The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-22

| versation with them. His faithful vile, clad
In black, was always with him, and two deputy
sherifs were near by to prevent him from
gagged In talking, he would slt behind the
large stove In the prison corridor, with his
| head bowed and his arms resting on his knees,
anl thus bury himself In reflection. On
| Wednesday he had his photograph taken. All
day yesterday his wife and friends were with
him, and during the day DR.. Tying had long
Interview with the condemned man who eat
upon the seat behind the stove In the corridor
with his head bowed down and covered with
his hands. His couLsel made one more effort
to obtain brief stay OF execution by appeal
ing to different judges of the Supreme Court
upon technical grounds, but this proved O
failure. Sheriff Brennan visited Foster at five
o'clock to ask Il he had any suggestions to
make regarding tho arrangements for the
morrow, out he only asked that as few people
as possible might be allowed to witness his
death.
TIE PARTING WITH HIS WIFE
at eight O'Clock was deeply affecting. When
the deputy sheriff informed her that the time
had come she turned deathly pale, and alter
trying Iu vain to control her emotion, she burst
into tears and exclaimed, Good bye, darling.
This is eur last good bye" The next moment,
while the two we're clasped In each others
embrace, Mrs. Foster swooned and was c1r-
ried away by her brother. Foster fell back
upon his bed, buried his face In his pillow and
wept long and bitterly. He then sat alone In
his cell, absorbed In bitter meditation,
until two O'Clock this morning, when
he went to sleep and slept sound
ly until awakened by the keepers
at seven o'clock. Then he wae quite unnerv-
ed, and il was evident that his physical
strength was fast deserting him. Rev. Drs.
Tying and Walker arrived at eight O'Clock.
Foster was then sitting on the bed, weak and
trembling, dressed In black irock coat, black
pantaloons and black vest bultoned up TO
the throat. He refused all food at first, but
took cup OF coffee, which, however, he i'm
mediately vomlted up. The sheriff asked
him, "Are you sick ?" and Foster replied,
mo, but very nervous" When DR.. Tying ar
rived he had private Interview, during
which Foster begged him to watch over his
vile and children, and DR.. TyDg, who was
affected to tears, promised that he would.
Foster afterward asked for little brandy,
but 1t was denied.
THE SCENE OF TIE EXECUTION.
A few minutes before nine o'clock, q force
of deputy sherifs marched from the City Hall
to the Tombs, and took up their position in
the jail yard. This is narrow courtyard,
surrounded by the lofty walls of the male
prison on the west, The female prison on the
south, and the Tombs Police Court building
on the east. Across this courtyard, at dis.
distance of about eighteen feet from the pave
ment, is the "bridge of sighs," across which
prisoners are conveyed from the Police Court
to the main prison. A strong Gordon of police
bad already been stretched across the gard,
almost under this bridge, 10 keep back
the spectators, of whom about one
hundred and fifty had been admit
ted ON black-edged tickets issued by
the sheriff. The scaffold, which has been In
use at the Tombs for some years, and on which
consists OF two upright beams, eleven feet
high, with cross-beam about fourteen feet In
length, all painted dark drab color. In the
centre OF the cross-beam is hole through
which the rope was passed, the free end termt-
mating In small iron ring, while the other
end passed behind temporary board fence
which concealed the executoner and the
heavy weights which were attached 10 the
rope, but upheld by a second rope until the
signal should be given for the latter to be cut
by the keen hatchet which The executloner
held In his hand.
Tbs WALK TO THE GALLows.
At nine O'Clock the sheriff said, "WIlliam
the Time has come, and this has got TO be. Be
man and brave it out" Foster bowed his
head and said, III WILL" His arms were then
pinloned by cords passed around them
above the elbsws aud behind his back, leaV-
ing the fore arms and hands treei black
silk cap was placed on his head, but not drawn
down go as to cover the eyes, and the moose
was placed loosely around his neck. The pro.
cession then formed and marched Into the
"Here he comes |" First care Foster, support.
ed by Sheriff Brennan and Under Sheriff Joel O..
Stevens; next, Rev. Drs. Tyrg and Walker and
Rev. Mr.. Schoonmaker, chaplain Of the Sing
Sing prison, and then the deputy sheriffs, with
their batons and shields covered with Grape.
These formed line fronting the gallows, and
all hats were dofTed. Foster was anshaVen,
his hair was unlrimmed, and his face wore
deathiy pallor. The sheriff walked with him
until they came under the fatal beam, then he
placed min With his back to the prison and his
face 10 the Lnrong, and fell back. DR.. Tying
and Dr. Walker then began the service for the
dying used in the Episcopal Church, DR.. Tyng
reading the service while DR.. Walker recited
the responses. These prayers occupied seven
minutes, which seemed as many hours to the
spectators. Foster stood with his head bowed,
and with his left hand shading his eyes, as
we'll as his pinloned arms would allow. he
trembled vlsibly, and at length his emotion
increased 80 greatly that the sheriff
FEARED HE WOULD FALL,
and stepping forward 10 DR.. Tying, he said:
doctor, you must cut this short" Then
passing to Foster. he said: "Foster, thought
you would stand this like man." Foster
bowed his head lower, but made no reply.
In closing his prayer, DR.. Tying laid his hand
on Fosters shoulder, and said ina deep
voice, "Amen Then pressing his hand, he