The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-06-14
THE HANGING OF PROBsT.
Last Hours Of the CoDdemned-A Qulet
Execution. :.

Last Hours Of the CoDdemned-A Uulet
Execution.
We take the following graphic account
of the execution Of Probst, the murder
er of the Dcering family, from the letter
Of the New-York Tri6une's Philadelphia
correspondent. The execution took place
on Friday last.
FROM THE DUNGEON TO TIE GALLONS.
The Sheriff, the deputies, the jurors,
and the District Attorney being assem-
bled in the room adjoining the east end
Of the wing, known as the convict's side,
as the clock struck 10 word was sent to
the prisoner that the Sheriff was ready to
execute the sentence of the law. During
the five minutes that elapsed various de-
grees of nervousness were perceptible in
all present but the oldest and most blaze
of the correspondents and reporters. AT
1920 a. IN. Mr.. Charles Gilpin read to
the prisoner the death warrant of Gov.
Curtin. At 1927 Mr.. Superintendent
Perkins and Sheriff Howell, attended BY
one newspaper man only, proceeded to
the prisoners cell. In three minutes
they returned, bringing the prisoner with
them All that passed in those three
minutes were the Sheriff's short address
to Probst, as follows: "Antoine Probst,
[ am come to inform you that, in accord
ance with the law, am ready to proceed
with YOUR execution. | am informed by
your kind spiritual adviser that you are
ready to meet it," Probst replied, THAT
is So" The Sheriff, the Superintendent,
the solitary newspaper man and the con-
demned then joined the deputies and ju-
rors who awaited them, and the route to
the scaifold commenced at 1882 O'Clock.
The route followed was not the usual
one, bat along the north thoroughfare.-
At all previous executions the tolling OF
the prison bell has given to this parade
of death an exceeding mournfulness.-
Every kuell spoke of sentence, and exc
cution, and judgment to come, and of a
measureless eternity, bristling with new
crime, perhaps, and full Of unmitigated
suffering.
HOW THE MAN BORE HIMSELF.
Meanwhile, how brave had the man
borne himself? Was there any tremb-
ling of the limbs, any blanching Of the
face, or quivering Of the lips? No He
walked stolidly, unhinchingly on. He
was barefooted and in his shirt sleeves
In his upraised hand, he bore small
crucfx. His head was sleightly raised
and his eyes upturncd. Such face as
Anton Probst's could never have looked
exalted. Religion would have needed tc
take early possession of that soul to sub
due its mate brutality, to throw over il
the spiritual glow of love to God and love
to man. But yesterday morning, he
looked less capable of murder than he had
looked at any time previously, and this is
admitting great DEAL There was some
thing of hope and touch Of fear upon
his face. Let others judge whether the
fear was torpor, and the hope presump.
ton. He looked neither to the right nor
to the left, but kept his eye raised above
caucifx elapsed in untrembling hands
The sight of the scaffold did not let him
make step falter; not muscle failed
not nerve quiyered The sun shone
full upon his face and found it calm and
he looked straight in the direction of the
sun as though he loved the light and
found it beautiful He had been calm
and cheerful all the day and night before
why should he not remain calm and cheer.
ful even unto the end On Thursday
night he slept well. That morning he
had eaten hearty breakfast only three
hours ago and had smiled indifferently
over the eggs and coffee and bread and
butter provided from the Superintend
ent's table He had repeatedly expressed
himself willing to undergo any quantity
of punishment, aye, even crucfxion II
was fit that he should die eight deaths
he had said, since he had murdered eigh hi
guiltless human beings.
THE SHORTENING MOMENTS.
At 1874 the scaffold was reached
Sheriff Howell, Superintendent Perkins
the Rev. Anthony Grundtner, and the
| heV. / eter VI. CARBON were all tnat as
cended it besides the condemned. After
brief interview with DR.. Grundtner
Probst looked down upon the people and
said, in broken English, "God will for
give me !" Then he knelt in prayer
kissing the crucifx once on rising from
this short intercesson his legs were OBJ
served to tremble very slightly, but the
color of his face was natural, and his lips
quivered not jot. Kneeling once more
in company with Dr. Carbon, Probst bent
his head attentively, while DR.. Grundtner
read prayer in German, the Sheriff and
Mr.. Perkins standing near the outer edges
of the platform. Probst raised the cruci
fix aloft with his left hand and crossed
himself with his right, Dr. Grundtner
repeating upon him the sign of the cross
and saying few words to him in Ger
man. Then Anton once more, and for
the last time rose and kissed the orucifx
distinctly there. DR.. Grundtner and DR.
Carbon then shook hands with him and
left him, and the spectators drew that