The Van Buren press., 1874-03-17

comfort from lne Wetu' W. opO"""5 y"
him in reference to the boquet he had re
celved, he said that women were the best
friends a man had that they stuck to
fellow to the last. He seemed TO think
that he had generally been favorite win
them. He also said that he had no hopes
of any good coming of
his MOTHERS VISIT
to see Gov. Baxter at Little Rock. lie
was cool and self possessed but his lace
occasionally betrayed his feelings by
twtehings around the mouth and eyes.
During the morning he had written let
ters to all his brothers. Our reporter
put no leading interrogatores, as he was
given to understand that
lie WOULD ANSWER NO QUESTIONS;
that if he had anything TO say he would
volunteer it, He occasionally fingered
his rings, and looked critically at them
and the effect they made on his hand.
The deputy sheriff and our reporter then
left to return again just before he was to
be taken to the seatfold. The hour was
to be eleven some had suggested twelve,
ana otners one, uur M response TO sn
inquiry as to which he would prefer,
lie SAID, ELEVEN.
On coming out upon the street We
found the crowd steadily increasing, the
balconies filed with women and children
At near III o clock the deputy sheriff and
ministers and reporters once mole as
cended the jail stairs. "A wagon drawn
by two bay horses and containing
THE COFFIN,
which was covered with black cloth,
made its appearance. A guard of one
hundred men closed around and waited
patiently for the descent Of the prisoner.
Wallace was found engaged (aceording
to the divines) in prayer. AS soon as he
had finished he entered He was seated
as before on his bed. His hand cuffs and
anklets were then taken off by Kline, the
former unlocked, and the latters' bolts
severed by a cold chisel. Sid said he be-
leved he would put on clean shirt, but
he wasn't particular He changed his
shirt, however, put on a clean pair OF
stockings, brushed himself thoroughly
tied his cravat, wanted his boots BACKED,
but they had no backing there. lie
then said
"wELL, AM READY J!
and sat down. The Rev, Mr.. Burrows
then offered up on impressive prayer,
nearly all present kneeling and Wallace
sitting on the bed with bowed head. On
the conclusion Of the prayer Mr.. Bur
rows sang a hymn The whole party
then descended the stairs. Deputy Kline
with his hand under Wallaccs arm sup
porting him Sid was
DRESSED VERY NEATLY
in black coat, pants and vest-coat with
velvet collar-soit black felt hat, and low
shoes. On arriving at the door
the wagon was ready. Wallace jumped
lightly on the front seat With him was
Kline, and deputy sherifls Littlepage and
Wilson The elergymen, sat on the cof-
fin. The press representatives, followed
the vrgon on foot, the guards forming a
hollow square escorted the party to the
scafiold. Wallace sat with his face turn
ed full on the crowd, and looked cool
and defiant.
AT TIE sCaFFoLp.
The wagon halted, and Wallace to gcthel
with the Deputy Sheriff, DR.. Paine, Dr.
Burrows, and the reporters, mounted the
scaiTold. Sid sat down facing the court
house, and with his back to the majority
of the crowd. Deputy Sheriff Kline .hen
read
THE DEATH WARRANT.
All on the scaito!d then kn'eled with
heads uncovered, while DR.. Paine ofierca
up prayer The crowd and guards
stood silent, their barred heads bowed,
while the man of God prayed for the
condemned mans sins and his soul S
salvation.
wALLACE's BRIEF SPEECH.
Wallace, on being asked if he had any
thing to say, said he had He then jump
ed up and facing the crowd spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen: Most Of you came here
to-day expecting a good long talk,
have no confession to make to men, but
to God ! die in defense Of myself and
my friends, and only regret not having q
dozen deaths to die in that cause
All on the platform then shook hands
with him and said
"GooD BY"
His hand had very little grip and was
limp Sheriff Kline now put on the cap,
which was of black velvet, the two other
deputies having hand on each shoulder.
His hands were then shackeled behind
him and his legs pinioned at the knees
and ankles Rev Dr. Burrows-who had
left the scaffold- hurried up the steps and
whispered in Sid's ear, who Immediately
cried out Lord, remember me! Lord
remember me, when thou art in thy king
DOM" Deputy sheriff Kline then sprung
the trap, and Sid Wallace was
LAUNCHED INTO ETERNITY,
to meet his last judge and receive his fn-
al sentance. There were two or three
convulsive motions, the hands clinched,
his feet swayed to and fro, and the body
continued to tremble for sometime In
about fifteen minutes the hands became
cold and livid After he had been hang.
ing twenty five minutes DR.. j. p. Mitch.
ell and two other physicians examined
the body They found the pulse pulsat
ing quite strongly. Atthrty minutes all
huttering had ceased and thirty-fve min
utes after the drop fell he was
PRONOUNCED DEAD