Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-10-04
TELEGR A PHI.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE aAzETTE.l
Execution of the Modoc Prisoners.

JACKSONVILLE, OREGON, Oct. 3.-The cor
respondent OF the Associated Press lett Fort
klamath this morning at l.30 o'clock, and
by hard riding arrived here late this evening
with the following report of the execution OF
Captain Jack and his band: Boston Charlie
and Black Jim were led on the scatfold first
aud Schonchin next. They trod gu it with APP
parent Indifference, having evidently resolved
to die as bravely as they have lived. Captain
Jack went leisurely up the stairway, but look.
ed wretched aud miserable. The manaclcs had
been struck off. but their arms were securely
pinioned with cords. At precisely 9.45 a. NJ.
the interpreters, Capt D. Z. Apologize and
David Hill, explained to the prisoners the ma
ture Of the order to be read to them by the
Adjutant, and at ten o'clock Adjutant Kings
bury read the order promulgatlug the sentence
of the commission and the Presidents order
thereon with the orders of the Secretary and
the Department Commander in the premises.
The two reprieved prisoners Burncho and Slo-
lux, stood on the ground In front of the scat
fold shackled and under guard. During the
| reading the piuiuned victims were seated on
the platform OF the scafod with their feet on
the drop listening anxiously, but, of course,
understanding not word of it. The reading
occupied ten minutes, when the Adjutant read
cho and Sioux, and the poor fellows were
taken back to the stockade, evidently rcjolced
at not accompanying the others to the happy
| hunting grounds. The Captain then offered
an earnest and tcrvent prayer for the souls OF
the culprits, which was listened to attentlveiy.
| At ten 0 clock aud fifteen minutes the fatal
houses were placed around their nccks under
the direction OF Captain Hoge. 1t was neces-
sary to cut off little Of Captain Jack 8 long
| hair, which was 10 the way OF the rope. Capt.
| Hoge then bid farewell to the prisoners and
| black caps were placed over the heads OF all
| the culprits At ten o'clock ard twenty mln-
utes they stood on the drop aud the rope Was
cut by an assistant at signal made with Capt.
| Hoge's handkerchief The bodies rupg round
aud round, Jack and Jim apparently dying
| easily, but Boston and Schonchin suffering ter
rible conyusions. Boston and SchoDchin re-
peatedly drew up their legs, but the others
seemed to die almost instantly. At ten o'clock
| and twenty minutes their bodies were felt
by Captain Hoge, and as this is being writ
ten they are swinging feless in the air.
As the drop fell with terribly deadly
thug four poor wretched human beings fell
into eternity, and half smothercd cry OF hor-
ror went up from crowd of over five hundred
klamath Indians who witnessed the awful spec
tacle. w ais OF uecp duu UlltLeT anguish WeuI
| up from the stockade where the wives and chill
dren Of the poor fellows had fair view Of the
scene. The cotins, six in number had been placed
directly in the rear Of the gallows, two Of them
destined to be unoccupcd as the order commut-
ing the sentences of Buncho and Sioux only
arrived at 1920 o'clock last evening aud prep
arations had been made for their execution
with the others. An application was made
this morning to General Wheaton by the Sher-
iff of Jackson county, Oregon, for the custody
Of the Indians Indicted by the grand jury Of
that State, bnt it was refused.