The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-01-13
PREPARATIONS FOR THE oALLows.

At half.past o'clock Friday morning, all
persons were excluded from the room except
those necessary TO help prepare the prisoners
! for their doom. Under the superinlendence
of Major Brown and Captain Redfeld their
irons were knocked off, and one by one were
tied by cords, their elbows being pinoned be-
inches apart. This operation occupied till
about o O'clock In tho meantime the scene
was much enlivcned by their songs and con.
versation, keeping up the most cheerful ap.
pearancc. AS they were being pinoncd, they
went around the room shaking hands with
soldiers and reporters, biding them "good-
by" &C. After all were properly fastened,
they stood up in row around the room and
another. exciting death songs was sung
They then sat down very quietly, an com
mcnccd smoking again. Father Ravoux
came in, and, after addressing them few mo-
ments. knelt in prayer, reading from prayer
book in the Dacota language, Which portion
OF the condemned repeated after him. Du-
ring this ceremony nearly all paid the most
strict attention, and several were affected to
tears. He then addressed them again, first
in Dacota, then in French, which was inter-
prcted by Baptise Campbell, one Of the con
demned half breeds. no8,. u .Igs
The caps were made of white muslin taken
from the Indians when their camps were cap
tured and which had formed part Of the spoils
they had taken from the murdered traders
They were made long, and looked like meal
sack, but, being rolled up, only came down to
the forehead, and allowed their painted faces
yet to be seen.
They received these evidences Of their near
approach to death with evident dislike
When it had been adjusted on one or two,
they looked around on the others who had
not yet received it with an appearance OF
ahame. Chains and cords had not moved
them--their wear was not considered dishon-
orable-but this covering Of the head with
white cap was humilia,ng. There was no
more singing, and but little conversation and
smoking now. All sat around the room;
most of them 10 crouched position, awaiting
their doom. in silence, or listening to the re-
marks of Father Ravoux, who still addressed
them. Once iu while they brought their
small looking glasses before their faces to see
that their countenances yet preserved the prop
er medium of paint. The three half-breeds were
the most of all affected, and their detection of
countenance was truly pitiful 10 behold.
THE PROCESSION TO THE GALLows.
At precisely 10 o'clock tho condemned
we're marshaled in proc ss:op, and headed by
Capt. Redfeld, marched out into the street,
and directly across through files of soldiers to
the scaffold, which had been erected in front,
and wore delivered to the officer Of the day,
Capt. Burt. They went eagerly and cheerful
ly, even crowding and jostling zach other to
be ahead, Just like a lot Of hungry boarders
running 10 dinner iu a hotel. The soldiers
who were on guard in their quarters stacked
their arms and followed them, and they in
turn were followed by the clergy, reporters,
&c.
SINGING THE DEATH SONG.
As they comm enced the ascent of the scaf
fold, the death song was again started, and
when they had all got up, the noise they made
was truly hideous. 1t seemed as if pandemo-
mum bad broken loose. 1t had wonderful
effect in keeping up their courage. One
young fellow, who had been given cigar by
one Of the reporters, just before marching from
their quarters, was smoking it on the stand,
putting away very coolly during tho intervals
Of the hideous 6" Hi vi yi," and even after tho
cap was drawn over his face, he managed TO
get it up over his mouth and smoke. An
Other was smoking his pipo.
AN ODD AND DISGUSTING INCIDENT
The solemuity of the scene was hero dis.
turbcd by any incident which, il it wore not
intensely disgusting might be cited as re-
markable evidence Of the contempt Of death
which is the traditional characteristic of the
Indian. On, Of the Indians, whose name
we did not ascertain, in the rhapsody Of his
death song conceived an insult to the specta
tors, which it required an Indian to conceive
and a dirty dog Of an Indian to execute.
The refrain Of his song was to effect that,
if any body was found nefr New Ulm with
bis haad cut off and placed in certain indel-
icate part of his body, at is me-" he sung,
ait is me-" and suited the action TO the word
by an indecent exposure of his person, in hid
eous mockery of the triumph of that Justice
whose sword was already falling on his head.
This monstrou. exhibition, at such a moment >,
may at least be regarded as just penalty for
the morbid curiosity which drew so many
women from their homes to mingle in the
mass Of spectators at the foot Of the gallows.
THE AWFUL FINALE.
| The moose having been promptly adjusted
over the neck of each, by Capt. Libby, all
was ready for the fatal signal. The scene at
this juncture was one Of awful interest. A
painful and breathless suspense held the vast
crowd which hul assembled from all quarters
to witness the execution. Three slow, meas
ursd, and distinct beats on the drum by Ma
jor Brown, who had been announced as signal
officer, and the rope was cut by DR.. Duly,
the scaif,ld fell, and 81 lifeless bodies were
left dangling between heaven and earth
One Of the ropes was broken, and the body
oi Rattle Runner fell to the ground. Tho
neck had probably been broken, as but little
signs Of lifo were observed, but be was i'm.
mediately hung up again. While tho signal
beat was being given, numbers were seen to
clasp the hands Of their neighbors, which 10
several instances continued to be clasped ill
the bodies were cut down. t-
As the platform fell there was one, not
loud, but prolonged cheer from the soldery
and citizens who were spectators, and then
all wero quiet and earnest witnesses to tho
scene. For so many, there was but little suf.
fering; the necks of all, or nearly all, were