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

isoy "ofo cshso up Al usual an0 given their
breakfasts, but were again locked closely up,
nor permitted to take their usual exercise ct
eight O'Clock What the presage was which nlled
their minds then cannot be told; but they felt
every step that rung on the nags as though the
heels were tramping on their hearts and crushing
out the hope to which, one and all, they ching AZ
halfpast eight Sheriff Brennan.and twenty OF his
deputies carrying their staves passed through tho
once into the prison yard and thence into the
corridor OF the male prison, where they were
RANGED NEAR THE CONDEMNED CELL
In two lines facing each other. There they waited,
talking In subdued Whispers, while the man about
to die listened within to the earnest appeals Of hs
aged spiritual adviser.
During this time the crush in the outer once was
becoming greater every minute, and at about nva
minutes to nine o'clock those having passes wero.
requested to produce them and nle in through the,
gate This was accomplished without any UNI,
necessary delay, and the crowd was soon pushing,
close behind the double line Of police formed
across the yard
PACING THE scAFFoLD,
Immediately the north side Of the entrance from
which Foster was to pass. Exception to this rule
OF keeping the spectators back OF the door was
made in favor OF the press for whose use three
rude benches were placed BY the scs6osd on the
Elm street side. At nine O'Clock exactly Sheriff
Brennan and Under Sheriff Joel o. Stevens entered
the cell and the cergymen came out and stood In
silence on either side OF the door.
THE PROCESS OF PINIONING THE ARMS
was submitted to by Foster with all meekness ana
the warrant was read. The face OF the doomed man
now resumed Its ashy paleness; the moose was rsp>
idly adjusted, with the knot un6er the left ear;
the black cap was placed loosely upon his head, and
the awful toilet for the gallows complete Fos-
ter was dressed In black frock coat, with Cardl<
gan jacket beneath, and black pants. The solemn
procession to the gall0ws was then formed. First
went
THE TREMBLING AND FEEBLE CONDEMNED,
supported on his left by sheriff Brennan and on
his right by Under Sheriff Stevens. The two cler|
gymen followed and then the Deputy Sherlds, two
and two
The sun had burst forth In all the genial light OF
his springtime splendor. White, neecy clouds
moved slowly across the deep blue Of the sky. A
gentle breeze was blowing. Not much of the
heavens it is true, could be seen from the prison
yard; but what was visible seemed
MocKERY OF THE AWFUL SCENE
about to be enacted. and with which the gray gran+
lite OF the looming prison walls was 80 much better
keeping. From the seats for the press the scene
was striking. The yard is long, but narrow, and
in north OF the male prison door it seemed packed
with human beings, to the number OF 500 or 600 The
policemen lined the walls south OF the scan0ld and
those across the yard, account OF their height,
cut or the view of most Of the curioHty-seekera
who stood behind. Ever and anon as the sun came
from behind = reecy cloud its erulgence glinted
over the throng Furnishing whatever was bright
with its glad rays. A strange silence prevailed,
which was first broken by
THE SOFT COOLING OF THE PIGEONS
which perched upon the windows and ventllatOrs Of
the prison. The crowd waited with hated breathe
1t was evident that the sacrifice OF life to law was
at hand At twelve minutes after nine the prison
door was suddenly opened, and DIR. Neais, the
Tombs surgeon, accompanied by his assistant, Drs
vandewater, and Drs Budd, Marsh and Robinson,
walked quickly to the side of the gallows The proc
cession now came slowly forth In the order already
described. Allow murmur, like wind among AutumR
leaves, passed over the thrOng. Every civilian
moved his hat, ana then silence reigned again!
The wretched mans face In the sunlight looked
yellowish white.
HE WALKED FALTERINGLY,
as II the strong arms OF the Sheriff and his deputy
were needed to help him His head dropped
upon his breast, and the black ribbons upon the
black cap nuttered little In the breeze. On
reaching the gibbet the man ON the verge Of
eternity was gently turned round % v face the
spectators. Lost to life he was, he did not seem
lost to shame, for he Immediately raised his left
hand to his face and shaded 1t by
RUBBING HIS BROws.
The Rev. DR.. Tying in clear voice, then coms
menced to read the Episcopal service for the con-
demned and the tall. spare, young minister gave the
responses. As the awful selfaccusing words were
recited the doomed man bowed his head still more.
At the end Of two minutes his weakness visibly
increased His limbs trembled as with palsy, and
FAINT BUT AGoNIzED GRoAN
escaped from his lips. His left hand still nerv0usly
rubbed over his eyes and his body began to sway
to and fro more painfully still. In gazing on his
agony the words of the service became an intOl-
cradle monotone. The strong frame OF the
man. broken with unutterable despair, as ID
swayed like q reed in the wind and tremI
bled in every nerve, excluded all things
else from the mind that could appreciates
the unspeakable misery rolled into those fast
ebbing moments Of his life. For five minutes the
reading continued, and Fosters weakness had so
increased that Sheriff Brennan whispered sharply
to DR.. Tying,
''Ir's TOO LONG,"
The reverend gentleman indeed brought the ser.
vice to o sudden close, and, turning quickly to
Foster, grasped his right hand and hurried away,
overcome with emotion followed by his assistants.
He who has stood by a gallows tree can alone
tell the nature OF the moment that follows when.
the clergymen gone, the imminence Of death
seizes one with enthralling awe. The seconds to
the on.looker seem whole minutes; bat to the con-
demned what are tneyf Sheriff Brennan went
through the hand -grasping formality. Ali was
done
AS ExPEDTIoUsLY AS POSSIBLE
to shorten the mlsery-that Is, to shorten the life.
for life then was misery almost too deep to bear.
The black cap was pulled over the face. tremor
ran through the miserable creatures lettering
clay. The executoner, q nimble-nngered, dark
eyed, stout built, medium sized young man. stepped
forward instantly and linked the to the rope
that dangled from the beam. A glance showed
that 1t still hung slack. One seconds pause In
perfect silence. q handkerchief waved, the sharp
sound OF falling axe, and at eighteen minutes
past nine
FOSTERS BODY FAIRLY LEArED INTO THE AIR.
The legs were jerked up to the body convulsvely.