The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-06-28


long thu, I began 10 think You were . coward and
WAS afraid 81 the job you haain hand" The Msr-
shal replied that ne had NJ, had time 10 call
on him. and scknow dyed that slthoush he would
perform his duty. u was . very disssreeable
one. Hswkns rejoined, Every man must do his
duty, plcssan, or unpleasant" Mr.. Sutton, War.
den Of the Prison. and DR.. Hcdgmsn waited him
during the evening, and found him collected and
even cheerful - ever. lilo thanked them In the
warmes manner for their uniform kindness and
sympathy, remarking ths, TO them and TO Marshal
Murray he owed much gratitude for their slevia-
ton Of his misfortuncs. Until II O'Clock, Hawkins
wrote steadily, preparing an elaborate ccmmunics-
ton for the frcss, vindicatng his race fr'm their
general condemnation by the white race, ccmpAr-
ing their condition with that In the early days
Of the Republic, when side by side with our fore
fathers they fought for the cause OF liberty, and, a.
considerable length, giving an autobiography
Of himself aud his statement Of tho crime,
and the causes leading 70 IL, for which he WAS
to suffer. These facts have already been pub
lishcd in the suS, and Hawkins statement simply
Ia that he was tortured 70 Madness almost by the
continued cruelty Of the Captain, who previous
voyage murdered two Of his crew, and cast their
bodies overheard. lie does not distinctly say that
the Captain killed by him, but "the next morn
ing the Captain was found murdered In his berth"
Aaer completing his writing. nj about II o'clock,
the prisoner len his cell, and for hour engaged
In conversation In tho corridor with the keepers
and the Rev. H. II. Garnctt, who was present. lie
! then returned TO his cell, In company with his
spiritual adviser, and spont some time in prayer.
while In the corridor, no oonvcrsed on general sub.
jecta, indugng at times In plcasantrics, and even
laughing naturally. and without any effort or at
| tempt a display. lio smoked almost constantly,
with the steady ease Of an old smoker. unaffected
by any mental uncasincss, and bc,raying no feeling
by nervous pulling. or biting Of his cigar. AZ near
one o'clock. he ret, ed ~ rest slept soundly. and at
little after four rose and wrte sngthly letter
70 his sister. Al eight o'clock, Hawkins WAS re-
moved from his cell 10 tho reception
room In the main body Of tho build.
ing. Here In company with the Rev. II. II.
Gsrnet,. Rev. Mr. Camp aud several others, he
continued conver-ing quite pleasantly. Soon alter
he entered, the guard of iity-two marines, under
command Of Capt Haywood, arrived from tho Ma
Wy Yari, and were marched into the prison
yard. The prisoner had borne with cqusnimity
tho omlnous sound Of the hammers on tho gallowt
during the process Of hs erection Just outside his cell
|
having once helped 10 erect gallows In Charleston
but at the sound Of the drums and the measured
tramp Of the marines for the first time his courag,
seemed shaken and little nervous agitation wal
perccptible Instantly, however, he rallied, wen
on conversing as before aud mhdc the martial music
which had passed, his theme. Rev. Father Duran
| quot visitited him and conversed with him OH re
'igious subjects. They differed, and Hawkins will
mind as collected and voice a. steady IN the Rev
Father, supported his opinions by argument and
adducsd texts from tho scriptures suited 10 his pur
poses Of argument. Tho Rev. Mr.. Camp knsh n
prayer with the condemned man, who then, In
steady voice, prayed for mercy and pardon for him
self for blessings those In prison, the keepers VIII
| had bssp 80 kind " him, his relatives and
friends, and for the govorntment and lis gallant
defenders Of the army aud navy. lie also offered
up ardcnt supplications In behalf Of the oppressed
and enslsved, that they might 60 free. His demsap.
| or throughout was that Of . converted iHaN, .
Christian, repcntant for his sins and he expressed
himself grateful In heart 70 God for having
given him time " repent and not cut him Of
In ths midls q course 9f evil, and
hopeful ,ha. he would meet his saint.
ed mother In heaven. Commissioner Draper
him cheerful as ever A. this interview Hsw-
kns expressed his regret that hs hal not properly
| employed the advantages Of education offered
him In YOUTH as he believed that had his education
| been be,ter, he might have turned his talents TO
better account, and not be at this time condemned
TO death for crime. Subsequently, the Rev. W
williams and Rev. J. q. Jacobs visited tho pris-
oner. To the words Of one Of tho Rev. gentle
men "he seemed prepared, In need of spiritual
consolation, and he preached sermon n us, in
| stead Of us preaching 10 him we could not get In
| a word edgeways." In religious exercises he then
| continued with his spiritual advisers, until u few
minutes before one o'clock, when 4. 3. Marshal
| Murray, In company with Deputy Marshal Thomp-
son, entered tho room 10 inform him that the hour
| Of his execution had arrived. In tho mean
time, everything had been prepared. A
| force Of seventy policemen, under command
| Of Capt. Dowlng were posted the outside Of the
prison, while inside, the marines before mentioned
were stationed about the gallows aud in the pass.
| age leading through the prison ani yard to it,
| The gallows has before been described-a simple
| contrivance by which the weight ofa great mass OF
iron is suddenly thrown the rope around the cul-
prts neck, jerking him up four feet from the
ground Promptly, when asked II hs was ready
Hawkins replied In the Affirmative, and rising from
his seat the Moose was put around his neck, his
arms were pnioned, and the black cap placed on
bis head. Preceded by the Marshal and his de-
putty, accompanied by his spiritual advisers, Rev.
MCasrs, Garnett and Camp aud followed by num-
Der Of deputies, Hawkins walked with u firm and
easy step To the gallows. where he was
seated In an arm chair. He was dress
ed In sailors suit Of blue. and the Jack.
ct aud white navy shirt thrown open, ex-
posed his broad breast, on which lay the fatal
-. No fear visible In his eyes or lips, no
nervous twitching Of the hands, as they lay un.as.
ly on the arms Of his chair. and when he rose Ia
speak his voice was more firm and even than any
man Of sensibilty present could have assumed.
He listened calmly 10 the reading OF the lengthy
death warrant by Marshal Murray, standing re-
spoctfllly throughout, without bcrayin tho fntest
trace Of emotion, and then, when asked II he had
anything To say, proceeded To speak to the audience
OF about $50 persons, who gathered about him.
lie was evidently unused TO public speaking, and
made his remarks rather rambling, commencing
almost every sentence with II will say gentlemen"
but his mind was clear, and u certain sort Of con.
which he spoke was, however, low, and from the
position in which the reporters were pacai, at
times his words were insudble. lie began by ex
pressing his gratitude t. all the officers with whom
he had been brought in contact for their uniform
kindness TO him and the sympathy they manifested
Al