The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-11
Execution OF wife Murderer IN North
CarOlinR-FearfuI Scenes at the seaaold.

CarOlina-fearful scenes at the ScRnOld.
The following details of the fearful scenes which
attended the execution of Rufus Ludwig at Sails
bury. N. c., June 10Th, for the murder of his
wife, brief mention of which has appeared in our
telegTsphlc columns, are communicated to a
New } ork paper by an eyewitness. After de.
scrlbing the murder, the arrest and the trial.
(which latter left no doubt that Lud sig was the
murderer of his wife, instigated thereto By his
mother and sister the crowd at the execution
the composed demean0r of the condemned, who
smoked cigar while being conveyed to the
scalOd. the writer thus depicts an extraordinary
and exciting scene that transpired on the instant
tie murderer set foot upon the platform:
he at once made wild plunge forward with
the intention of leaping off the platform on the
farther side and with the evident purpose of max
ing break and desperate endeavOr TO push his
way through the crowd and escape his impending
doom. Nothing could be more hopeless than such
an effort as would be manifest to any rejecting
mind. But Ludwig had ceased to reflect; he only
felt the animal instinct Of self-preservation. To
submit was death. To struggle Vas no more than
death. He succeeded in throwing his feet aud
legs of the platform, but the two officers having
hold of his arms and shoulders held fast and pull
ing him backward he fell with the upper part of
his body projecting over the edge. The platform
was about four and half feet high. Several of
the nearest otcers-of the guard at once rushed to
the assistance of the sheriff and laid hold of L1d-
wigs legs, endeavoring to shove him backward
almost superhuman strength. With all the vigor
of his powerful and muscular frame, nerved by
despair, he wrestled with fate. For a long time
be uttered no word, but with cOnvulsive and rapid
movements of arms and legs strove TO wrench
himself from the grasp of eight or ten men who
now had hold of him.
A thrill of awe and horror ran through the i'm.
mense assemblsge, and it swayed to and fro like
forest shaken by mighty wind. Some turned
and fed from the awful spectacle; EXPLANATIONS
of excitement aud terror broke forth from others:
women and negroes shrieked. Such scene is not
often witnessed In this world. But those whose
duty II was TO act remained calm and cool. The
guard, most of whom had been old Conf sderate
soldiers, simply brought their muskets to a
READY and stood as serene as they were wont
to do at recent times OF real danger. And still
the struggle went on, one against ten and il
seemed az times almost like the despairng wretch
would succeed id freeing himself from the pow.
ertul posse who were holding him. The moose
was two feet above his head as he lay and DOW
erful efforts were used to push him up 10 it.
anWhlle the platform grew rickety, and several
were employed in steadying It. At the end Of
more than five minutes, which seemed, however,
TO be three times "a long. the sheriff was about
getting the moose over Ludwig's head, which he
threw quickly frsm side 20 side 10 avoid il. He
then exclaimed that he would stand I'D and be
quiet II they would release their hold, but this
was evidently said only for the purpose Of induc-
ing them 10 relax their efforts, for he showed no
sort Of disposition to relax his own exeruons.
Inc Officers persisted IN piacing the moose over
his head, and as he felt that inevitable fate now
bad him, he Is said to have muttersd a curse
which was overheard by some of those nearest
him. The moose was at last put on and drawn
tight around his neck. He clutched it convul.
svely, and still used his feet TO the utmost in
kicking of those who had hold Of him. IL took
several minutes to pinion his hands and feet, he
meanwhile lying on bis side aud choking to death
as fast possible. for the rope was stretched by
his weight. His face was perfectly livid and his
eyes starting from their sockets, presenting a
spectacle not easily forgotten, the sheriff being
too busy piniOning aud subduiDg him to take time
TO put on the white cap. By the time his arms
and legs we're tied ne had become mOtionless; the
cap mas put over his face, and the officers sprang
of and knocked out the prop. Ludwig being in a
recumbeDt posture, and the rope at full tension
already when the drop fell he swung gently
down with bis feet a short distance from the
ground. His neck could not have been broken,
but he died very quickly and without a single
movement after be was swung of, except one or
two slight be8yings OF the chest. The moose was
got on at thirteen minutes past two at eighteen
minutes past two the drop fell, and in ten minutes
thereafter Drs. Hall and Fraley pronounced life
extinct, and the spirit of Ludwig was at the bar
OF God.