Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-11-01
From the n. U. Delta.
Death Of Gen. walker.

Several false reports have been pub
lished respecting the circumstances Of
Gen. Walkers execution, at Truxillo,
we have a melancholy satisfaction in be-
ing enabled. from the statement of an
eye witness, 10 give an authentic and re-
liable narrative of the transaction.
Mr.. William S. Elton, an intelligent
young man, native Of Philadelphia, who
has been far some time in the employ of
the Panama Railroad company, as an en-
gineer, happened to be iu Truxllo when
Gen. Wslker and his command were
brought back to that place, and was an
attentive observer Of all that occurred.-
Mr.. Elton came over from Truxillo in
schooner to Charleston, aud thence pro-
ceeded to Mobile, with letters from Colo
mel Rudler to Mr.. Julius Hesse, of that
place.
Mr.. Elton was friend of Gen. Walk
er, and sympathized in his cause, but
was not of his party. He witnessed the
execution Of the General, of which he
gives in substance this descriptions:
/ At the gate of the fort, the General
having been led from his cell, was relev
ed of the heavy irons lie had borne ever
since his surrender. He had on the clothes
which he had worn through the expedi-
tion.
a force of two hundred men, with fix
ed bayonets, received him at the fort
He was placed between two priests, with
! lighted candles, and the troops forming
in column, the melancholy cortege pro-
ceeded to the place appointed for the
tragical deed. The Generals carriage
was erect and resolute, his expression
calm and even smiling, and his whole
air that of a man of earnest devotion and
conscious rectitude The consultations
Of religion, which was whispered to him
by the priests who accompanied him, on
his last march, were received and respond
ed to by him with fcrvid piety and Chris
tan hopefulness. These responses, we
are assured by our informant, were all
that proceeded from him during the
march from the fort and the scene of the
execution The military cortage was fol-
lowed by great crowd OF people, and a
number of the sailors and marines of the
British ship Lcarus, wearing their side
arms. AS the procession passed the
streets, the doors and windows were all
filled with people, whose countenances,
and now and then their language, indi-
Gated their views and feelings in regard
to General Walker. Among the natives
, there was q general feeling of eXultation
at the downfall Of the terrible flabuster. /"
The Americans and many Of the for
egners on the other haud, manifested
their decided disgust for the sacrifice of
so brave and true a man by the half breed
rubble of this wretched apology for q
State, which had to employ British
man Of war to capture an invading force
of seventy men. Even the British ma
rines and sailors, though reckless and
desperate set of rogucs and rutlians, were
heartily ashamed Of their share in the cap
turc of Walker.
AS the procession marched by the
prison where the rest of Walkers men
were confined, the doors and windows
were completely closed Arriving at an
old ruined barracks or fort, about a
quarter of mile outside Of the city, the
troops were formed into three sides of a
squara, and the General was led forward
and ,laced near an angle of the WALL
The crowd of people stood behind the
line Of soldiers.
The priests who had accompanied the
General now held brief coloquy with
him, received his confession, and admin
isterei to him the last sad writes of the
Church, and retired A section of four
soldiers were then ordered to their posts,
and taking their position within twenty
PAGES, the usual military commands were
given, and the soldiers took deliberate
aim at the body of the gallant American,
not feature OF whose face, not fibre OF
whose body betrayed the slightest emo
ton of fear. The command ''fire was
given, the volley discharged, and the
General fell forward on his face.
The body lay quivcring in the agonies
of death-the bullets of his eXecutioners
had passed through his head-when the
second section was ordered to advance
and fire another volley. which only mutt
lated the body from which the lifc was
fast ebbing. Then single soldie,
marched up to the body, and placed his
| luUSkeL Wltillu ICW lICHcs VI tiic al
ready dead man, and fired, horribly de
facing his countenance and blowing the
head nearly from the body.
Then the troops were formed, and pro-
ceeded at a lively step, back to town,
leaving the body of Gen. Walker where
it had fallen. lie'e it was taken charge
of by the priest who had attended him It
the place of execution, and by two Anne
rican citizens, whose names are Cornelius
Hooper aud Orlando Graves. and afte
being decently coiiined was inferred will
the cerem onies of the Catholic Church il
cemetry outside of town.
During the whole time of the execution
not word escaped Gen. Walker, excep
his whispered responses to the spirltua
u, consolation of the priests. The story
> that he addressed the spectators a shor
time before his execution, declaring hi
regret for his course, was fabricated II
Havana, where his name and deeds wer
held in such terror. There is not wor,
. of truth in the statement.
= General Walker may have been de
. luded man. ile was certainly an enthu
siast, and having failed, will be consider
cd fanatic; but a more sincere, earnest
n truthful and fearless man never looke'