The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1863-01-22


wall, in which one alter another joined
until the prison ronm was filed with a
wild, uuearIhly plant, which was pei.
ther of despair or grief. but rather apar.
0xysm of savage passion, most ssive
to witness and startling 10 hear, even by
those who understood the language Of
tie music only. During the lu!ls ofthe
death song, they would resume their pipes
and, with the exception Of an cssional
mutter. or the rattle of their chains, they
sat molionless and impassive, until one
amosgsheelder-would break out in wid
wall. when all would join again in the
solemn preparation for death.
Following this. the Rev. DR.. William.
son addressed them in their native ton :
que; after whirh they broke out again in
their song of death. This last was thrill
ling beyond expression. The trembling
form. the forms shaking with passi,r ate
emotion, the hall uttered words through
set teeth, all made up scene which no
one who saw can ever lorget. 1853 "t.
Z The influence Of the wild music Of
their death song upon them was almost
magical. Their whole manner changed
after they h.d closed their singing and
air Of cheerful unconcern marked all Of
them. 1t sermed as il during their pas
sioOats waiiugs, they had passed in
spirit through the valley of the shadow
Of death. aud already had their eyes fixed
on the pleasant hunting grounds beyond.
As their friends came round them they
bsdc them cheerful fare WE'LL aid in some
cases there would be pcals Of laughter as
they were wished pleasant journeys to the
spirit land. They bestowed their pipes
upon their favori'cs. and, SO ar as they
bad gave keepsake rinkeIs to all Maj +
Blown said there WAS as nnch Of laugh
ter and fun as if hey were going 10 fast
While we we're here, ths chains We're
cnt ON them, and their hands bound
behind them White day begged 10 be
leit free. without tying, and il seemed n
modification to all when they were bound.
Cne right in font Of us. with a smiling
ace, which noIhiug seemed to change,
trrn. bled all over even while he smiled,
as the irons were struck from him, an
hls arms were piuioned. The half breeds
were most visibly affected while these
preparations for tie gallows were in pro.
gress. @ .t
They had evenly taken CT a. peins 10
make themselves pi piesentsble for their last
appearance on the stage of life. Most oI
the had little pocket mirrors. and, be-
fore they were bound, employed them.
selves in putting on the finishing touches
OF paint, and arranging their hair a cord
ing TO the Indian mode. All had rrli
gious tmbems, mostly crosses Of iue
guilt or st el. and there were displayed
with all the prominence Of an exqnisit-
on 4 rtligi.use. Many we're panied in
war style, with bands and beads, and
feathers, and were deck d as gaiIy as for
a festival. They expressed Il desire lc
shake hands with the r pdrt-rs who were
to write about how they looked aud acted
and with the artist who was 10 picture
their appearance. The hands of mos
were Of the natural warmth, while those
Of others were cold as ice. Nearly all
on shaking hands, would point their fin.
gers 10 tie sky. and say as plainly a;
they could:-' Me going uoP White
Day told us it was Littla Crow who 90
them into the scrape, and now thy had
to d Q for II. One said 10 us there was :
Grea, Spirit above who would lake hin
home, and that lie should die happy.
At aliutle aft nine o'cl ok, tie Rev
erend Father Ravoux entered tie prison
sgsfr. to p-rrorm the Closing religions
r2ertises. Tho Fat ef addressed til,
condemned at some length. and appear eC
mach Affected. lie knseled on the foo
in their midst and prayed with them, al
following and uniting with him ID an au
dible voice. They appeared like a diff
feren, face Of beings wbilegoing througl
with these religious exercises Thei
voices we're low and humble, and ever,
exhibition OF Indian bravado had baHishe,
THE EXECUTION. .-..h
Captsin Bort hastily scanned all The ar
rangements for the rxecution. .and motion
ed 10 Major Brown the signal offc r.tha
all was ready. There was one tap OF III
drum. almost drowned by the voices 0
the Indians another, and the stays 0
the drop were knocked away. the .rop
cut, and. with crash, down came th
drop. One rope broke, but not until III
neck Of the victim was dlslocated, who's
body came down oh' the drop with heav
thug, and crash Of the boards. Their
was no struggling by any Of the Indian
for the space Of halt minute-lhe onl
movements were the tatGral vibration
ocrasioned by the fall. ''.' ."''-'. '..
In the neantime.a new ropa was place
: around the neck Of the one who fell, anC
il having been thrown over the beam, h
was soon hanging with the others. Aflt
the lapse of minute, several drew u
their l-gs once OF twice, and there wa
some movement Of the arms. One indiai
at the expiration Of ten minutes, breatllet
bu. the rope was better adjusted, and Iii
was soon extinct. II is unnecessary
speak Of the awful sigh, Of thirty eigl
| human beings suspended 10 the air Imas
inatiOn will resdily supply what We r.
frain from describing. 'l 1.-- ~.
' 'Ft REMOVING THE BODIES.
~. "a N.--N. =
After the bodies had hung for abb
half an hour, the physicians of the seve
{ nj regiments present examined the bodi'
Q and reported that life was extinct. Soc
. after seveia! United States mule teams al
A nearAd whom tha hodias wara tnken low