, 1860-07-17

to Justice, and on my return 10 New York, made
arrangements TO go away With my family rs
coo1fy a. if nothing had occurred which should
counsel me 10 use caution.
"But on that tatal night when invoke from
deep sleep to find the officers Of the law stand
Ing b5 my bed, for The first time fear overcame
ME, and grew flint and week rs baby.
Great drops Of sweat started out on my fora
bead and all over my body, and then realized
that at last the master whom I had served 80
long had really deaerted me and abandoned me
to my fate
But TO a'l outward appearance 1 choked
these feelings down, and none who saw me
dreamed Of what was passing within. -,
"My task is done. I have related all the
awful details Of my llfe with % much minute
ness as can, and now nothing is left me bu. 10
prepare to die.
ask no sympathy, and expect none.
shail 20 to the gal!ows cursed By all who know
the caus. which will bring me there, and my
cnly hope is shat God will, IN his infinite mercy,
grant me that spirit Of true repentance which
world to come"
EXECUTION or ALBERT ". u1cKs.
Albert ". Hicks, the pirate and murderer,
at Dedloe's Island, under the direction Of the
United States Marshsi. he met his late with
tue same apparent calmness which has charac.
tesized his whole department..
THE SCENE rnox TEE GA1Lows
was perhaps the most remarkable and sug-
Eestiye feature Of the entire affair. Number
less snoall boats, crowded with men Fand boys,
lay in the river directly before the gallows, COW
e1ipG an area of several acres. Beyond these
schooners, conspicuous among which Was the
L. A. johnson and still farthet lay no less
than eleven excursion steamboats, laden With
spectators, who, croxding to the island side Of
| The boats, caused them to sink On that side 10
the waters edge. The anxious spectators, in
! their desire 10 witness the execution, climbed
| upon the machinery, on the walking beam and
| oiher dangerous places. The mast8 Of the sail
ing vessels we're Ill black with sailors cEinging
] to them, apparently in the most uncomfortable
| positions. So close we're the boata together
that from near the galtows it WAS impossible to
| see the water between them.
The effect was that Of Il vast raft crowded With
| men, many Of them in red shirts, and the ma
jority ofthem sailors. There were number oi
boats, however, from Jersey City, Brooklyn,
and adjacent places, containing professional
the aud others who would not feel particularly
pleased we're their morbid curiosity made
] known to their friends.
It'll diEfcult-indeed, inpossible-to estimate
the number present Some put the number az
high as ten, and certainly it was not less than
five thousand. The gallows was not hidden by
any awning whatever, and it would hare been
impossible for those who arranged the affair to
have given the public better opportunity o.
witnessing it. An utter disregard Of public
! morals characterized the entire arrangements
and New York las, probably, never before wit
messed more openlY disgtacelul sight.
THE EXECUTION.
While the steamer WAS on its way to tht
island, Hicks requested the Marshal to hang
linn as som as they arrived at The gallows
Probably be had been informed that an immense
crowd would be present, for he did not exhibit
I any surprise or emotion at seeing the multitude
lie walked firmly to the gallows and mounted
As tie crowds in the boats caught glimpse
Of him they commenced yelling aud hooting
and crEing out to those on ehore* e Down il
'front.'" signntizing special individuals who stool
between the gatlows and the river by some pc
whitehall, sit down y "You, tellow-with the
blue coat, clear out" ard similar expressions.
For about two minutes Hicks stood on tn.
ga.1ows in full view Of all, while the Sherif
placed the rope around his neck. His appesr
ance was much different from the time nen h,
grown out, nad he appeared larger. aud in fact
better looking than he did just after his arrest
The black Cap was thrown over the back Of hi
head aud the black cloak lay over his shoulders
At precisely eleven o'clock the Sheriff CAV
the signal, and the black cap WAS pulled owe
] ire lace OF uaCRB. An Instant A41ef tue F0p
was pulled and he WIS swinging about two tte
above the platform. His hards were bourd
and hls CLOAK falling of showed him dressed il
a mariners suit Of blue pants. blue blouse, o,
] the lapel of which was worked the represeu
tation Of an anchor, and white shirt, with th
collar turned down, the bosom neatly p1siied
he wore no neck tie, md the fatal black cap hi
his head
The unfortunate man died easy. There wer
no struggles, nothing but nine spasnaodi
c!enchiDgs Of the hand with Simultaneous bu
almost imperceptib1e jerks Of the feet. Th
execution was so quickly performed that man
on the boats not prepared for it, were not look
ing That way ut the moment, and their lou
shouts to their companions, often mingled wit
biasphemous and obscene oaths, were the las
sounds that came to the ears Of the conderune
pirate.
Hicks made no dying speech. He lad tol
Cap.un Ry nders on the boat that he had moth
ing to say. Just, however, beftre the sigma
was given he nodded as il in farewell 10 thus
On each side Of him, but most Of the time kel
looking upward at the flag Of the E. A. John
son, 10 which his attention had been oiticiousl
directed while walking from the boat to th
hcatIuld.
After hanging eleven minutes, the body WI
lowered and the physicians felt of The pulse
Life was not extinct, and the body was ngai
slightly raised, swinging heavily around, eac
revolution greeted With cries and yells By thos
in The boats to those in front to take of thei
hats.
TIE GENERAL FKELIxG.