Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-01-10
The Execution Ofthe minnesota
EueIiInS.

The st. Paul Pioneer, of the 2Sth, has the
full deatails of the execution of thirty eight
Indians on the Goth, for participation in
the late Indian massacre in Minnesota. The
extract We append is'a story OF the affair
nom ,ho time of the condemned leaving
their cells:
In moment every Indian stood erect,
and as the Provost Marshal opened the door
they fell in behind him with the greatest
alacrity. Indeed, anotice Of release, pardon,
or rcpricvc could not have induced them to
leave the cell with more apparent willing
ness than this call 10 9eath. We followed
on behind them, and as those at the head
Of the procession came out of the basement.
at the opposite side Of the gailows, ana
directly in front, we heard a sort of death
wall sounded which was Immediately caught
up by all the condemned, and was chantcd
in unison until the scaifold was reached.
At the foot of the steps there was no delay.
Captain Rcdfcld mounted the drop, at the
head, and the Indians crowded after him,
rs if it were a race to see which would get
up first. They actually crowded on each
others heels and as they got to the top,
each took his position, without any assis-
tance from those who were detailed for that
/ purpose. They still kept up mourntul
| wall, and occasionally there would be q
/ piercing scream.
! The ropes were soon arranged around
| their nCcks, not the least resistance being
! offered One or two feeling the moose un-
comfortably tight, attempted to loosen it,
/ and. although their hands were tied. they
partially succeeded. The movement, how
ever was noticed by the assistants, and the
cords rearranged. The white caps, which
! had been placed on the top of their heads,
| were drawn over their faces, shutting out
/ forever the light of day from their eyes
! Then ensucd scene that can hardly be
! described, and which can never be forgotten
! All Joined in shouting and singing, as it APP
/ pcarcd TO those who were ignorant Of the
! language. The tones seemed somewhat dis
cordant and yet there was harmony in it.
/ Save the moment of cutting the rope, it was
/ the most thrilling moment OF the awful
scene. And it was not their voice alone.
/ Their bodies swayed to and fro and their
every limb seemed to be keeping time. The
, drop trcmblcd and shook us if il were dane
! ing.
/ The most touching scene on the drop was
their attempts to grasp each others hands,
icttercd rs they were. They were very close
to each other, and many succeeded. Three
or four in row were hand in hand, and all
hands swaying up and down with the rise
and iall of THEN voices. One old man reach
ed out each side, but could not grasp hand
His struggles were piteous, and affected
many behoIdcrs.
We were informed by those who under
stood the language that their singing and
, shouting was only TO sustain each other;
that there was nothing defiant in their last
moments, and that no "death song strictly
speaking, was chanted ON the gallows.-
Each one shouted his own name, and called
on the name of his friend saying, in sub
stance, I'm here! I'm here"
Capt. Burt hastily scanned all the arrange
mcnts for the execution, and motioned to
Major Blown, the signal officer that all was
ready There was one tap Of the drum, al
most drowned by the voices Of lndiaus; an
other, and the stays Of the drop were knock
cd away, the rope cut and with crash
dn so came the drop. One rope broke, but
not uautr.-- geck Of the victim was dislo-
Gated, whose body ,.me down ON the drop
with heavy hmd, and Il crash of the boards.
There was no struggling 10y any of the
Indians Tor the space Of half n minute. The
only movements were the natural vibrations
oeeasioned by the fall
In the meantime a nov rope was placed
around The neck of the one that fell, and, IL
having BEEN thrown over the heam, he WAS
hanging with the othcrs. Amer the lapse OF
minute several drew up their legs once OF
t~ice ADD thee Was s0me movement Of this
srma Que Indian At tue expiration of tsn
minu1ss prta'hsd, ta' the Eops wa better