The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-06-28

dent would not refuse 10 save his men;
and although they were 10 be shot
at enc O'Clock, he was sure they were
innocent, and that God would yet give
them safe deliverance. he remained
|by the instrument, and saw the pro-
Tcessiion pass the window, with the men
seated upon their eohins, the band
playing the dead-marcb, on the way to
the place Of; execution. But fifty min
utes more, and they would be dead.
Now I must give the part Iperfor-
med in this interesting remi1iscenee. &
was in the Baltimore office. AT
ten O'Clock OF the day of execution, 1
was called upon TO answer sDf'Ltlis
telegraph call for the War Department
office, / did 50 and received the fol-
loving message: -. 4 80 -, 1.'~
-sai-s sExEcgrIvE MkNsIos, sssszs
II ls 80 WAsHINeroE7-a1S64.
so Commanding 06fcsr, Haypsr's
,ds Ferry ,,s. J. ~ =, -, 81 49, = )
rDelay the execution of--and
until further orders. e,I sbi
T. ssiv !'osAg = &sf7 = "A. BIKcoLE." e
with directious 70 get il to. Harpers
Ferry, If possible, in time to save the
men, Is they would be executed at one
O'Clock. / felt the responsibility rest
ing upon the telegraph, and upon me
as an operator, but what could i do
without wire. The lives Of two ha-
man beings in my hands, and ] unable
to save them. As long as life lasts l
viii remember the terrible thoughts
that oppressed me then. ] tried every
means known to telegraph, by testing
reversing battery, changing instru7
ments, feeling and tasting for current,
but all to no purpose. Noon bad pass
ed, and twelve O'Clock and fifteen min
utes came, when 1 heard the armature
Iofi a magnet splutter, as il somebody
was at work upon the wire. There
was hope for those two men, eighty
miles away, whose reprieye | had in my
hand In an. instant the lever Of the
Esounder fell with a heavy "clickp IN an
Iother instant / had my key open, cali
ling Father = as fast as ! could make
! the letters, { q % so-t 41.ssa slse 9
l. No answert sefe7 haVa ai4sniss -
J. IcaIlsd /" Frederick, (Maryland. y I
r. He answered. = sslsag igs So
l. ( ais your ground on ~ asked.
Yes, NO circuit west," he said.
aFor Gods sake, take it of, and save
| lthe lives of two men" Itold him, and
lcommenced calling aH. f. twice. i
He broke in and said:
l. aHere am-saved-thank Godf Gt
ahead 'fss7 - gssa ss q
l. Isent him Mr.. Lincoln's message
Without waiting TO ssy'0 K" h
iIthre~ open his key, and dispatched an
orderly, who was waiting on horseback
Ito deliver the message, directing him &
whip the horse and make him run every
Istep OF the way, sss SO sslyf Tear 2gTT8
4 Theplaee Of execution was some TIVE
lmiies away, over the Shenandoah, snC
] THE road to the place Of execution, fol
] nearly mile extended up the side of
\ Isteep mountain. s' .s-as4 ~ ssess7.r 2
4 ! The orderlyloss no time. He mad,
\ his horse fairly fly up the mountain side
4 but when he had nearly reached tn
j lsunmis his horse gave out and fsl
n with him to The ground. = :
Il Two Gssalrynen were standing nea
II With their horses. The orderly ran y
, Ito them and exclaimed, sIh the nam
) of President Lincoln, let me have one Q
!. your horses; l have pardon for thos
i two men and can save them.
u Without saying another word, b
rIjumped on the hack of the nearest an
IL put bis spurs in the horses sides. -
Il As he came in view of the party wh
) had the5wo of execution to perform
r the prisoners were seated on their co
1 fins, and the men who were to FIRE ha
! sitheir guns in hand. The orderly ha
-lseyeral hundred yards yet to go. sAh
1 Iredoubled his exertions, urging his hor;
' forward. He reached a point, one hui
|, Idred yards from the party, when h
: -lsecond horse fell to the ground dea'
al His cries, were however heard by Il
8 party, and the men who had taxi
eitheir aim and we're ready for the sign
dito FIRE, lowered their guns, and the. tE
di men we're saved, aaapas esre.ss