National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-09-13

to late to reach WashingtOn-he de
termined to use the telegraph. lie
wrote his message to the President,
| giving a concise history Of the case,
and appealed to Mr. Lincoln asking
Gods mercy in behalf of the poor
cast down prisoners.
The message was sent at once to
MIR. ID. j. =, then military OPP
orator at the Ferry, to the War De
partment Office.
Father F. returned to the con-
demned prisoners and remained
with them until late hour in the
night, engaging in religious exerci-
ses, preparing the men to meet THEN
doom.
The operator remained in duty
all night, anxiously awaiting the
Presidents reply, but there was
none up to daylist tt, when all the
wires communicating with Wash
ington and Baltimore went down.
Nine, ten, and even eleven o'clock:
noon came, and yet ne wires were
still as death-nOt particle of cur
rent on them could be ''felt' or
''tasted." The prisoners were to
be executed at one o'clock Not
one word from the President. and
all hope was lost . Sadly and anx-
iously did Mr.. l.. sit at his instru-
mcnt, adjusting it and watching for
the slightest current. Eighteen
hours of constant and inceSsant
watch, and yet his hopes were not
weakened. He felt that the Presi.
dent would not refuse to save the
men and they were to be shot at
one o'clock he was sure they were
. innocent and that God would vet
give them safe deliyerance. He
remained by the instrument and
saw the procession pass his window,
with the men seated upon their cof-
fins, the band playing the dead
march on the way to the place of
execution. But fifty minutes more
and they would be dead.
And now / must give the part !
performed i'll this interesting rem
/ iniscencc.
was at the Baltimore Office. At
zen o'clock A. NJ. of the day of the
execution, | was called upon to an
swcr "Di"-the telcgraphic call for
War Department Office. | cid SO
and received the following message:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
Washington - 1864.
"To Commanding Officer, Harpcrs
, Ferry, "Dclay the execution Of
and-until further orders"
With direc ions to ret it to Har
pcr's Ferry if possible in time to
save the men, as they would he cX-
ecuted at one o'clock. / felt the
responsibility resting upon the tele,
graph and on me as an operator
1t is needless to recount the anxiety
which afflicted ne during those
hours. The lives of two human be
ings in my hands and unable to
save them! As long as life lasts |
will remember The terrible thoughts
which oppressed me then. tried
every means known to telegraphy
by tasting, reversing battery, chan
ging instruments, feeling and tasting
for current, out all 70 no purpose
Noon had passed, and twelve O'Clock
and fifteen minutes came, when
heard the armature OF magne
Splutter, as if somebody was ut work
upon the wire. There was an I'M
mistakablc indication! There wa
hope for these two men, eighty -on
miles away, whose reprleve | ha,
in my hands. In an instant the lev
or of the soundcr fell with IL heav,
click" and in another instant ! ha'
my key open calling III. f." as fas
Pas | could make the letters.
No answer.
t Icalled Fired erick, (Maryland.'
lie answered.
ais your ground OH ~ ! asked.
.Nes no circuit west,r he said.
"For Gods sake take it off an
save the lives of two men," | tol
, him, and coinE,enced calling III. +.
. again.
Harper's Ferry beard me say ,say
, the lives of two men, ana made ~
? ~ twice. He broke IN and sad
"Here am, saved, tiaHk God;-
, 90 ahead.
= sent him Mr.. Lncoln's ilessae
! Without waiting to say SO. N
- he threw open his key, and dispatc
cd an orderly who was in waiting {
!, horseback, to deliver the mcssag
= directing him to run every step
!, the way.
+ The place of execution was son
IN two miles away, over the Shcna
doah, aud the road to the place, Il
! nearly u mile, extended up the sic
Ic Of steep mountain.
Il The orderly lost no time, he ma
r. the horse fairly fly up the mounta
N side. but when he had nearly reac
d cd the summit, the horse gave o'
nj fell with him to the ground.
ii Two cavalrymcn were standil
tv with their horses, the orderly ran
n. them and exclaimed: In the mai
~ of President Lincoln, let me ha
he one of your horses have a parfl
NJ. for those men and can save them
h. Without saying word he jun
Il. ed upon the back of the nearc
is. and put spurs to the horses sid
I'M AS he came in view of the pa
80 who had the execution to pcriOI
rs the prisoners were seated on Oh
10. collins, and the men who were
rs, fire had their guns in hand. I