, 1866-06-13


Arthur Spring. Pster MAttocks a1d Thons4
J. Armstrong. It wss erected On Thursday
afternoon, and completed towards the eyen-
tpK. It 3tands about twenty feet from the
Northwestern corner Of the prison, and q =
simple snd P1ain T. st,astp.s the ,ops being
nsea. about sixteen months ago, to hang
descrter at Fort Mitt1in. Two upright beams,
sixteen 1eet In height. support cross beam
eight sset long, from which hangs the fatal
nocse- The drop upon which stands tho
criminal Lisp + sSuDpoFted by three upright l, 6as3,
one the bar TO which i attached the ropo to
be pulled bJ the Sheriff.
As we approached this scado1d. the priests
endeaFored L. cheer The condemned In bis
Last moments satnef dr9ndneF, 1n sol-
enu voice. says, Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Probss, nodding hia head and fervantly kiss-
ine the cruclfx, replies In tremulous voice,
"Amen-"
The ssaHo!d Is ROW reached. and tho spec-
iatora silently gathered around It, while the
Sheriff, Pfoost and Dig spiritual advisers, md
Probst u firm and determined: He treub1es
not. but With steady step be ascends The
steps and takes his position on tho trap. with
the fatal rope dangling in his face ShariR
Howell stands, with his head down, aud one
hand placed against the upright post Of tho
side, awaits the religious ceremonies Il
dead silence now prevades the assembly. and
the criminal, iusti4ely gazlns npon the spec
tators, says, IN tremnlous and almost IN
audible voice, "Forgiye me, as hope thst
God will forgive me. am sorry :or what I
have done I thank ron, officers Of tho
prison, md friends, for all the kindness ron
have shown ue.''
AT the conclusion of this speech, Probst
md his spiritual advisers knelt down, and tho
priests repeated TO him the Acts Of Faith,
tIope, Charity. and Contritfon, to which
he responded Amen" Then Father
Grundner aaid some further words to him.
exciting him 10 coutrft|on. AT ibis
pofnt they arise. and Father Grundner
having put On he stole. which ia tho sisn
Of Jurisdiction. gave 10 the c1;1oinal reneraI
absolutfon according to the rites ofthe CHURCH,
Showing TO him the cFpciflx. Father Gruu-
der told him how the Savior had dicd
for h1rn to which pr,hst renttcd A4mens
and aesip thanked The otflcers and friends for
their kiudness At this time Prohst seemed
wholly absorbed In his religious deyo.iops.
Only once did be take bis eyes OF Of the
as Il taking bis Inst look Of all that was
lovely aud beautiful In this world, Ills lips
twitched violently at times, and 1t was Al
parent that he was endeavorine By a strops
effort Of the will to kes down hfs emotion.
The tears stood In his eyes, and Probss ap-
lions Is ourselves.
Fpther Grupder. turrfne to him said
"Jesus. IN Thee i've, in Thee / dc: an
Thine in lite and DEATH" Probst, In a clear
and distinct voice. repeated these words, and
then, with great devotion, kissed the ctnclix
three times, his eyes being snGased with
tears. Father Grunder then exhorted him
| to bear himself courageous1y, saying, ut
won't Inst much longer; Jesus will bs i1erci-
fnl to ,you-" The crucla1 was then taken
! from bin d. he kissed It for the Inst time. and
the priests babe him csod-bre. He kissed
the hanus OF both priests. and as they
retired to the steps Of the gnl!ows, the Sheriff
| and Mr. Perkins stepped forward to adjust
the rope. The moose This hands having been
hand-cuEsd behind his hack) was placed
| quickly. over his neck, Probst assisting the
officers by inclinattons Of bis head The 2her-
| having adjusted cotton cap over his face,
LETT the criminal, and descended the sca1oid.
Father Grnndner still remained upon the top
| most step, and uttered p1ous ejacnlations, to
which Probst still responded, although the
| moose was around bis neck aud the death cap
! over his face.
Robert Morrell, fhe carpenter Of the prison,
then proceeded to remove the upright bars,
which mainly supported the straps. Having
1 done this, he handed to the Sheriff the rope
which was attached to the only remaining bar
prisoner. ali now was hushed, IS If the
| angel Of midnight had spread her wirgs over
| u.s. The priest slowly said, "Jesus, Mary
| and Joseph the trap iell with sui
len bound, quickly the rcpe was drawn
| to It's utmost iensiop,s aud At four-
teen minutes Of II O'Clock, Anton Prohst
hung between heaven aud earth. again aud
| again his body heaved with the thrpes OF the
death struggle; hls broad chest seemed 10th
to give up It's functions and the giant frame
quiyered for mastery over death. The strug-
| Gle il for q moment, for the trembling i'm !3x
| and the copyplaive drawing m Of the entirr
| body danote the last struggle. One pro-
I logged quiyer, and the murderer Is notion
| ,css, and round and round turns ms daneIinpr
| II Is agreed to allow bis body to hauo
| thirty minutes, While thfa stranoe fGnre
! casts It's shadow upon the green prasss he
| crowd eather around It and await tf1e 1e,l;ct