The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-10

v A., MONDAY, +.
them?r Gentlemen Of experience were
telling over the number of such expia.
tions they had witnessed. Analytic
people were comparing the various modes
ofshooting, garroting, anillotoning. Ci
gars were sending up spirals of soothing
smoke. There was a good deal of covert
fear that reprieve might be granted
Inquiries were many and ingenious fol
whiskey, and one OF two were so deeply
expectant that they fell asleep.
How much those four dying, hoping,
cringing, dreaming felons were grudged
their little gasp of life! It was to be @
scene, not a postponement ora prolonga-
ton. "Who was to be the exeeutioner?''
Why had not the renowned and artistic
Isaacs been sent for from New n York
"Would they probably die game, OF
grow weakened in the last extremi-
typ" ALI the gallow's workmen have
completed the job! Now their we
should have it," '
Still there was delay. The sun
p6kel into the new-made graves and
made blistering hot the gallows floor,
The old pump made its familiar music
tetlietcool splash of blessed water. The
bronzed foces of the soldiers ran Jumps
of sweat. The file upon the Jail walls
looked down into the wide yard yawn-
ingly. No wind fluttered the two battle
standards condemned to unfold their tro-
pixies upon this coming proclamation, not
yet arrived. iWhyP The extent of grace
has almost heen attained. The sentence
gave them only till 2 o'clock Why are
they SO dillatory in being hanged? ....
ENTER THE DYING.
Suddenly the wicket opens, the troops
spring to their feet, and stand at order
arms, the flags go up, the low order goes
from company to company, the specta-
tors huddle little nearer to the scaffold,
all the writers for the press produce their
pencils and note books.
~ MRS. suRRATT.
First came woman pinioned.
AL middle-aged woman, dressed In
black, bonnetted and yelled, walking
between two bear.headed priests. ,.a.,
One Of these held against his breast q
crucifix of jet, and in the folds of his
blue-fringed sash hs carried an open
breyiary, while both of them muttered
the service for the dead. ..-,, r.
Four soldiers, with muskets at shout
der, followed, and captain led the way
to the gallows. afc G"-
The second party escorted small and
stumbling German, whose head had a
long white cap upon it, rendering more
filthy his dull complexion, and upon
whose feet the chains clanked as he
slowly advanced, preceded by two off,
GERS, hanked by Lutheran clergyman,
and followed, as his predecessor, by an
armed squad.
..t HAROLD.
The third, preacher and party, clus-
tered about a shabby boy, whose limbs
tottered as he progressed. 1F
sag 4tA PAYNE.
The fourth, walked in the shadow of a
straight high stutue, whose tawny hair
and large blue eye were suggestive of
the barbarian striding in his conqueror's
triumph, than the assassin going to the
i, All these captives, priests, guards and
officers, nearly twenty in all, climbed
slowly and solemnly the narrow steps;
and upon four arm chairs, stretching
across the stage in rear of the traps, the
condemned We're seated with their spirit
ual attendants behind them.
The findings and warrants were i'm.
medlately read to the prisonersby Gene
raj Hartrauft In a quiet and respectful
tone, an aid holding an umbrella over
him In the meantime. These having
been already published, and being be-
sides very uninteresting to anybody but
the prisoners, were paid little heed to,
all the spectators Interesting themselves
In the prisoners.
There was fortuitous delicacy in this
distribution, the woman being placed
farthest from the social and physical
dirtiness of Atzerodt, and nearer the un-
blanched aud manly physiognomy Of
Payne.
APPEARANCE OF THE CONDEMNED wo-
-l.sJli l MAN.
She was not so pale that the clearness
of her compexton could not be seen, I'D
the brightness of the sun made her vail
quite transparent Her eyes were seen
to be of soft gray; her brown hair lay
smoothly upon full, square forehead;
the contour of her face was comedy, but
her teeth imperfect, being few and irreg-
ular. Until the lips were opened she
did not reveal them. Her figure was
not quite full enough to be denominated
buxom, yet had all the prom SO of ven-
cradle old age, had nature been permit
ted its due course. She was OF the me.
dunn height, and modest-as what wo-
man would not be under such searching
survey? At first she was very feeble,
and leaned her head upon alternate sides
of her armchair in nervous spasms; but
now and then, when sort of avail just
issued from her lips, the priest placed
before her the cruciflx to lull her fearful
spirit. All the while the good fathers
Wigett and Walters murmured their
low, tender cadences, and now and
then the woman's face lost its deadly
fear, and took bold, cognizable survey
of the spectators. She wore q robe of
dark wooden, no colors, and common
shoes of black listing. Her general ex-
preston was that of acute suffering,
vanishing at times as if by the conjura-
ton of her pride, and again returning in
a paroxysm as she looked at the dreadful
rope dangling before her. This woman,
to whom the priests have made their in
dustrious moan, holding up the effigy of
Christ when their own appeals became of
no avail. perched there In the lofty air,
counting her breaths, counting the
winkfulls of light, counting the final
wrestles of her breaking heart, had been
the belle of her section, and many good