New-York daily tribune., 1865-11-11
EXECUTION OF HE 7 WIRZ
EsOw the Condemned Met
Gafs Death.
Review Of Ills Life and Character.
SINGULAR STATEMENT.
"A Scheme to Take Poison
Frustrated.
The Charges and Specifications.
Efforts Of Mr. Schads in the Prisoner s
Behalf.
whe Charges and Specifications
Gratitude of Wirz-His Last Letter
Special Dispatch TO The ". y. Tribune.

Special Dispatch to The N. Tribune.
| WASHINGTON Friday, Nov. 10, 1905
Henry Wirz was hung this morning, and thus
closes the last act of solemn eventul story. The
peculiar interest attached TO the execution is found in
the popular belief that he is somehow
author of the direst cruetes prlcced upon prs-
oners OF at the South chief officer at Anderson
vile. where hecatombs Of our bravo soldiers found IN
distnguishable grayes. he Is regarded the prcSni
nen demon Of erocty and murder and treason and his
death wl doubtless. be hailed a meritorious yind
cation flaw and justice The noise Of his capture the
length and Importance of his trial in which every
fresh recital Of malignity and murder developed,
sudder of horror was sent vibrating every sen
gtiye heart in the world lends 10 the man and bis
closing hours melancholy and extraordinary interest
Wirz before the sentence read 10 him, few
days since spent most Of his time in rcadirs. and
sometimes wrote 70 his family and friends although he
was much troubled as to what the sentence would be
He became much more composed when his inte was an
nounced aud since then has rested much better than
formerly. lie had been allowed TO walk In the yard
when he chose during the day bat was constantly I'M
der Surveillance Yesterday when be tie scafold.
he remarked, with tie utmost eomposure. Well, you
must be putting up tie scshod" Immediately aler
his senten,e was read TO bin. 1t was proposed
to place TWO or three IN his room TO lelp TO
make his time pass pleasantly, and 20 sec that
be did nc, httcmpt suicide, when he remarked.
TN not going 10 commit suicidei am MOI AFRAID
% die, and wiz no; save the Government the expense
Of hanging me-" Alter the sentence was read to lin
he SAID In id Il the Yankee eagle has not turned
out to be what I expe,tcd-a d-d turkey buzzlrd.
He then asked that the Rev. Father Boyle be seat for
and also M Sehadc lis counsel and since that time
these gentlemen have tecn almost constant in their al
tendance on him. Beside these some ladies' have
called one OF them paying ber Last visit 10 him yes'er
dav. when she brought him some deicacies. As she
was leaving lie manifested emotion he EXPIRE sed his
gratitude to her and remarked TO Mr.. Schade who
was present. tha, that the last tear be would she'd
in this life
WINS wounded aIm had latoly become very painful,
rendering IL difficult for HIN 10 II IN writing but
during past few days he has been frequently at bis
desk and yesterday he wrote for Mr. Sehade short
statement ofhls life giving also some private memo
randa.
Yesterday he received letter from his wife, dated
Cndz. KY, in which she used the most aTectionatc
language and expresses the hope that they then were
seeing their darkest lonr She urges him cheer up
and prepare for the worst but Is satisfied l0t If The
Government knew how much anguish they had suffered
he would not be condemned tc DEATH Size also state'
that she intends with her children to go TO his people
in Europe.
Yesterday lie walked TO the hospital and had his arm
dressed and spent most of the day with Father Boyle
his spiritual adviser 10 whom be gave assurance OF
having made his peace with God aud being ready foi
death.
MI Schade called and speDt somc time with him, and
when he left Wirz requested him TO call to see him
this morning. when he would give him some letters and
papers for his family and friends.
Some 200 spectators, principally the faithful proxies
Of the public the reporters artists, and photographer,
were admitted into tho court yard of the Old Capitol
prison before 10 o'clock. The surrounding buildings,
Sheds and trees were black with people anxious to get
glimpse OF the scene. The sky bright aud the
statue of liberty the dome Of the capitol. looked
down upon the scene with shining coDntenance. as 1t
had been the offspring Of loyal brain.
About 200 men belonging to the l9oih and Hl4th Penn
sylvania and few Of the 18th Regulars kept guard
within the yard
The scafiold which was composed of rough posts and
boards about eleven feet high, with raised plat
At few minutes past 10 Wiz was conducted from
his cell between Fathers Boyle and Wiggett. lie
asceDded the steps with ease and alacrty, and was
seated stool in the center of the platform, the
rope touching his back He dressed in black
cambrc gown. with cowl at the shoulders.
Wirz is OF nearly six feet In hight. OF grizzly
long hair, full beard and long narrow forehead He
has suffered injustice from painters Far from look
ing ike devs wretch. as he Is usually described. he
is evidently a or great force albeit there is
maevolent and piercing leer from his eyes at times
which with the falling upper eyeld, adds to the
nnIsiyeness of bis eountenance. Slight OF figure pad
and thin he is evidently sufferer from chronic dis
ease He is not wild beast, nor a monster in human
form 80,
moi have impressed anybody as "a remarkable person.
His character Is full Of contradictions Nor IL IL at all
impossible that IT may have comprised some good tas.
Born In Switzerland. where the very name of liberty is
reyerenced us sacred he. nevertheless In two short
vears became q hired slave-driyer, and enlisted to
esabsh slavery Cringng and dociie 70 his superior5
in the work of murder he has maintained most heroic
reticenre since his doom was made known 10 him.
Reayed Protestant he falls easily into the Catholic
faith. Superstitioas, be is also understood to
be skcptical In his belief touching miuIe stfte:
For the last few DAYS has affected almost astoica
upconcern about bis situation looking fsrward to his
fate with the clearest mind, He was not man of
prominent intelligence. yet all his eilerS anu even ns
70 have been great want Of purpose and moral con-
vict,on in bis whole life. His vices and virtues were