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


away and stood in half melancholy delirium look
ing up and down Centre street. The prison door
opened and the reporters were admitted WARDEN
Johnson, who had himself watched through the
night, was In the once. Old Mark Finlay the lons
time Deputy Warden, was there, too. 1t was
curious to mark how, ae the light from the sky
grew brighter,
THE roNBs PUT ON IT'S CARE OF LIFE
The gas lights grew pale. The Warden brushed
his uniform coat carefully and spoke about boot
black. Every few minutes the knocking was heard
ct the wicket, and at last the doors were dung
open. 1t was not then more than half
past six O'Clock. A murmur came out that Foster
was still asleep. It evoked . host OF questions
rom the reporters, VINO jotted down the best in
formation they could ind. In scraps or Jumps 1t
was all the same, and would weave into the story
each was charged to write. They chatted and
many laughed and joked as II 10 were
WEDDING AND NOT A HANGING
that was only couple OF hours on. tramping
and stunning Of feet stirred amomentary attention,
which soon relapsed. 1t was only the human
scourngs OF the streets Of the Sixth ward brought
In to wait their Short summary trials at the T0mbs
Police Court. 1t was the "morning watch" to be
disposed OF by the Justice upstairs There were
many women, most Of them hard-faced and brazen
and bearing the marks OF debauch in bleared
eyes ana battered countenances. One who spoke
to the oficer having her In charge had the coarse
voice Of man. One woman, nearly forty years OF
age and diminutve In stature, dressed in faded
mourning, and tried to hide her face as she fol-
lowed the nfseraoles into the prison. The report
ers, who see similar group daily at the Tombs, did
not even refer to the matter, but after glance at
them. turned to their note-taking and their char
About this time the two Deputy Sherlns Dunphy
and Daily, who were to watch
THE LAST TWO HOURS OVER FOSTER,
came In spruce and fresh looking. As soon as the
last prisoner of the night had gone in, the Warden
led the assembled reporters out across the first
yard and up to the gibbet. Tina rope was not yet
run through the pullAy at the top, and
In the boarded-of corner, where the rope
would be cut and the heavy weight hung,
there was still some work demanded. The
newsgatherers wandered up and down the yard
picking out pieces of interest in the scene and the
"reminiscences 1t called up. 1t did not take long
to gather all these. The strained glance towards
the prison, whence 1t was once more announced
that
FOSTER WAS SLEEPING
completed the survey, and the reporters were con-
Quoted back to the Office. 1t was now just seven
o'clock and the unprofessionals who held passes
were dropping In oddly. Reporters, too, came in
as II all jOurnald0m were determined to know how
Foster would die. Father Duranquet came in with
brisk step and sad face and was at once ad-
mitted to the prison. The people in the ONCE
strayed out on the steps facing the uncouth pile Of
red brick on the north side.
SUPERINTENDENT KELsO
drove up in q carriage about ten minutes later,
but did not ahght at the Tombs. The hum of the
awakening city was heard. and working girls pass
ing by the gate hurried on. casting side glance
into the hail. Even then few idle boys had gath
cred on the curbstones, and the horn Of the fish
seller stresC or two away called the mind back
to the origin Of the custom which
DEVOTED FRIDAY TO EXECUTIONS.
1t was the day Of fasting and sorrow In honor of
the Goldman who died on Calvary for humanity
upon Friday nearly nineteen hundred years ago.
Each minute brought fresh accessions to
the ranks Of the waiting throng The un-
professionals ranged themselves along en- queue
as at theatre, while the reporters affected
superiority by circulating through the large ONCE
on the left-hand side as you enter from the street.
Artists from the illustrated weeklies were there
also, and save few who were engaged "writing
up" the matter for the afternoon papers all the
professionals moved restlessly about. Thus an.
other hour wore on. Before eight O'Clock 1t was
announced that the doomed man was awake and
dressing. few minutes past eight
HEAVY, REGULAR TRAMP WAS HEARD,
and $50 policemen filed into the prison In charge Of
Superintendent Keso. 1t was still a wearisome
time waiting there, with the crowd OF passholders
swelling, and in q mass crushing each other for
precedence, so that the police were obliged to in
terfere and maintain decorum, In appearance at
least.
FOSTER AT THIS TINE
had risen and dressed. He had slept soundly for
about four hours and three-quarters; for Nature
the forces that the strain upon the deepest
emotions known to pitiabe man had wasted His
sleep was so deep that it was necessary to arouse
him at last. This was done gently, and Foster,
after rubbing his eyes dazedly for a moment, gave
deep groan and sank back for an instant
HE WAS DEADLY PALE
and looked more CHASTITY in the dim daylight OF his
cell. The truth had rushed to his soul in an in.
slant. He had been sleeping his last few hours on
earth away and he seemed in his horror already
to feel the clammy touch OF death around his
heart. Rousing himself up, however, he got
out OF bed and made his toilet with the occasional
kindly assistance OF the keepers. He had weakened
terribly, and the deputies and keepers shook their
heads and spoke In whispers. They feared 1t might
be necessary to carry the wretched man to the
scafYold.
HIS BREAKFAST WAS BROUGHT HIM,
light one. and he ate sparngly. His manner was
excessively nervous, and his hands trembed as
he brought the cup to his lips.
FITTING THE ROPE.
During this time the assistants without had been
as noiselessy as possible stretching the awnings,
one above the scanold itself and the other pendent
from the 'bridge OF sighs" across the yard. The
object Of this, 1t will be remembered, is to
screen the execution from those who might
endeavor to look from the upper stories or roofs
OF buildings near the Tombs The running rope
was passed over the pulley in the beam, the great
weights poised in the air, and the cutting rope
laid along the plank and fastened to the ceat. The
mattress to deaden the sound OF the falling weight
was placed In Its position This work, 1t may here
be said was quickly and well done. Foster heard
nothing OF 1t, but its progress was marking time
upon his heart, and he would stop for instant in
his meal and then again begin, II to distract the