Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-03-10
DEATH ON THE GALLONS.
sensations and Emstions, Mental
d. md Physicnl-Straugc Narrative OF
n Reconstructed Eelon.

SEu ~ nI4oAlOu1N en-
10. md Phy.ienI-straugc Narrative OF
n isesuscitated Felon.
From the Chattanooga Ga,e,te(
Wait till you hear il. Ten
years ago I was elected Sheriff Of this
county. This was my frs, election. and
| have been returned regularly ever since.
My first attempt to open Court was made
during al important trial. The criminal
was a depraved, desperate wretch. who
had been indicted for an atrocious and
brutal murder. The fellow was greatly
hardened and seemed to care but little how
the trial went-the evidence was strong
against him, and. when the case was SUBJ
mitted TO the jury, they returned q verdict
Of guilty without leaving their seats.
The execution was fixed for a day two
weeks after the ,rials OF course it was my
duty 10 put the rope around his neck and
launch him into eternity. Il was a dis
tasteful duty, l assure you; for, though /
knew full well the man deserved his death,
| did not relish the idea of hanging him.
l got through il. however, and set him to
dancing in the air. He did not struggle
much, and I thought had an easy death.
After hanging the usual time he was Gu,
and bis body given to his friends
for interment. I thought l had seen the
last Of the man, as the wagon containing
the body drove out OF the Jail yard ; but l
mistaken.
About four months after the execution.
I happened to be passing my barn, when
saw a man sitting in the doorway. with
his head resting on his hands. I did not
like his looks. so l approached him, and
asked him what he wanted there. He
his head. and looked at me in ST.
1 am not given TO superstition. and
| don't think I'm very timid, but I felt my
blood grow ice-cold as l recognized in the
nan before me the one whose execution l
had conducted. His face showed no
of his violent end /; and the only in
Of il. now visible, was q light
disfsuremen, OF the neck. I scarcely
what 10 say or think, for I had seen
him hung. and heard hih pronounced
dead. and had delivered his body 10 his
for burial, and yet, after a lapse Of
four months, there he sat. looking at me
with a face as white as q sheet. The ter
ror tina, was exhibited in his c~oun,enance
convinced me that he was no ghost, so !
asked him. with as much GOODNESS as |
could command:
Jack Larkins, do you know mes"
"You'ret the nan that hung me-" he re-
piled dosgedly, at the same time moving
away.
Before you 20, Larkins." said I. ~
would like to hear how you cheated the
gallows."
You won't peach on any Of them folks
as helped me, will you:"
No" I replied, - will not get them
into any trouble. I simply wish to know
how you felt when you were hanging, and
how you were resuscitated."
He hesits,ed for some time, but, upon a
renewal Of my assurance that zone Of his
friends should be molested, he told me the
following story:
When l put the rope around his neck,
and lef, him on the Sallows, he felt a faint
ness abou, the heart, caused BY HI, realiz-
ing his fearful situation for the first time
bu. before he had time 10 think, the trap
was sprung. and he fel! through the OPEN
The shock Of the fall was rather
more startling than painful, and did not
produce either insensibility or confusion.
His thoughts were remarkably clear, and
he seemed 10 have the power Of seeing far
above, below and all around him. Every
thing assumed q bright vermillion hue,
and a soft, dreamy languor gradually stole
over him. until he became inscnsible.
was nothing painful or unpleasant
n anything he had undergone. He seemed
% be sinking gently into q delicious sleep,
md all his thoughts were pleasant. The
next he remembered was being wrung by
The most agonizing torture. The pains
we're no, confined to any particular place.
but extended through the whole body.
His first though, was that he was in per-
and was suffering the penalty Of
his crimes. The pains increased each mo
and at last became so intense that
he started to his fee, with a scream Of an
a, the same time opening his eyes.
Great was his surprise TO find himself in
his fathers house. in the midst OF his
and relatives. He tainted at once,
and when he recovered found himself in
his own bed. As soon as it was thought
safe TO do so. his friends informed him
that, upon bringing his body home. they
had determined to try to resuscitate him,
although they feared it would be useless.
They worked faithfully and at last sue
ceeded.
but, sir" said the man, in confusion.
" coming 10 life again was much worse
than dying"
The man promised to leave the State,
and try and do better. I had but little
confidence in him, yet 1 let him go. He
kept his word, however, and a short time
ago I heard he was a well-to-do farmer in
one of the Territories.
This, gentlemen, is the ann in which
I got my ideas about hanging, and think
you will admit their force.