Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-03
The Execution of the Indian Murdcrers
Mt MRnknfn. Mimi.

reported on both sides.
The Execution of the Indian Murdcrers
at MankatO, MINI.
We have the Mankato Independent, which
is filed with an account of the hanging of the
thirty-eight Sioux Indians at that place, on
the Goth of December, and with various doc
uments relative to them. They were all
swung off at the same time. One rope broke,
but there was an immediate remedy for this
accident. They were all murderers, and
some of them were convicted of rape and 9TH
er atrocious crimes. There was vast con-
course of people present to witness the exc
cution-all full of anger against the bloody
villains and there were 1900 soldiers present
under command of Col. Miller of the 9TH Min
nesota regiment. The Mankato paper says
''Owing to Col. Millcr's order instituting
martial law within circle of ten miles, which
prohibits all sale or gift OF intoxicating liquors
and which went into effect yesterday morning
at ) O'Clock, all has been quiet and good order
among the thousands in attendance. Upon
leaving the stone building the condemned set
up the death dance and kept it up on the plat
form, which fell at precisely sixteen minutes
past ten. The death song was the most dis
NAL sound that mortal ears ever listened to.
1t was a SIMPLE repetition of "This is me- !"
There was not word of defiance uttered.
TUESDAY evening the thirty-nine sent in
request to Col. Miller ito have a dance in their
own way. Permission was given, and about
nine O'Clock they began the death dance in
bowling style. The guard of them inside the
room became alarmed for fear the Indians in
dancing near might attempt to snatch their
guns. The only curb upon the Indians was
that they were chained two and two by one
ankle. An order was sent in to stop the
dance. The outside guard was increased, and
the sentinels without the high board enclosure
of the prison were ordered to catch any and
everything that attempted to scale the fence,
upon the point of the bayonet"
1t is not at all surprising that the people of
Minnesota are SO intensely excited against the
Sioux Indians. 1t is much more surprising
that they have restrained themselves from
putting to death by means of lynch law every
one of the rascals who could be caught. 1t Is
much better and wiser to refrain from such
summary and eXterminating vengeance; but
they are right in their determination that the
whole triho shall 49, i e. Al i'll
SO as to make another such massacre of the
settlers impossible, and the sooner this re-
moval takes place the better. This hostility
to the whole .treacherous, murderous race,
and especially to these convicted criminals,
was manifest on this occasion. The Mankato
paper says;
'While the soldiers were at work to-day
upon the gallOws, stranger came up to one
of them who was planking the platform and
asked the privilege of driving one nail. He
wanted to drive it in place where it would be
of service. The soldier handed him a ham,
mer and nail, and told him where to drive.
The man drove the nail home into plank of
the platform, thanked the soldier, said he was
satisfied, and left.
''Wm. j. Duly, who had a letter Tuesday
night from his ransomed wife. and had half
his family massacred at Lake Shetek, was as
signed the duty of cutting the rope. Another
man offered So for the privilege. Col. Miller
compliments Mr.. Duly as quite remarkable
man, and one who displays unusual self
control.
''When the platform fell suppressed but
joyful shout went up from the vast throng of
spectators-but all was perfect order. twas
sight never before seen on the face of the
earth. Justice is done. After hanging &c
minutes the bodies were taken down and
carried in four wagons, and buried about half
a mile from the gallows, in heavy sand bar
near to the river"
These felons, many of whom were half
breeds, had perpetrated the most horrid
crimes without the least conjunction, acting
more like beastly demons than like anything
human; and they endeavored to maintain the
bearing of savage recklessness to the end.
But they showed some signs of feeling at
times; and, finally, many of them broke
down when taking leave of their friends. The
account from which we quote says =
"wednesday afternoon the condemned re-
quested the privilege of seeing their relatives
in the log prison. These relatives were al
lowed to go in few at a time. Capt. Red
field provost marshal, assures us that the last
goodbye was very affecting. The supposed
stoicism of the savage broke down under this
fiery ordeal. Relatives and old friends threw
their arms around each others necks, and in
some instances wept freely and kissed each
other.
"While the leave-taking was taking on, an
old man of the 49, said to young redskin =
If you ever get your liberty, and can find my
daughter, who is now at Fort Smelling, | shall
expect you to take her and take care of her.
The lover blushed, as the major expressed it,
$50 that you might have lit cigar by his
face In another instance one said to his
friend Tell my daughter and the family
that want her and your son to live together
hearty shake of the hand sealed the agree
ment to carry out the speakers request"