The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-01-21
Selett Mlistellaap.
Execution Of the Indian Murderers.

We give the following graphic descrip-
ton of the hanging of the thirty eight con-
demned Indians, in Wisconsin, as related by
an eyewitness. In connection herewith,
the writer also gives scenes and incidents
| in prison, their preparations for death, the
death-song, burial and other incidents,
which afford recital of thrilling interest:
PARTING INTERVIEWS.
On the 25th of December, the day pre-
ccding the execution, each Indian under
sentence of death was permitted to converse
with two or three of his relatives or friends,
confined in the same prison. These inter-
views were very sad and affecting. All the
condemned sent messages to their families
and friends who were absent. aud in speak
ing of their wives and children, almost ev-
ery one of them was affected to tears. Good
counsel was sent to the children. In many
cases they were eXhorted to adopt Chris
tianity and cultivate Il love for the whites.
Some of the culprits spoke confidently of u
hope of salvation, but the majority were
utterly Indifferent to their future welfare.
One Of them, Ta-di-mi-ma, was sending
word TO his relatives not to mourn his loss
He said he was old, and could not hope to
live long under any circumstances, and his
execution would not shorten his days a
great deal, and dying as lie did, innocent of
any white mans blood, he hoped would
give him better chance to be saved :;
therefore, he hoped his friends would con-
slider his death but as removal from this
to better world. IL have every hope"
said he, " of going direct to the abode of the
Great Spirit, where | shall always be hap
py." This last remark reached the cars of
Ta-zoo, who was likewise speaking to his
friends, and he elaborated upon it in this
wise " les, tell onr friends that we are
being removed from this world over the
same path they must shortly travel. We
go first, but many of our friends may follow
us in a very short time. | expect to go di-
rect to the abode of the Great Spirit, and to
be happy when ! get there but we are
told that the road is long and the distance
great. Therefore, as | am slow in all my
movements, il will probably take me long
time to reach the end of my journey, and
and active men we will leave behind us will
pass me on the road before | reach the
place Of my destination"
Locks of hair, blankets, coats, and almost
every article in the possession Of the cOn-
demned, We're given away rs mementoes,
and thus the parting interview ended.
MIDNIGHT IN THE CELL or THE CONDEMNED.
Night came, the last which ever shed its
darkness OH the thirty-eight Dac0tahs. We
were permitted to visit the cell at midnight,
and will never forget the scene which pre-
sented itself The Indians were all fastened
to the floor by chains, two by two. Some
were asleep, while others laughed and
smoked as if unconscious of the morrow's
fate. Some of them had adorned them
selves with paint, and seemed quite proud
of such preparation for the gallows. The
majority of them were young men, while
here and there deserted a gray-haired man,
not too old for crime. | could but notice
the appearance of innocence which they all
assumed. stranger, or one unacquainted
with their deeds of butchery and crime,
would have supposed them unjustly Judged
and sentenced AS | entered the room,
these miscreants not only greeted me with
smiles, but even held forth their hands to be
shaken, which yet seemed to be CORY with
the blood of babes and innocence. Dis
gustcd with such an illustration of fallen
humanity, l retired, leaving with them
Father Ravoux, their spiritual adviser, who
labOred for their repentance during the re-
mainder of the night. He met with some
success, and several were baptized and re-
ceived the communion,
PREPARATIONS FOR THE GALLONS.
At half-past seven on the following norm
ing tho prisoners were prepared fol Their
doom. Their irons were knocked of, and
their elbows were pinioned behind and
their wrists in front, but about sax inches
apart. The scene was much NailVened Dy