Evening star., 1865-11-10

scafold, he remarked with the utmost COM
posure, "Well, you must be putting up the
scafold." Immediately after his sentence was
read TO him, 1t was proposed to place two or
three in his room TO help to make his time
pass pleasantly and to see that he did not at
tempt suicide, when he remarked. "I'm not
gong 10 commit suicide, I'm not afraid to die,
and win not save the Government the expense
of hanging me-"
81 IN ID If the Yankee Eagle has not turned
out to be what expected, add Turkey
BuZzard." He then asked that Rev Father
Boyle be sent for, and also Mr.. Louis Schade,
his counsel, and sin ce that time these gentlemen
have been almost constant in attendance on
him. Besides these some ladies have called,
one OF them paying her last visit TO HIM yester-
day when she brought him some delicacies. AS
she was leaving he manifested emotion as he
expressed his gratitude TO her, and remarked to
MIR. Schade, who was present that that was
the last tear he would shed in this life A cou-
pie of ladies said to be of the family of promi-
nent officer, visited him also yesterday, and in
rely TO the question OF one, whether he had
hope, said seCertanly Madam the greatest sin.
ner has hope, and being innocent must surely
have hope"
Wirz' wounded arm had lately became yery
painful, rendering it difficult for him to use it
in writing, but during the past few days he
has been frequently ut his desk, and Yesterday
he wrote for Mr.. Schade a short statement of
his life, giving also some private memoranda
Yesterday he received a letter from his wife,
dated CadiZ, KY, in which she used the most
afiectionate language, and expresses they hope
tnat they then were seeing their darkest hour
She urges him to cheer up and prepare for the
worst, but is satisfied that If the government
knew how much anguish they had suffered he
would not be condemned to death. She also
states that she intends with her children to 20
to his people in Europe.
Yesterday he walked to the hospital and had
his arm dressed, and spent most of the day
with Father Boyle, his spiritual adviser, TO
whom he gave assurance of having made his
peace with God and being ready for death. Mr.
Schade called and spent some time with him,
Va no 10 Nirz toa h i'm
to see him this morning when he would give
hIm some letters and papers tor his family and
friends.
PASSES.
At an early hour yesterday morning, Mr.. L.
II. Chandler, chief clerk at the Provost Mar
shal's office, commenced giving out passes to
those who were so fortunate as to get their
names upon the list All day and the day pre-
yious Major Russells Office was besieged with
those eager TO witness the execution; and not
withstanding the fact that the number of passes
were limited TO two hundred The work of filling
them up and signing them was very arduous,
Major Russell and his chief clerk iChandlerj
being continually interrupted by new appli-
treated with the greatest courtesy A number
IF parties represented themselves as members
OF the press, when in fact they had no connec-
uon whatever with any newspaper; and the
Major being desrous of affording the press
every facility, many of these succeeded in
obtaining passes which they were not enti-
tied to.
THE CELL.
WirZ was confined in room No O. on the third
floor, and was strongly guarded da and night
The only door ofhs room opened into a hall
through which sentinel PAGES continually
One or more commissioned or non n-commfs-
stoned officers were constantly present, and
the unfortunate man was not left alone TOT a
single instant The room is about fifteen feet
square, with two strongly barred windows
looking out northward on A street North. Its
furniture consists of an army and necessary
blankets, small, cheap wooden table three
or wooden chairs in various stages of dilapida-
tion, one or two small vessels aud a tin candle
stick. The room is warmed by n CRATE, which
iends cheerful aspect TO its appearance.
WIRES LAST NIGHTON EARTH.
The prisoner retired to rest early las
night, after writing two OF three letters,
leaving word TO lie awakened about O'Clock
this morning. He slept well apparently, and
al The hour designated the guard awoke him,
when he said be felt like sleeping longer, and
turned over and took another nap. Shortly
alter O'Clock Lieut.. Hayens, of the 18th V. X.
O., the officers of the guard on duty at the
time, entered his room and awoke him, when
he arose and washed himself. His breakfast
was sent to him, but he did not partake of it,
and the last food he ate was a few oysters last
night. He had in his room small vial of
whisky, and NJ times took little as a stimu-
laEt. Last night, before retiring, he took
mOuthful, and this morning. as soon as he
arose, he took another small drink, as also one
just before he left his room for the gallows
About O'Clock, Mr.. Schade called. and spent
nearly an hour with him, and received let
ters for Mr.. Baker and himself, and affection
ately took his leave.
THE GALLOWS.
The gallows has heretofore been brought into
play, several persons having been executed on
1T. viz: Woodward, for the murder of his wife,
hung In the jail yard; Samuel Powers, hung in
the same place, for the murder of young
LutZ of Baltimore: John Conrad Kessler OF Co.
X, 103 n. Y. vols, hung in the Old Capitol yard,
Dec. s. 1852, for the murder of Lieut.. +. Linzy,
of the same company, at the 9th street wharf;
Augustus Ford, cold, hung on the Sd of March,
lsG IN the 6 the jail yard, for the murder of Geo
yard, on July 9th last for the murder of his
wife; Charles Fenton Beavers, of Mosby's
gang, hung in the Old Capitol ward on August
26th, for violating his oath of allegiance he had
twice taken; Charles Williams, 3lst u. S. cold
troops, Nov. 25th, 1SG4, for the murder of an
unknown colored woman. at Camp Casey, Va,
on the 18th of September previous. On sew
eral other occasions this gallows which has
played SO important a part Of late years has
been put up but not used. On April 1st last
1t was up in the Jail yard for the purpose ofthe
execution of jeremiah Hendricks, for the MUIR
der of Dennis Shannahan in Swampoodle, and
Emanual Pollard, for the murder Of George
Butler, who inst before the hour for the exc
cution arrived, had their sentences commuted
by the President to imprisonment in the Peni-
tlary for life Peter Gooden, colored, was TO
murder of George Banks colored, but had his
sentence commuted TO imprisonment for life
just before the hour arrived. Thus this gall
lows has been the instrument under the law
for causing the death of seven persons and has
been put in readiness for service on numerous
other occasions.
The gallows is made Of very heavy timber
now somewhat weather worn. The extreme
height of the uprights which support the beam
are twenty-five feet, the platform is twelve feet
from the ground, and twelve feet square; one
foot higher than the level of the platform is the
fatal trap, which was formerly barely large
enough for the purpose OF executing one person
at time, i've feet by five, but now has been
enlarged to admit of the execution of four at
one time. five feet by eleven. The rope used is
OF the very best Manila, known as Y, procured
at the Navy Yard, and yesterday it was tested
with weight OF 2OG pounds dropped about i've
feef The previous tests have been with a
weight of 225 pounds, but Wirz is much the
lightest man yet placed upon this scaffold, and
the test weight was consequently reduced.
he rope is made fast to elect on either side
OF the upright, and running through the beam
bangs over the trap with fall Of about six
feet. H ..'
THE EXECUTIONER. ,...
The executioner upon the occasion was Syl-