The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-07

bertson. There throwing down the fences
they turned northward. entering the fair
grounds (half mile east of town. on the
west side, and driving within the circular
amphitheatrical ring, paused for the final
consummation of the scene.
The ten collins were removed from the
wagons and placed in row, six or eight
feet apart, forming line north and south
about fifteen PAGES east of the central
pagoda or music stand in the center of
the ring. Each coffin was placed upon the
ground with it's foot west and head east.
Thirty soldiers of the I'd NJ. s. M. were
drawn up in single line, extending north
and south, facing the row of collins. This
line OF executioners ran Immediately at
the east base of the pagoda, leaving a
space between them and the coffins. of
twelve or thirteen PAGES. Reserves were
drawn up in line upon either flank of these
executiOners.
The arrangements completed, the doomed
men knelt upon the grass between their
collins, and the soldiers, while the Rev. r.
M. Rhodes offered up prayer At the
conclusion of this each prisoner took his
seat upon the foot of his coffin, facing the
muskets which, in few moments, were to
launch them into eternity. They were
nearly all firm and undaunted. Two or
three only showed signs of trepidation.
The most noted Of the ten was Captain
Thomas A. Snider, of Monroe County,
whose capture at Shelbyville, in the dis
guise of woman, we related several
weeks since. He was now elegantly at
tired in suit of black broadcloth, with
white vest. A luxurious growth of beau
tiful hair rolled down his shoulders, which,
with his fine personal appearance, could
not but bring to mind the handsome but
vicious Absalom There was nothing es-
pecially worthy of note in the appearance
of the others. One Of them, Willius Ba-
ker, of Lewis County, was proven to be
the man who last year shot and killed Mr..
Ezekiel Pratte, his Union neighbor, near
Williamstown, in that county. All the
others were rebels of lesser note, the par
ticulars of whose crimes we are not famil-
lar with.
a few minutes after one O'Clock, Colonel
Strachan, Provost Marshal General, and
Rev. Mr.. Rhodes, shook hands with the
prisoners. Two of them accepted banda
ges for their eyes-all the rest refused A
hundred spectators had gathered around
the amphitheatre to witness the impressive
scene. The stiffness of death pervaded the
place.
The officer in command now stepped for
ward, and gave the word of command !:
Ready; aim; fre!'' The discharges,
however, were not made simultaneously,
probably through want of perfect previ-
GUS understanding of the orders, and of the
time at which to fire. Two of the rebels
fell backward upon their collins, and died
instantly. Capt. Snider sprang forward
and fell with his head toward the soldiers,
his face upward, his hands clasped upon
his breast, and the left leg drawn half way
up. He did not move again, but died i'm
mediately. He had requested the soldiers
to aim at his heart, and they had obeyed
but too implicitly. The other seven were
not killed outright; so the reserves were
called in, who dispatched them with their
revolvers.
The lifeless remains were then placed in
collins the lids, upon which the name of
each man was written, were screwed on;
and the diretul procession returned to town
by the same route that it pursued in going
out But the souls of ten men that went
out came not back
Friends came and took seven of the
corpses Three were buried by the mill
tary in the public cemetery. The tragedy
was over.
1t seems hard that ten men should die
for one. Under ordinary circumstances it
could not be justified. But severe diseases
demand severe remedies. The safety of
the people is the supreme law. 1t over
rides all other considerations. The mad
ness of rebellion has become so deep-seated
that ordinary methods of cure are made
quate To take life for life would be little
intimidation to men seeking the hearts
blood of an obnoxious enemy. They could
well afford to make even exchanges under
many circumstances. 1t is only by strik-
ing the deepest terror into them, causing
them to thoroughly respect the lives of
loyal men, that they can be taught to OBJ
serve the obligation of humanity and law.