II o'clock the
procession came in sight, and at all conversation
and noise ceased. dead stiffness regned over the
field, asd the tramp Of the approaching troops alone
broke the silence. The escort of the prisoner was
composed of Capt. SCOTS company of cavalry, one
company Of Major Lorings battalion Of defencibles,
Can't. Winiams's Montpelier Guard Capt. Scott's Pc
tersburg Grays Company d. Capt. Miller of the NiTN
GINA Volunteer, ADD Young Guard, Capt Rady, the
whole under the command of Col. T. r. August,
sisted by Major LoIing-the cavalry at the head and
rear of the column.
The prisoner sat upon the box which contained his
coffin, and although pale from confinement, seemed
strong The wagon in which he rode was drawn by
two white horses From the time Of leaving jail until
he mounted the gallows stairs he wore smile upon
his counenance and his keen eye took in every detail
of the scene There was no blenchlng nor the re-
hottest approach TO cOwardice nervousness His re-
marks have not been correctly reported in the Balti-
more and New-York papers. As be was leaving jail,
when asked If be thought be could endure bis fate, he
said g can endure almost anything but parting from
friends; that is very hard. On the road to the scat
fold he said in reply TO an inquiry, % has been
characteristic of from infancy net TO sufier from
pbysical fear have suffered a thousand times more
from bashfulness than from fear" On entering the
field be said as if surprised, 81 see all persons are
excluded from the field except the military. was
very near the old man, and scrutinzed him closely.
He seemed 10 take in the whole at glance, and
be strengthened himself up proudly if to set to the
soldiers an example of soldiers courage The only
motion he made, beyond swaying to and fro of his
body, was that same patting Of his knees with his
hands that we noticed throughout his trial and while
in ial. As be came upon an eminence near the gal
lowe he cast his eyes over the beautiful landscape and
followed the winnings of the Blue Ridge Mountains in
the distance He looked up earnestly at the sun and
sky and all about and then remarked, This Is
beautiful country have not cast my eye over 1t be-
fore-tbat ia, while passing through the field" The
cortfee passed half around the gallows 20 the east
side, where il halted. The troops composing the es-
cort took their assigned position, but the Petersburg
Grays, as the immediate body guard remained as be-
fore, closely hemming in the prisoner They finally
opened ranks TO let him pass out when with the as
sis,ance Of two men, he descended from the wagon,
bidding good by TO those within il; and then, with
firm step and erect FORM be strobe pas; Tailor, Sheriff,
and officers, and was the first person TO mount the
scafeld steps He then looked about him, principally
in the direction of the people, in the far distance
Then 10 Capt. Avis, his TAILOR, be said, 81 have no
words 10 thank you for all your kindness to me-"
To Sheriff Campbell he remarked, I" Let there be no
more DELAY than snecessary His black slOuched hat
was then removed, his elbows and ankles were pin
toned and the white hood was drawn over his head.
The Sheriff requested HIM TO step forward on the trap
He said You have put this thing over my head and
cannot see you must lead me-. There eight minutes
of suspense while the stupid cavalry trying 10 find
their proper position. Impatient at the delay, Col.
Scott gives the signal, Sheriff Campbell sewers the
rope with bis Ratchet, the trap falls with horrid
screech Of its hinges and the unfortunate swings
of into the air.
There was but ono spasmodic effort Of the
bands to clutch at the neck, but for nearly Eve
minutes the limbs erked and quiveres. He seemed 10
retain extraordinary hold upon life. One who has
seen numbers Of men hung before told me had never
seen 20 hard struggle. After the body had dangled
in mid air for twenty minutes il examined by the
surgeons for signs Of lie. First the Charestown ply
sicans went up and made their examination and after
them the military surgeons, the prisoner being exc
cuted by the civil power and with military assistance
as well. To them lifting up the arms, now power
less that were strong, and placing their ears
to the breas. of the corpse, holding L steady by pass
ing an arm around il, revolving in the extreme.
And 80 the body dangled and swung by its neck turn
ing this side that when moved by the surgeons,
and swinging, pendulum ike, from the force Of the
south wind that blowing until, after thiryeighr
minutes from the time Of swinging Of, il ordered
to be cut down. the authorities being quite satisfied
that their dreaded enemy was dead. The body was
lifted upon the seaold and fen into heap as limp as
1s. Il was thea put into the black walnut coffin,