Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-07-15

the abutnieft of alt7buiitiihf cWbfrh juts
against the main one. Many. 6f The 10 Gibers
of the press now Stationed themseites:in IN the
shade, and against the wall Of the builkiing,
while guards on the other side Of .sthe pave-
ment crossing this recess, made and avenue
through which the party could pass. Other
gentlemen of The press and officers ranged
themselves Immediately in front Of the seal.
fold, and on which arm-chairs were placed
for the criminals the last they should ever
use.
N't THE JOURNEY TO THE GRAVE. m
! II was now ten minutes after one. The
sun was at meridian, and pouring down a
fearful heat on the treeless jail-yard, bathing
in perspiration every one its ruddy. beams
attacked. Preceded byalfew soldiers, With
fixed bayonets, and fanked by her confessors,
Mrs. Surratt appeared Harold followed
her, just appearing in view as Mrs. Surratt
descended the single step leading from the
prison floor, Atzerott and his chaplain ap.
pesred, the criminal SO small as to be com.
pletely hidden by Mrs. Surratt when stand.
ing on a level with her. foilDwing her was
Harold and chaplain, the foolish crimiuai
scarcely so much noticeable Payne, tower
ing above all, was the last to appear. ~ As
they passed by us with slow and measured
sup &C Cbutu sCdu CuCu .CuEtluily ANU UOtt
the effect that the grim seaffold had, aud
the graves and the rough pine boxes that
were at its side. roe sjf si -t5' III 7u
..H f - MRS. sURATT A=itaaH ii9,
was clad in deep black serge bonnet,
from which depended u thick black veil,
completely obscured every feature except
the eyes, which would sparkle through She
walks slowly and feebly, as if endcavoring
to prolong her life as long as possible by
slow progress to; the death in front, and
leaned heavily or the armsof her confessors.
They were constantly Whispering faith to
her, while one held before her the crucifix
as tho star of her hope and the staff of her
faith. She ascended the scaffoll weakly,
and was seated on the, chair on the extreme
left, the scaiiold fronting south west. ODD %
Atzerott was next in order, hatless, with
coat ard pantaloons of dark grey,
the coat bUttoned almost to the neck, and
showing shirt without collar He was
shoeless. He seemed to look eagerly in
front of him, as il he knew where he was
going, and yet did not know; or as if he
strove to see beyond the yhwning terror In
front, the brightness of the heaven to wIicli
his religions advisor had so earnestly point
ed him. His step was steady though, and
he went up the fifteen steps before him,
aware eritiertly tllat they were to he taken,
and seated himself on tue extreme right. iii.
.n'iz "' HAROLD 'H'- H1u@ -'iH
deserves no special comment. He walked
with downcast bead, his face still more OBJ
scured by souch hat. the rim of which
depended all around He, too, ascended
well, and seated himstf on the left Of At
Zorott. f
t.rrif- -. ..rg.i P4fNE. sd !iG .faauyfa
All eyes were turned to Payne--the
mysterious Payne, around whom so many
have anxionsly striven to throw an air of
mystery. Notice was repaid. A Leghorn
hat of the present style was pushed back
from off his forehead, and his black eyes in
cessantly met the curious gazes turned upon
him. He vas clad entirely in the costume
OF an United States sailor, except that the
wide iurn down collar was missing, thus
giving to his shirt the appearance of an un-
der garment fitting tightly around the
shoulders. ,i His Costume showed his fine
form to the best advantage, aud this, taken
with, his fearless. and unabashed look:
brought. admiration for his physique from
those who despised and loathetl him for his
crimes. He strobe directly to the scaffold,
cycling it and the graves with perfect cool,
ness, assembled, the scatf1ld. and, manacled
as he was, sat down without much assist
ance. r.. ...ta. '-g-,t p I.r 'f..,..-t
.tF "a TIE RELIGIOUS EXERCISES. . ,ls-
Major Gen. IIartrantt now read the spcci.
ficatiors, anil tho approyal of the President
together with the sentences.
The culprits were now ranged in the arc
of II circle-Mrs Surat. and Atzerott az The
ends all seated in the drop, the nooses tia,
were 10 crush out their lives dangling in the
light summer breeze, Immediately over their
heads, almost in front Ci their faces. '' .-.
The officers, the chaplains, and a few wit
nesses, ranged themselves in an extended
group ON the platform Lshind, an Il foo- IL, on
from Co F. of the i4th Veteran Reserves
Regiment were stationed under the scaffold
with directions let the drop fall at the
given signal. All these preliminafies com
pleted, and religious exercises began. All
the cliaplains except the Catholic, ther
made short addresses in behalf of the pri
soncrs, thanking gGovefnment. the officers and
all having charge of them, for the uniform
courtesy and kindness with which they, as
convicted criminals, had been treated, and
concluded With short prayers, recommend
ing the souls of their unerring charges "a
the mercy oi God = During this time atten
tion was rivetted on the people for whom
these prayers were offered. Atzerott sal
wilted4 and despairihg; there was a stare o,
utter fright and nuni5ncss in the face OF
Harold;1 and Mrs. Snratt was supported
half-fainting, IN the arms of her caapluins,
who mover ceased encouraging her. , Only
Payne seemed unaffected. His tall form, in
Its blue dress, which MARKED the fullness OF
his broad chest and the outline of every
swelling muscle, was as rigid as marble up
on the chair His eye never qlailed before
the dangling moose so soon To encircle his
neck. He seemed to be studying its method
OF manufacture more than tndeavoring 10
realize its horror '- '-'T --
THE DEATH.
When the last echo of the last PRAYER had
died away, ths cuprits were bidden to rise,
SO that the ropes cold lie adjusted, their
limbs tied securely with stout linen banda
ges, ana The White caps put on, Although
the arms Were n.sDacled a, the wrists, linen
bandages were aIsu tied round the elbows.
In Mrs. Suratt,s case, the bandage was tied
securely round her dress, exposing pair of
shoes, much warn. Atzerott and Harold
seemed abandoned TO their fate, as they
stood upright in the sunlight, bandaged,
and the rope around their necks, their faces
obscured Payne was as straight and as
fearless AS ever. Some difficulty was exneri.