Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-07-21
The Execution of the Assassins.

The New York World gives the fol-
lowing graphic account of the execution
of the assassiLs of President Lincoln:
1T was with shudder, almost blush
that saw an officer gather the ropes
tightly three times about the robes of Mrs
Surratt, and bind her ankles with the
cords. She half tainted, and sank back
ward upon the attendants, her limb:
yielding to The extremity of her terror
but uttering no cry, only kind of sicl
groaning, like one in the weakness of fe
yer, when a wry medicine must be TAX
en-.
Payne, with his feet firmly laced to-
gether, stood straight as one Of the scat
fold beams, and braced himself up SC
stoutly that this doubtless prevented the
breaking of his neck.
Harold stood well beneath the drop
still whiwpering at the lips; but taut
and short, and boyisb.
Atzerott, in his grovelling attitude
while they tied him, began to indulge in
his old vice of Cabling. He evidently
wished TO make his finale more effective
than his previous cowardly role, and per
haps was strengthening his courage with a
speech, as we sometimes do of dark nights
with whistle. Gentlemen" be said
with sort Of choke and gasp, stake ware.
He evidently meant "beware," or stake
care" and COMPOUNDED them. Again
when the white death cap was drawn
over his face, he continued to cry out
under it, once saying, GOOD bye, shentle.
mems, who are before me now;' and
again. MAY we meet in the other world
Finally he drifted away with the low,
half-intelligible ebullition, sc o help
me !" "Oh oh!'' and the like.
The rest said nothing, except Mrs,
Surratt, who asked to be supported, that
she might not fall, but Harold protested
against the kno. with which he was TO be
dislocated, it being as huge as ones doub-
lie fist.
The signal was given and the great
beams were darted against the props SIM
ultaneously. The two traps fell with a
slam. The four bodies dropped like a
single thing, outside the yet crowded
remnant of the gallows floor, and swayed
and turned, to and fro, here and there,
forward and backward, and with many a
helpless spasm, while the spectators took
little rush forward, and the ropes were
taut as the struggling pulses of the dy-
ing.
Mrs. Surratt's neck was broken imme-
diately; she scarcely drew one breath.
Her short woman's figure, with the skirts
looped closely about, merely dangled by
the vibration of her swift descent, and
with the knot holding true under the ear,
her head leaned sideways, and her pin.
toned arms seemed content with their con-
fnement.
Payne died horrible death, the knot
slipped to the back of his neck, and bent
his head forward on bis breast, so that he
strangled as be drew bis deep chest al
most to his chin, and the knees contract
ed till they almost seemed to touch his
abdomen. The veins in his great wrists
were like whip cords, expanded to twice
their natural dimensions, and the huge
neck grew almost black with the dark
blood that rushed in a food to the cir
cling rope. A long while he swayed and
twisted and struggled, till at last nature
ceased her rebellion and life went out un,
willingly.
Harold also passed through some strug-
giles. 1t is doubtful that his neck was
broken. The perspiration dripped from
his feet, and he swung in the hot noon
just living enough to make death irrita-
Die.
Atzerott died easily. Life did not care
to fight for his possession.