Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-10-17
Execution Of Capt. Jack and His As
sOcintes.

| AN Associated Press dispatch of Octo.
Der thus describes the incidents attend
ing the execution of Captain Jack and
/ his associates:
| At precisely AS a. M, the interpreters.
| Capt. o. c. Applegate and David Hill, ex-
| planned TO the culprits the nature of the
order TO be read to them by the Adjutant,
and at 10 a. m. Adjutant Kingsbury read
| the orders promulgating the sentence of
the Commission and the Presidents order
therein, with the orders Of the Secretary
of War and the Department Commander
in the premises.
General Davis order had directed that
| they be executed the day after their cap
| ture, but its execution was prevented by
instructions from Washington TO hold the
| prisoners until further orders. The friends
| of the peace policy in Washington raised
the question whether the Modocs could be
legally tried by military commission.
The point was made that General Candy
was not acting as commander Of the mill
itary forces but as Peace Commi isaioner,
and, therefore, military commission
could legally take cognizancc Of the
crime that the killing of Captain Thomas
and the other officers and soldiers should
be viewed as an act of war, being per-
formed while the parties were engaged in
hostilities. These objections, however,
were overruled by the President and a
military commission tried the murderers,
and condemned them to be hanged.
The two reprieved prisoners, Barncho
and Slotuck, yet stood on the ground in
front of the scaffold, shackled and under
guard. During the reading the pinioned
victims were seated on the platform of the
scaffold, which consisted of uprights about
seven feet high, surmounted by cross
beam thirty feet in length. The platform
was set on pine poles, eight feet below the
beam, solid at the back, and, with a hing
ed drop on which all were seated, with
their feet on the drop, listening anxiously,
but of course, not understanding a word
of it, The reading occupied ten min
utes, then the adjutant read the order OF
Communication in the case of Barncho and
Slotuck, which was issued on the ground
that they were merely acting under Capt.
jacks orders in what they did. The
poor fellows were taken back to the stock
ade, evidently happy at not accompany
ing the others to the happy hunting
grounds.
The collins, six in number had been
placed directly in the rear of the gallows,
two of them destined to be unoccupied,
as the order committing the sentences of
Barncho and Slotuck only arrived at 10 80
last evening, and preparations had been
made for them likewise.
The chaplain then offered an earnest
and fervent prayer for the souls of the
culprits, which was listened to attentive
ly. At 1915 the fatal nooses were placed
around their necks, under direction of
Capt. Hoge. 1t was necessary to cut off a
little of jacks long hair, which was in
the way of the rope.
Capt. Hoge then bid farewell to the
prisoners, and the black caps were placed
over the heads of all the culprits. 1t must
have been an awfal moment
At 1920 they stood on the drop. The
rope was cut by the assistant at signal
made by Captain Hoge's handkerchief.
The bodies swung round and round, Jack
and Jim apparently dying easily, but
Boston and Schonchin suffering terrible
convulsions Boston and Schonchin re-
peatedly drew up their legs, but the two
others seemed to die almost instantly.
AT 1928 their pulses were felt by Cap
tain Hoge, and as | write they are swing
ing lifeless in the air.
AS the drop fell with terrible deadly
thug four poor wretched human beings
fell into eternity, and a halfsmothered
cry of horror went up from the crowd of
over 500 Klamath Indians who witnessed
the awful spectacle Walls of deep and
where the wives and children of the poor
fellows had a fair view of the shocking
scene.
An application was made this morning
by the sheriff of Jackson County for the
custody of the Indians indicted by the
was Refused. " ''' -