Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-05-16

Father 4. returned to the condemned
prisoners and remained with them until
. late hour In the night, engaging In re-
ngions exercises, preparing the men TO
meet their doom.
The operator remained on duty all
night, ,anxiously awaiting the Presidents
reply, but there was none up to daylight,
when all the wires communicating with
Washington and Baltimore went down.
Nine, ten, and even twelve o'clock
noon came, and yet the wires were still as
death-not a particle of current on them
could be "felt" or tasted The pris-
onefs were to be executed at 1 o'clock
Not one word fpom the President. and all
hope was lost Sadly and anxiously did
Mr.. j.. sit by his instrument, adjusting
and watching for the slightest current.
Eighteen hours OF constant and incessant
watch, and yet his hopes were not weak
eped. He ,ielt that the President would
not refuse to savethe men; and although
they were to be shot at O'clock, he was
sure they were innocent and that God
would yet give them q safe deliverance.
He remained by the instrument and saw
the procession pass his window, with the
men seated upon their collins, the band
playing the dead march on the way TO
the place of execution But fifty min
utes more, and they would be dead.
And now must give the part / per-
formed in this interesting reminiscence.
/ was in the Baltimore office. At 10
O'Clock A. NJ. of the day of execution /
was called upon to answer "Di"-the tel
egraph call for the War Department Of
flee. did so and received the following
message:
o. .f- l. EXECUTIVE MANSION, |
= WAsIIISgTON, -, 1854.
TO Gmmanoiitg Ogices;, JInpeifs Ferry:
Delay the execution Of - and - until
further orders. A. LINCOLN.
With directions to get it to Harper's
Ferry, if possible, in time. to save the
men, as they would be executed at o.
clock. felt the responsibility resting
upon the telegraph and on me as an opera
tor. But what could l do without wire?
1T isneedless to recount the eahxiety which
afflicted me during those hours. The
lives of two human beings in my hands,
and unable to save them! AS long as
life lasts l will remember the terrible
thoughts which oppressed me then. i
tried every means known to telegraphy,
by testing, reversing battery, changing
instruments, feeling and tasting for cur
rent-but all TO no purpose. Noon had
passed, and II o'clock 10 minutes came,
when ] heard the armature of q magnet
splutter, as if some body was at work
upon the wire. There was an unmis-
taxable indication! There was hope for
reprieye had in my hand! In an in
slant the lever of the sounder fell with a
heavy "click, and in another instant /
had my key open, calling III. f.. as fast
as could make the letters.
No answer. -
L called Frederick, Maryland.
"a He answered.
:" Is your ground on?n I asked.
" Yes; no circuit West" he said.
"For Gods sake take it off, and save
the lives of two men, said 1, and again
commenced calling :" H. f" -.... .,
tha hainrpers Ferry nh heard + dne me say saHe say
Il. /" twice. He broke in and said:
"Here / am! Saved, thank God! Go
ahead!" ,,t
] sent him Mr.. Lincoln's message
Without waiting to say 80. H." he
threw open his key, and dispatched an
orderly, who was in waiting on horse
back Ito deliver the message, directing
him TO whip the horse and make him
run every step of the way. -...
The place of execution was some two
miles away, over the Shenandoah, and
the road to the place, for nearly mile,
extended up the side of a steep mountain.
iC IpSt LIE
horse fairly fly up the mountain side, but,
when he had nearly reached the summit,
the horse gave out, and fell with him to
the ground.
Two cavalrymen were standing near
with their, horses. The orderly ran to
them, and exclaimed: "In the name of
President Lincoln, let me have one of
your horses; / have a pardon for those
men and can save them" .-.-
E. Without saying another word hejump-
ed upon the back of the nearest, and put
spurs to the horses sides. AS he came
in view of the party who had the work
of execution to perform, the prisoners
were seated on their coffins, and the men
who were to fire had their guns inland.
The orderly had several hundred yards
yet to go. He redoubled his exertions,
urging his horse forward. He reached a
point one hundred yards from the party,
when his second horse gave out, and fell
to the ground dead. His cries were, how |
ever, heard by the party, and the men,
who had taken their aim and were ready |
for the signal to fire, lowered their guns
and the men were saved. -