The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-11-03
CHAMP FERGUSON.
His Execution---His Dying Hours.


His Execution---His Dying Hours.
The Nashville papers are full of accounts
of the execution of CHAMP FERGUSON at
that point on Friday, the Goth inst. We
make the following extracts:
HOW HE TOOK HIS sRNTKNOR.
Some time since we announced the re-
suit of the trial, the finding and sentence
of the Court, and the action of the au-
tborities; and on the following day the
result was communicated by Col. Shafter
to the prisoner in his cell-the official find
ing and sentence being read to him.
When the officer entered for that pur-
pose, Champ was as firm and as relentless
as when, in the midst of his mad career,
he murdered alike the wounded, the sick,
the aged, and the helpless child aud when
the last sentence had been read, he barely
remarked:
Gas I expected, SIR"
From that time he was urged TO prepare
for death; but for days he remained the
same firm, unflinching man he had been
throughout the trial. He would talk of
death as if it were q rather disagreesble
matter, but a thing of no great moment /;
and as for futurity-that scarcely altered
his mind, or, if it did, his proud spirit
would not admit of its presence.
Till within the last four days Of his ex-
istence, he was as protane as when head
ing his band of outlaws, and uttering i'm
precautions against all who remained true
to the Union-sgainst even his own broth
ers, one of whom died in support of the
stars and stripes, beneath which he had
been reared, and which neither promises
nor threats could induce him TO desert.
He appeared as thoroughly brsced against
every feeling of humanity, as when, with
his own hand, he murdered the venerable
old man who had graded him on his knee,
and to whom he was indebted for thou
sand favOrs.
INTERVIEW WITH HIS FAMILY.
His family-wife and daughter-were
with him the greater part Of Thursday,
and all Friday morning, till few minutes
before he was led out to execution. Mrs.
Ferguson is a spare, delicate woman, and
appeared deeply affected all the time.
His daughter was calm, until just before
the final parting, but evidently deeply felt
the horrors of her situation. She, too, is
delicate in appearance, and Is but seven
teen years of age.
1t was half past ten of yesterday when
the parting came; and seldom have we
witnessed scene more heart-rending.
Mrs F. chung to her husband and wept
aloud "My God my God" said she,
shave | not already suffered enough2 Is
my agony never to cease ?" and her tears
choked her utterance, and she remained
long clasping her husband, who stood like
marble statue, showing no outward signs
of emotion.
"Alone, alone, henceforth am l, = she
at length said, "deprived of my supporter,
my husband Oh God, is there nothing
that will save my husbsnd2 Lost lost
LOST" Then suddenly rising, she nerved
herself up and exclaimed:
''Die bravely, Champ; die bravely!"
= will, was the response of the cou-
. demned.
The daughter, too, was deeply affected;
and after the two had BEEN separated
from the prisoner, it was with difficulty
they could sustain themselves, and but
for the assistance rendered them, they
would undoubtedly have fallen, fainting to
the floor Criminal wretch as he was,
they loved and adored him; it is humani-
ty; the wife aud the child cling to the
husband and father, though villain of
the deepest dye. 1t is a wise DISPENSE
ton of ProvidenceSthst it is so; the love
shown is often potent in bringing the viii
est wretch to repentance, when all else
has failed to soften the hardened heart
If the wife and child deserts the culprit in
his extremity, who will be his friend ?
The husband is never so degraded but the
true wife clings to him with deepened and
holier affection.
HE MOvRs OUT.
The hour of eleven arrived, and Champ
was warned that the time had come when
he mast prepare to die. 81 am ready
when you are," said be to Lieut.. Critten
den, snd he was led out by guard OF
eight men to the scaffold His step was
hrm, his carriage erect and his bearing just
what II had been from the beginning. He
nerved himself up to the occasion; not a
shudder msrred the tranquility of bis
frame; lot change passed over bis coun-
tenauce.
His hands were pinioned behind him with
strong cord. His dress was black suit,
Of course cloth, but neat and clean; and
on his hands were black gloves. When be
reached the scaffold, Colonel Shsfter in.
qaired, "shsll help you to ascend p
''No, he replied, ''I'll walk up myself,
sud he did SO with firm and unfaiterins
steps
On reaching the platform he faced the
two or three hundred auditors and the
guards without blenching, but requested
that Dr.. Banting should pray for him