The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-03-17

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prisoner stepped, with firm, composed
step, upon the platform whence he was
soon to be ushered into eternity.
When the prisoner first stepped upon
the platform, he cast his eye up for an in
slant at the beam, ard subsequently
directed II fur'ive glan'e at the rope He
was then handed seat by DR. Weston,
and sat down with his face half averted
from the gaze of the spectators Not the
slightest perceptible tremor agitated his
frame bat his face was Swallowed bv that
CHASTITY p,llcr which at all times, and with
the blavest men, always precedes death
that pallor which results from the natural
ply ical dread of dissolution. The pris-
oner having taken kisseat under the cross
beams, the Post AAjltant, Lieutenant
k"yser of the % United States infantry,
with clear, loud voice, read the finding
of the court martial in the case and the
order of General Dix approving of the sen,
tence.
While Lieut.. Keyser was reading this
document smile twice passed over the
tAce of the prisoner--once as the phrase
"mslrgent State of Virsiaia' WIS used,
and second lime as the guerilla was re-
peated by the Provost Marshal aud soon
after the reading Of the order was com.
menced the executioner exclaimed in a
loud voice, "Cut it short; the prisoner
wishes to be swung off quick"
No sooner ID the last word of the order
dropped from the lips Of Lieut. K"ysr
than the prisoner arose deliberately to his
feet, announcing that he was ready, and
turned rcverently to DIR. Weston, VIII"
read aloud the usual prayer for the dying
from the Episcopal liturgy, and pronoun,
ced in a solemn Voice the beneiiction,
The grace of our Lord Jesus, the love of
G'd, aul the fellowship Of the Holy Spir.
1t be with you and sustain you )" to which
the prisoner bowed his head, and turned
to the executioner, who speedily adj usted
the fatal moose about his neck
Marshal Murray and Captain Talman
then stepped forward and asked the pris.
oner if he hal anything to say. Captain
b all turned to the off ger of the day aud
spoke as follows:
81 protest against the execution of this
sentence. 1t is absolute murier-'rutal
murder. | die in the service and defence
of my country. | have nothing more to
say
He then gave the usual directions in re.
gard to the disposal of his remains, and
ceased speaking.
AT precisely thirteen minutes past one
the black cap was adjusted, the Provost
Marshal waved his sword, a. noise VIA
heard insid the box, and Captain Beall
sprang sud lenIy into the air, at height
Of from six TO seven feet above the level
Of the scatfolI. The only movement no
ticeabie in the body, after its suspension,
was Il convulsive movement of the right
leg and the slightest perccptible tremnr OF
the muscles of the shoulders and arms,
and the tragedy of his lie was over.
AT tbirty,thfee minutes past one the
corpse was lowered TO the platform, and
the surgeon, DR.. Conner, U. S. A., an
nounce that life was extnct-the neck
naviug been dislocat d by the conclusion.
o. removing the black cap the eyes were
found to be still open, but the count.-
nance had an appearance Of calnness and
composure, seldom exhibited in the coun-
tenau es of those who have died violent
death aud after the eyes hal been closed
one could easily have imagined him asleep,
50 little was the discol"ration, so slight
were the traces of the deafh-agony upon
the features of the deceased. Tue body
was then placed in the c'fin prepared for
it and taken to the hospital, whence ac-
cording to the request of Captain Boall, it
will he delivered TO his friends for inter
ment, and the procession moved 10 mourn
full music back to tho precincts of Fort
Columbus. The tragedy of death Was
over.
Among the spectators were few civil
ians aud a number of women, who crow
ded the parapets of Fort Columbus to wit,
ness the scene. Several tus boats aud
small boats were lying off the Island crowd
ed with spectators, but they were not al
lowed 10 come near 10y Gordon OF s"n-
tries placed there for that purpose. Sew
eral of the soldiers, although Injured To
sights of death, were seen to shed tears, so
completely did the bearing of the prisoner
command the sympathy and respect of all
present. There was no braVado, no exhi
bition of unmanly weakness, but in place
of these manifestations, so common on
such occasions, a calm, dignited compos
ure was maintained which moved the
sympathetic to tears and awcd the less re-
tined into silence Whatever faults may
have been attributed to Captain Beall
his death was indeed noble triumph OF
manliness and resi- guation over inevitable
fate.
The courage and faith which buoyed
Captain Beall at the last moment, when "a
violent and disgraceful death upon the
gaIlows was before him, was convincing
proof to all present that the i'll tated man
was sincere in his convictions that he was
but doing his duty to that Government
to which he had sworn elegance.