The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-18
An Execution in London.
HANGING OF FIVE PIRATES.

The London papers of the 2Sd ult. have
long accounts of the public execution, on
the day previous, Of five pirates of the
Flowry Land. Seven were condemned
to death, but two were reprieved The
names and ages of the sufferers are as fol-
lows:
John Lyons, or Leon, %; Francisco
Blanco, %; Ambrosio, or Mauricio. Du-
ranno, 25; Miguel Lopez, or the Catalan,
%; and Marcus Watto, %. The first
four mentioned were black men natives
of Manilla-and Watto is Greek.
They were convicted of having, in the
dead of night, attacked the officers in COM
mand of the Inflated vessel, and having
murdered the first mate by beating him on
the head with handspikes. They, then, in
cold blood, stabbed the captain and his
bIother-whO was passenger on board
to death with their knives, and afterwards
threw their bodies overheard; when the
the lives of three other unfortunate per-
sons On board-the steward, the cook, and
a Chinese, named AboO-were subse-
quently taken also IN cold blood, with a
view, no doubt, to prevent them from give
ing any information relative to the dreadful
events that had previously happened
The London Times, in speaking of Lo-
PEI, when he came to be pinioned, says:
There was no levity among the lookers-on
but it was impossible to avoid the remark made
at the time, that it seemed almost as if Lopez
had been hanged before, so lightly did he step
forth, so rapidly did he adjust his every move
ment to the necessities of the hangman and
thrust his hands, almost by anticipation, into
the straps that were to cOnfine his dying strug.
giles. Yet not for second did his mere swag
ger, If we may use such a term at such q time,
impose on those accustomed to see really brave
men going to their death.
We quote another passage:
DurannO was the first who showed signs of
fear. Watto was resigned Lopez was defiant,
dull clayey hue that was worse to look upon
than the pallor of death itself Still, thou Oh
his lips kept shivering, and his eyes reeled, he
seemed to bear up till the hangman removed
the sailors neck-tie and undid the collar of his
shirt. Then the death that was 80 near seemed
to come upon him in all its bitterness and he
crept together with his limbs, and spoke few
words. in almost piteous tones. to the Roman
Catholic clergyman who was with him. Blanco
was even worse than this. Large beyond all
the rest in stature, an Over-match for almost
all the rest in mere brute strength; the man
who had taken the most conspicuous and re-
lentless part in all the murders, who had
struck down the mate and boosted of hay-
ing thrown him, while praying for mercy.
into the sea; who had stabbed the Captain in
his sleep, and beaten the Captains brother till
his very corps was shapeless, came out from
his cell as if the very agony of death was on
him, so strongly did he show his fear. He
seemed helpless as he was being pinioned. and
sighed heavily. He, like DurannO, shuddered
as his neckerchief was removed, but seemed
gratified that two little copper crucifixes
which he wore round his neck. were allowed
to remain, and then, speaking to the priest
asked to be permitted to carry with him two
little holy pictures, as they are called on the
continent lone of the crucifxion. the other of
the Ascension. Both were. of course Mt once
placed in his hands, but though he asked for
them, he seemed not to heed them when he
had them, but kept trying to wet his lips with
tongue, and rolling his eyes up above him on
every, side, looking, as it seemed to those
die.
There was deep silence now within and with.
out and within the jail, and none of the off,
Gals compelled to be present looked out, for
the Old hangman had left the men standing in
o row and was busy beneath the scaffold. In
another instant there was heavy sound, and
all turned away, while the gibbet creaked
audibly, for the five murderers hung dying !