The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-22

Deing read Dy rev. Mr.. Upham. with the words =
'The body oil the Lord Jesus Christ broken for thee.
Take, eat and hold remembrance OF Him, with tiny
heart full OF Thanksgiving. Tho blood OF our LORD
Jesus Christ shed to preserve thy soul and body to
everlasting life. Drink 1t in remembrance OF the
Saviour and with thanksgiving to God" To the
prisoner was first given the morsel Of bread and
the cup OF wine. As he received them he did 1t
with nrn hand. The others then partook OF the
bread and wine. the ritual being repeated for each.
The hymn, 'Just IS am, without one pea,n was
next sung. all present joining in. The closing
prayer was offered by Rev. Joseph Scott, who
asked for blessing On the man who was so soon to
meet terrible ordeal Divine help and sustenance
Tpoa ISe ocer wno wa to I'm aW
blessing was also invoked for the kindness and
love which had marked his treatment OF the con-
demned. Thus ended the services, and the spec
tators returned to the rotunda leaving McElhaney
alone with the spiritual advisers.
FOUI HUNDRED SPECTATORS IN WAITING.
In the rotunda the spectators were waiting for
the appearance OF the solemn procession OF death.
The legal witnesses were seated opposite the SCAT
fold and all Others, with the exception of the re-
porters, occupied standing positions in the cor
rdors in front OF the north, east and south wings
OF the jail. There were nearly four hundred per-
sons thus in waiting Tor the ceremony OF death.
and over the whole there was solemn air OF awe
ana reverence which the coming event inspired
the centre Of the rOtunda and briefly addressed the
spectators. He requested them to preserve the
coming ceremony. He had given orders that
no one should be allowed to leave the build
ing nns until his had been gwen
attempt to leave. The minutes slowly passed
away as the entire audience with uncovered heads
silently awaited the approach OF the procession to
escort the deemed man to the place on which the
last breath OF existence would be drawn; and that
the lafge andencs were symPathizers ana re-
from the fact chat not soul In that multitude ad
dressed his neighber, but reverently gazed at the
dread c0rtege.
THE PROCESSION OF DEATH.
AT precisely two minutes and half past eleven
O'Clock sherlf CLARK was seen to enter the rotunda
looking far paler than the condemned, who fol-
lowed close behind with his arms and wrists pin
Toned closely. IA the rear Of the condemned fol
and Merrill II was clearly apparent that the spirits
OF McElhaney and his remarkable 1Ortitude had
through the almost death like quietness OF the
r0tunda partial paleness 0verspread his features
Hardly had he entered the room before his eyes
glanced upward at the instrument OF death, but
steadily and firmly his footsteps increased, leading
him onward, little by little, TO the platform from
whence in few short moments, he would be
launched on the broad ocean Ofeternity.
ON THE GALLOws.
to the DROP walking with firm tread, about four
feet in advance Of the remainder OF the short pro-
cession. The central figure in the group supported
the Deputy Sherif1s and the other clergymen.
McElhaney's step did not falter in the
m s ssp Teaching s s Se
oil the stairs he stepped directly upon the drop and
seated himself upon chair which one OF the
officers placed for the purpose. The Nigh Sheriff
then stepped to the front Of the platform. and,
slightly leaning against the rail, proceeded In
calm collected and steady voice to read the death
warrant.
THE MOOSE ADJUSTED.
Immediately after the conclusion OF the reading
Of the warrant Deputy Sheriff Bradley approached
and adjusted the moose around the neck Of Nc
Elhaney, and the black cap was drawn down over
the neck of the condemned During these trying pre-
a
and the last view Of McElhaney's features before
the black cap shut him out from the light Of heaven
forever, showed them to be rs firm and motiOnless
as ever. Rev. Mr.. Upham then advanced to the
front and offered up short ana impressive prayer
LAUNCHED INTO ETERNITY.
Sheriff Clark approached his position and said -
the law on James McElhaney, and may God have
the pronunciation OF the last word he pressed his
foot upon the spring. the drop fell and the body Of
position OF the body when the rope reached
straight condition was inclined forward at an
angle Of ioTtynve degrees The fall was six feet
violently for few seconds 1t quickly assumed q
perpendicular position, and for several seconds
exactly ten minutes past eleven O'CLOCK. At nrst
there was no perceptibe motion OF the body except
ey
OF the body, which consisted mainly IN slight con-
traction OF the muscles Of the legs and what ap-
peared to be q heaylng Of the chest. This con
tinued for about four minutes, when al motion
ceased.
SLIGHT ACCIDENT WITH THE MOOSE.
When the body fell the moose slipped around 80
| that the knot, which should have remained under
the ear passed around and rested against the
| back OF the neck. This would seem to indicate
that death was not instantaneous, though the sur
| geons pronounced the latter to have been the
case, A solemn silence prevailed during the time
which the body remained suspended, as the i'm
| pressed beholders realized thai James McElhaney
| who had 30 recently been In their midst living
| man, was passing to the throne OF Cod.
| THE BODY CUT DOWN.
At nve minutes to twelve O'Clock the body was
reverently lowered, placed upon bier and an ex-
| animation OF the corpse made by the physicians.
| 1t was found that the neck had been broken in
stantly at the time OF the fall and consequently
death must have been instantaneous The fea-
| lures presented remarkably natural appearance,
| and were free from any disc0orati0ns or any evi-
dence OF intensity Of suffering during the closing
| struggle between life and death. At one O'Clock
| the body was delivered to friends who removed 1t
to East Cambridge, where the funeral services will
be soemnized tomorrow, At two O'Clock p. M,
| from the Rev. Mr. Rays church, corner OF Cam
bridge and Third streets.
wAcuTNGT0N rTnp nEpHpC