The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-07-12

and iAfamy
Mrs. Surratt was very much prostratod,
and seemed to be kept alive almost en-
tirelg By the spiritual consultations of her
advisers, Who were unremitt:ng IN their
attentions until the end.
After the reading of the sentence ~
Gen. Hartranft, Rev. DR.. Gillette stepped
forward in behalf of Payne, and stated
that he had been requested by the prls-
opor. Lewis Thornton Powell, alias Payne,
to publicly, on this occasion return his
sincere thanks to Gen Hartranft and the
officers and men under his command for
their uniform Kindness toward him during
bia confinement. Not one unklnd word
or gesture had been given him by any
one of them.
Tho Rev. Doctor then led in fervent
PRAYER in behalf Of the prisoner, in which
the latter followed, closing with feeling
Amen. his eyes at the same time filling
with tears. Payne throughout wore an
air of contrition as we'll as eouaage, and
thereby excited the pity of the spectators
fully as mnch as any of the other prison
ers who were more unnerved.
The spiritual advisers of Harold and
Aizerodt also returned the thanks Of
their charges respectively to Gen. Hart
rapft and his officers and men, for then
uniform kindness and joined IN prayer
with the prisoners in succession DF
Butler preceding his in tho case OF at
zerodt with an impressive eXhortatlon.
During all this time the advisers oi
Mrs. Surratt were assiduous In their at
tentions to her, and by their consultations
kept her measurably nerVcd up tor the
terrible denoument. She appoared-bat
ing her unavoidable prostration-passlv(
in their hands and resigned to her late
On the conclusion of the prayer IN the
case of Atzerodt, which was the last, the
prisoners were led forward, supported BY
their respective attendants, and the ropes
adjusted around the neck by different
persons. About the same time hrS
Surratt seemed, by desperate monta
effort, to nerve herself up specially fol
this occasion, looking forward and around
her, for the only timo, with an air oi
mingled determination and resignation
| Her bonnet and veil were removed pre-
vious to the putting Of the moose upon
her neck.
PAYNE held back his head and was
particular about having the moose adjust
ed and secured by tightening just above
his adams apple" as if it had been th<
adjustment Of cravat for festive oe
casion.
Harold and Atzerodt, during the pro
cess of adjusting the ropes, looked as Il
experiencing inefible agony, as well as
Mrs. Surratt, who was now bordering on
fainting condition and was kept con-
scious only by the assiduous tanning and
other attentions of her attendants. Payne
stood erect and unsupported, and he
alone, it was said by one of the splrltua
advisers, had come upon the scafo!c
without Indulgence in stimulants, which
ho had steadily refused, saying that ht
wished to dio with an unclouded mind.
ct the conclusion of tho address O
Atzerodot's spiritual attendant aud hi
deeply solemn and feeling petition L
Heaven for Divine clemency, he wa
conducted to the drop by his attendants
and while the white cotton band were be
ing tied about his logs and arms, exhibit
ing great weakness and emotion, bein&
scarcely able to reman in an erect position
The moose was then placed abont his nccl
and previous to its fual adjustment h
addressed a few inaudible words to hi
oxecutionor, and the rope was removed
Gen Hartrauft then approached when at
zerodt evidently repeated his roquost,ant
the moose was then drawn over his head
when he exclaimed in terrified voice
"Gontlemon, take warn" probably intend
ing to say, what his agonized feeling
prevented him from expressing: "Gen
tlomon, take warning by my ezamble."
A moment after and he trembliugl
! calculated, "good bye, gontlomon, who ar
before BE now" Aud after a short III
teryal, added, "may We all meet in anoth
er world"
As the rope was boing adjusted to hi
neck, and just before the drop fell, h
cried out in rather loud voice, "Don'
choke me-" These were the last word
he uttered, ,whichswore succeeded by seV
eral audible groans.
At this juncture tho nooses and whit
caps having all been adjusted, Capt. Rat
Assistant Provost Marshal, having immc
diate charge of the execution, stepped il
front of the soafoId, on the ground anc
motionod to all Attendants Oh the scaffoll
to step back off the drops, which they di,
the proppor ones still reaching forwar,
and supporting their charges rospcotiVel
on the drops.
Immediately on this movement boinj
accomplished, Captain Rath also CAV
! the SIGNAL for the pronq To he knoolro