Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-11-01

From, the Nashvi,,e Daily Press Oct. 2lss.
Particulars of:the Execution Of Cham
Furgdson..
! On Wednesday uigst rumors were currer
on the street that reprieve had arrived, an
was in the hands of the military authorities
Though incorrect. maay friends Of the cor
dennsd man were looking for such respite
/ The papers in the, case had been dispatche
to Washington by a; trusty mel senger, an
}strong hopes were entertained that powe
Ehigher than Gen. Stonemsn would delay tn
execution. Criminal as the man was, he hat
adherents to his fortune, who were ready tt
spare neither effort nor expense to secure hi
release. Bets we're made yesterday at vari
ous odds, seme -as high as four to one, tina
Chang. .Furguson would not be hung. .a =
On Wednesday his family were with hin
part of the day, A redeeming feature Of ths
guerrillas character was the intense affection
he bore his wifs,and daughter. In his de.
meanor, towards them all his ferocious in.
stincts gaze way to tenderness that was
almost womanly. During his trial, the
greatest deprivation seemed to be the absence
of his loved ones. Their comfort and Their
welfare appeared to be always uppermestin in
his mind. Separation from them was source
of constant pain. To bid them farewell was
the greatest trial to his fortitude. (,
Yesterday morning, from eight o'clock nm
til he was taken from his cell to the scaffold
his family were again with him. His wife
sat by his side, with her arms around his
neck, spending with him the last hours on
earth. But, as We sawhim thus, he appeared
calmer than most men would have been when
parting from home to 60 on distant journey.
Beyond an unnatural flush on his face, and 8
.triaing droop of the eyes, he looked as We
used to see him in the court roomiu the days
of his trial.
On reaching the penitentiary early yester-
day morning, we found detachments from
the 18th. United States Colored, Infantry. on
duty before tbe% entrance, under command of
Col. Ennis, with Capt. Levi Patchin as Off
Ger Of the day, aud Lieutenant W. Evans as
officer Of the guard. A large crowd Of men
and boys were on the ground, seeking entrance
~.% %r,a
cling the walls which surround the yard where
the execution. was to take place.
catering the gate we found the hearsc,
containing stained poplar coffin, ordered
by the Government from Mr.. Cornelius, to
receive the remains of Champ Furguson. He
had desired for himself coffin made cfcher-
ry, aud doubtless his wishes would have been
complied with in SO small a matter, but the
other had been filed before his wishes were
known. The burial case was not pretending,
but gotten up in much better style than that
usually awarded to criminals. 1t was removed
from the hearse at twenty minutes past ten
O'Clock, and conveyed to the inner yard
where it was deposited in front Of the gallows,
and the lid removed.
The gallows was q rude structure, which
had been previously used, and was the same
as ever, except the Introduction of "a new cross
beam. 1t was erected on Thursday, and is
the common upright gallows, with platform
about eight teet square, containing drop
some four feet square. Up a frontage of six
stepslhe condemned man was to mount to
his doom. The rope for use on the occasion
was four-strand Manila hemp, the strength
of which had been previously tested with a
two hundred pound weight. At twenty five
minutes to eleven o'clock, the rope was-ad-
justed to the ring suspended from the center
of the cross beam, allowing fall of some
two feet.
At twenty minutes past eleven o'clock the
prisoner appeared under guard, and mounted
the gallow., with elbows and hands pinioned,
and accompanied by Captain Dykeman, Post
Provost Marshal, Col. Shafter, Commandant
Of the Pest, and his spiritual adviser, Rev. Mr..
Bunting, of the First Presbyterian Church.
He walked without assistance, apparently
without fear, with erect body and steady
walk. he did not seem to shrink back at
sight of=the scafold or the coffin, which he
passed with outward composure and assembled
the steps fronting the gallows, to the platform
where he took his position upon the drop, o
his own ;aeeord.
| Furglson is powerfully framed man, 81,
feet one and quarter inches high, and weigh
ing about one hundred and sixty pounds
Hismuscular organizationis finally develope'
/ and rounded off like prize lighters. Hi
physical build, with q large full chest, indica
ted great strength and endurance of body
with very unusual energy Of character. H
carried himself quite erect, and he wa
dressed with scrupulous neatness, in blacl
cloth frock coat, with vest-and pants Of th
same material, and black gloves and ne'
CATERS. This nestness Of the prisoner ha
always been one Of bis peculiarities, and wa
. | r.. r. L..