Evening star., 1865-11-10
EXECUTION OF WIRZ.
Last Hours Of the Condemned Man.
Conduct on the GalloWS.
Reading the Death Warrant.
Scenes at the ScaffOld.
WIRZ EXECUTED.

a crowded court from week to week, and daily
listening TO the recital of indescribable horrors,
the last summer of his life mus. have been
rack Of unreasonable agony. Not one ray of
comfort could have reached him in all the
weary months from his capture to the present
time. Day after day he had to face a crowd
thirsting for his blood. He could not turn to a
paper for intelligence from the outside world
but that his eye was met by execrations and
predictions of his fate. He certainly could have
entertained no anticipation Of escape from pun
ishment, and had il been possible for his dis
tracted mind, would have spent the season in
preparation for death.
WIRZ'S DYING STATEMENT.
short time previous to his execution Wirz
gave the following particulars concerning his
lite. He was born in the Canton of Solothurn
Switzerland. in 1872, and when quite young re-
moved with his parents to Zurich where his IA
ther carried on the tailoring business until 1894,
when he took position in the Custom House,
which he still held when the prisoner last
heard from him. WirZ married in Switzerland
lady of aristocratic family with considerable
money, but he soon by his profligate habits run
through ii. Failing to agree, it was arranged
that they should separate, he leaving for this
country and allowing her TO obtain divorce.
When growing mp Wirz' father wished hi n to
study for the pulpit, but he refused, preferring
medicine, and took a course at Zurich, where
be graduated. After arriving in this country
land, Ohio. He was for two years in a bank
ing house in Zurich and afterwards travelled
through Italy, not stopping long at any one
place.
: WirZ landed in New York in 1S49 and made
an effort to establish himself as physician, but
fliled because he could not speak good English.
He then went TO Connecticut where he remained
several months, subsequently he worked ia a
factory in Lawrence, Massachusetts, for time,
and was soon engaged as interpreter In a fac
tory, three miles from Northampton, where
Germans PnnlOVpG. HS on
gagged as superintendent of 4 water cure estab-
Dshment in Northampton, Mass. At the in
stance of physician, Wirz went with him to
CadiZ. Kentucky, where he married his present
wife, Elizabeth Sayills, in 1S54. Cadiz not Of
ferBg good opening he went TO Louisville,
and was superintendent of. a water cure estab-
lishment for some time. WirZ afterwards took
charge of one OF Mr.. MarshalTs plantations
n, ar NatcheZ, and in is57 moved his family
there aud remained until the breaking out of
the war.
In the early part of the rebellion he enlisted
in a company called the Madison Infantry, and
remained with II until August, 1861, doing
guIrd duty at Howard's Factory prison, in
Richmond. When the prisoners commenced
to arrive from first Bull Run there was no list,
and WirZ commenced to make list of them.
He attracted the attention of General Winder,
and in short time, by an order from the War
Department, was placed on detached service
in the South, with the rank of sergeant. In
May, 1862, he returned to Richmond. and was
sent out to the battle of Fair Oaks, where he
acted as Assistant Adjutant General and Aide
oGeneral Joe Johnson, and in this battle re-
ceiyeC awound on tho right arm, from piece
Of SHE'LL making il necessary for difficult sur
giCal operation TO be performed. WirZ was
then made Assistant Provost Marshal of Man
chester, but did not like the place, and asked
to be relieved, and was placed on Winders
staff and at the request of Ould was ordered
10 go over the South and hunt up prisoners
When he had completed his tour and re-
ported, he was assigned to duty chief of the
secret police, but disliking this more than the
provost marshalship, and not succeeding in
being relieved he obtained a sick leave. He
went on that thirty days leave TO Tuscaloosa,
and had il extended for thirty more, but was
ordered in few days to come Immediately to
Richmond. They had at this time started
Libby Prison and Belle Isle. This was early
in 1868. When he came to Richmond he was
made chief of police in the provost marshal's
office. He staid there two days. One day he
met an ofhcer, who told him they were looking
for somebody to carry arms TO the Trans Mis-
sksippi department. He offered to carry them,
and soon received orders from both the Secre-
tary OF War and the Secretary of the Navy.
He went TO Charleston and got some fixed am
munition and guns that had just arrived from
England. He went as far as Meridian, and
bad some trouble getting through Pemberton's
department.; went TO Port Hudson, and could
not cross OIL account of the gunboats Hartford
and Albatross. He then got a furlough to 90
TO Europe on account of his health He had
furlOuch for tour months, but was so delayed
that his fnrlough only lacked three weeks of
being cut when he landed at Liverpool. After
returning from Europe he was ordered to Au-
gUsta 10 superntend the transportation of pris-
oners to AndeTsOnyillP, and in March, 1854,
was ordered by Gen. Winder TO relieve his son
at AndeTsonyille.
WIthrespect to his fate he said :-ssAs far as
am concerned have no hope ofreprieve. These
things which Were done (meaning Anderson
yilie} somebody must suffer for. / have never
denied that the prisoners were mi streated; but
II was not my fault. If l am the last one that
is to suffer death for the Southern Confederacy
] am satisfied. i do not fear death. never
saw man shot nor never shot one myself.
That will say as long as can say it. never
hunted prisoners with the dogs, nor anything
Of, that kind. Unfortunately, Gen. Winder is
dead. u he was living know he would come
out and not let the innocent ones suffer. /
never could get WInder to set his foot on the
inside OF that stockade. 1 don't know the rea-
son. have no complaints to make of the per-
sons who have taken care of me here in prison,
nor do L have any ill-will against any member
OF that court-martial, nor the Judge Advocate.
If i have against any one il is they who have
perjuTed themselves. The man who gave his
name as Delabon, a grandson of Gen. Lafay-
cite, will be found out to be German Jew
named Schaffer, n deserter from New York
regiment. i went down into the yard o-day
and there saw preparations being made for the
scafTCld, which would make most any man
finch. had no such feelings. / cannot ex-
pIess il. ltSis not hardheartedness, but had
no such feelings. Anybody who knows any
thlng OF military matters knows that one in
command OF thirty-fiye thousand men has to
De stIlct, but when i am accused of conspfring
WIN Jefferson Davis and others. il is all lie."
irz mas had two children, one of which, n
> VIZ a. liNlue. lie utuits iH'il ne
- Ha-.l - - cohu vile lived together unhapply,
ana that ne was ever in the house of correction
IN EuIlen Ior forgery. The latter report, he
says. , orisimatsd from the fact that distant
relatlVe JAILED in business, and was arrested on
the charge of false bankruptcy lie lea ves no
properly Tor his family. His manner of
speaking was composed throughout his state
ments were made in a remarkably direct man
ner, considering the surrounding cirrnn
stances, and none but few of the least irnnnr
taEce were drawn out by any direct questions
CONDUCT OF TIE CoNDEMNED.
WlrZ. before the ssntence was read TO him
spent most OF his tim" in reading, aud some
times wrote 10 his f1iHi'y and friends, although
he was much troubled as to what the sentence
would be. He became much more composed
when his fate was announced, and since then
has rested much better than formerly. He had
L. al ~.