The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1874-01-17

spot where Andre suffered. lkne OF
our men q believe his name was Arm
atrong) being one of the Oldest, and
best workmen at his trade iu NE regi
mcnt, was selected to make his coffin,
which he performed, and paintedS black
agreeably to the customs in thosgQ Qtimes
at this time Andre was confined { what
was called Dutch Church, u .smal |
stone building with only one dd baud
guarded by six scntinols, WhHn the
hour appointed for his execution ar
rived, which, I believe, was 2 o &3ock p.
NJ, a guard of three hundred mc1b were
paraded at the place of his conf 3oment.
A kind Of procession was forAned, by
placing guard in single file p each
side Of the road. In front were Ia large
number of American officers snf high
rank on horseback.
These were followed by II wagon
containing Andres coffin; thenB a larg c
number Of officers on foot, will Andre
in their midst. The procession{ moved
slowly up a moderately rising hill, [
should think about fou:th oS'a mile
to the west. On the top wSs field
without any inclosure. In thfis was a
very high gallows, made by scSting up
two poles, or chrochcts, and 'lrying a
pole on the top The wa Ion thTit con
tained the coffin was drawn diSEoctly un
der the ga!!ows. Ia short tirSc Andre
stepped into the hind end of thfe wagon;
then on his coffin; took off his hat, and
Land it down; then placed ttis hands
upon his hips and walked vorSS upright
ly back and forth, as far as tEie length
of his coffin would permit, at Sthe same
time casting his eyes upon he pole
over his head, and the wholG scenery
by which he was surrounded He was
dressed in what | should ckll ii CON
plete British uniform; his fSrt was Of
the brightest scarlet, faced trimmed
with the most beautiful gA:en. His
pnierclothes or vest and were
'Ebfighs2 buff. HoEbad a long and Beal
tiful head Of hair, which agreeably to
the fashion, was wound with black
ribbon, and hung down his. back
All eyes were upon h;m, and it is n 1t
believed, that any oihc,r OF the British
army. placed in his situation, would
have appeared, better than this uniortu
nate man.
'Nnt many minutes after he took his
stand upon the coffin the execution,
stepped into the wagon with a halter in
his hand, which he attempted to put
over the head aud around the neck Of
| Andre; but by sudden movement of
his hand, this was prevented. And c took
off his handkerchief from his neck, u
pinned his shirt collar, and deliberately
took the end Of the halter, put it over
his head, and placed the knot directly
under his right ear, and drew it very
snugly to his neck, He then took from
his coat pocket Il handkerchief, and tied
it over his eyes. This done, the Gcer
that commanded (his uamc have for.
gottcD spoke i'll rather loud vice,
aud said that his arms must be ried
Andre at once pul ed the handk4rc lief
he had just tied over his eyes, and lrew
from his pocket 4 second Que. AMI gave
1t to the exccutioncr, and then replaced
his handkerchief. His arms were tod
just above the elbows, and behind the
back. The ropo was then made fast to
the pole overhead. The wagon was
verp suddenly drawn from under the
gallows, which, with the length Of the
rope, gave him n most tremendous swing
back and forth; but in few minutes he
hung entirely still.
During the whole transaction he
appeared little daunted; but his coun-
tonanoe was rather pale. He remained
hanging, I should think, from twenty
to thirty minutes; and during that time,
the chambers OF death were never still
or than the multitud, by which ho was
surrounded. Orders were given to cut
the rope and take him down without
letting him fall. This was done, aud
his body carefully laid on the ground.
Shortly after the guard was with
drawn, and spectators were permitted
to come forward and view the corpse;
but the crowd was so great that it was
some time before could get an oppor-
tunity. When l was able to do this,
his coat, vest, and breeches were taken
off, and his body laid in coffin, COW