Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-11-16


but his right arm was so swollen that the
iron could not be fastened without giving
him pain. 90 ~ - o. 81. ~
II don't want to be cross, said he, "but
don't hurt me"
The shacklos were removed Wbonsum.
mohed 10 leave the cell, Wirz remarked TO
Father Boyle: III hope this black dress will
soon be turned into white robe. 20
willingly"
Meanwhile some 200 spectators had con-
RreRated in the prison yard5 including about
thirty representatives Of the press. A ma.
jority OF the others were young officers,
many Of whom had experienced the cruel
tance the dome Of tho capitol lowered nj
through the leaves and branches OF the
trees, aud on every vantage ground near by
were spectators, many of them soldiers, a
few of them women -...I
At quarter past ten the hum Of conver.
sation subsided into profound silence. as
Major Russell who came from the prison,
followed by the criminal, who was escorted
by his spiritual advisers. .s.aa..
He was a much taller man than I expect.
cd to sec, and walked with firm step,
gaHcing up at the clear sky, as ifrefreshed
by sunlight and air. His long black hair
was brushed smoothly down his head. show
ing high forehead his beard and mus
tache were full, almost covering the expires.
sion OF his face, and his cunning eyes twirk-
led with defiant expression of apparent in
difference. On reachiup the gallovs he as
cended the steps with alacrity, and seated
himself on chair placed upon the drop
Father Boyle from the hour he had received
the sacrament, stond at his right hand, hold.
ing small cruci6x, and at his left stood
Father Wigcet. Et..HT. -
Major Russell road. in clear voice. the
long charges and specifications in which the
name of jeff. Davis was included. Wirz
listened to tho tedious document with at,
tehtion nodding assent 10 some portions,
and shaking his head negatively when other
sections we're being read. Father Boyle
would occasionally present the crucifix TO
him as if to strengthen him for the coming
struggle by hopes of divine forgiveness. o.
casionaly the impatient crowd without
would give tedious yells, at which the GRIM
inal would betray uneasiness. Then Father
Boyle would display the symbol of redemp,
tion, saying, faith, hope, charity, repentance,
will save you.
At last the reading of the charge, the
specifications, the finding of the court and
the Presidents approval Of the sentence,
had all been read and Major Russell, turn
ing towards the criminal, asked him if he
had any remarks to make he replied in an
uncoacerned tone, "He had no wish to say
anything to the public; to the Major he
would say he died innocent. He had but
once to die and his hope was in the future" "
Major Russell then shook hands with
him, receiving his thanks for courteous
treatment. The Priests babe him farewell,
with words of consolation, and retired. He
stood erect upon the. drop the hangman
pinioned his arms, adjusted the fatal moose
and put on the black cap.
Then commenced unearthly yells from
those outside the prison yard, as if execra-
ting the perpetrator of atrocious cruelties.
Major Russell raised his cap The drop
fell, Henry Wirz, with sudden plunge,
was hanged by the neck until he was dead.
and may God have mercy upon his soul. 1t
was seven minutes after the drop fell before
the convulsive movements Of the body ceas-
ed, and subsequent surgical examination
shows that his neck was not broken.
After hanging fifteen minutes the body
was taken down and carried into the dead
room. There it was placed in coffin and
intrusted to Father Boyle. The body is to
be deposited in vault of the Catholic Gem
etery until the wishes of Mrs. Wirz concern
ing it, can be made known. Such has been
the termination of the earthly career of an
other sanguinary agent Of the slave power.
The arrangements at the prison devolved
upon Capt. G. H. Walbridge, the military
commandant, who with his assistants, Ha-
vens, Coleman and Burns, was kept quite
busy, and the entire details were carried out
in creditable manner 1t was necessary
to post larger number of sentres than us
ual over thirty posts being on the outside
of the buildings, and also the troops around
the scaffold. besides attending to the inter
nal arrangements of the piis IN, which kept
these officers quite busy. ...