Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-01-03
Ohio 9tates,tta,t
Execution Of the Indians in Min
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Execution Of the Indians in Min
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THIRTY-EIGHTa HUNG TOGETHER.
The Death Song sung ON the GaiIows
The Mankato Record brings us full details Of
the execution of tho thirty-eight Indians At that
place last Friday by order Of President Lincoln.
So great was the excitement In the vicinity,
and 90 large the crowd of spectators focking
to tho scene, that martial Law was declared as
early as Wednesday. On Monday, before the
execution, COL Miller read to the condemned
the death warrantof the President. The Record
says g5s FluQ l,3lgh iJ ..,ds si
The occasion Was one of much solemnity to
the persons present, though but very little
emotion, was manifested by the Indians. A
half-breed, named Milford, seemed much de.
pressed In spirits. All listened attentiyely,
and OF the conclusion of each eentence, indulg-
ed their usual gFunt--Which means, eve un-
derstand," At thereading of that portion Of
the warrant oondemning them to be hanged by
the necks, the response was quite feeble, and
was given BY only two or three. Several In.
dians smoked their pipes composedly during
the reading, and we observed one In particular
who, when the time of execution was desguat.
ed, quietly knocked the ashes from his pipe and
filled ID afresh with his favorite klnnekinick; /;
while another was eloWly rubbing pipe full
Of the same article In his hand, preparatory to
0 good smoke. l5a 54l ., -rIso-
The day before the execution, the ladians
were cOnversed with as to their past crimes aAd
coming death. Some of them we're much af-
fected, and many Of them protested their inno-
cence. claiming that they had been falsely
accused, or mislntefpreted when on trial. They
stated that the guilty had generally escaped,
while they relying upon their innocence had
been left to die. The general justification
urged by them was, that they were compelled
in order to save their oWn lives to accompany
their chief in bis attacks upon the whites, and
Of this there seems to be no doubt. ..
In making these statements, confessions and
denials, they were generally calm; bnt "a few
individuals were quite excited. They we're
Immediately checked by others, and told that
they we're sll dead men, and there was no Tea-
son why they should not all tell the truth.
Many Of them have indited letters to their
friends In which they soy they are very dear to
them, but will see them no more. They exhort
them not to cryor change their dress for them.
Some of them say they expectto 20 and dwell
with the Great Spirit and expressed the hope
tuhb tuelE IEleuub Wll hlk JOlu tnem. .
On Tuesday evening they extemporisad
dance with Wild Indian song. II was feared
shat this was only o cover for something else
were thereafter fastened to the floor. Itseems,
rather probable that they were only
singing their death cong (" '.-' 's
' A-ss AN AFFECTING INTERVIEW. ,,i,,
Oh Wednesday, each Indian set apart for ex-
ecutiop, was permitted to send for two or three
of his relatives or friends confined In the main
prison, for the purpose Of bidding them o. fual
adieu, and to carry such messages to absent
relatives as each person might be disposed to
send, Major Brown was praaant tiurius lhs.i-.,
terviews, and describes them as very sad and
affecting. Each Indian had some word to; send
his parents or family. When speaking of their
wives and children almost every one was affect
ed to tears. -' @-' '' '.H-
Good connael was sent 10 the children. ] They,
we're 10 many cases exhorted 10 an adoption Of
christianity and the life Of good feeling toward
the whites. Most Of them spoke confidently of
their hopes Of salvation. They had been constant.
ly attended by Rev. DR.. williamson, Rev. Van
Rayanx and Rev 8. R. Riggs, whose offorts in
bringing these poor criminals to knowledge
OF tho merits of the blessed Redeemer, had
been emlnIntly successful. These gentlemen
are all cons srssnt with the Dakota language
and could oonvifae and plead with the Indians
In their own language.
There 10 o rnling passion, with many Indians,
and Ta-xoo esuld not refrain from its enjoyment
even. in this sad hour Ta,ti-mi:ms yss send
ting word to his relatives not TO mourn for his
loss, He said heiwas old, and could not hope
TO live long under any circumstances, and his
execution would not shorten his days great
deal, and dying as he did innocent of any white
mans blood, he hoped would give hime abet.
ter chance to be saved; therefore he hoped his
friends would consider his deaIh but as . re-
moval from this to better world. have every
hope, said he, of going direct toIthe abode of
the Great Spirit where shall alwaysbe happy.
This last remark reached the ears of Ia-zoo.
who was also speaking TO- his friends, and be-
elaborated upon ID in this wise: f"Yes, tell our
friends thatiwe are being removed from this
world over the same path they must shortly
travel. We 60 first, but many Of our friends
may follow us in o very short time. expect
to 20 direct to the abode Of the Great Spirit,
aud TO be happy when get there; but we are
told that the road is long and the distance great,
as am sloN In all my movements,
it will probably take me long time to reach.
the end Of my journey, and should not be sur
priaed If some OF the young, active men we will
leave behind us will paas me on the road before
| reach the place OF my destination" {o
On Thursday evening wepaid o brief visit to
the condemned prisoners In their cell, The
Catholic ministers were baptizing number -
AL she prisonUrs seemed resigned 70 their fate,
and much depfeased In epirits. Many Sat per.
fectly motionless, and more like statues than
living men Others we're deeply Interested In