Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-04-23
Seleeted Mistellanv.
EMMET'S EXECUTION.
STOCK

The Dublin Nation is publishing
sketches of the historical localities Of
that city, and from the last paper the
following is taken;
+" Far -ah how far remote from
| Heaven, from grace, from mercy, are the
thoughts stirred up in our minds when,
passing westward quarter of mile
along this line of street, we stand oppo-
site the old church of ST. Catharine's
A sleepy looking place. The stones Of
it are black with age.
The square, PANIED windows are almost
level with the front of the wall The
rails before it are tall and gaunt, look
ing almost, one might fancy, as if they
had been taken from the earth in that
condition, and needed no stroke or ham
mer, no skill or art, to put them into
serviceable shape. The one stone step
is frayed with the tread of generations.
TO the right grim belfry tower
only middle aged to all appearance, in
comparison with the church boasts a
drowsy clock on the side exposed to
view, and an old-fashioned wooden lat
lice on the top, Inside, the fancy strikes
cne, there are cobwebs in odd corners,
aud high, dim-lighted pews wherein apo
plectic Christians might find rcpose from
the burden of heavy sermon.
Such place, to look at it as we are
doing now, prompts the mind to thoughts
of nothing save good will and gentle
peace but the memory it fills with US is,
in truth of deed of blood never to be
forgotten 10 this land. Here in front Of
the church, two and seventy years ago,
in the flush of September day. when the
Irish sky was tender and the Irish air
was soft and sweet, the sentence of Brit
ish law upon the life of Robert Emmett
was carried into full effect.
One of his depots for munition Of war
the house now in possession Of Hanlp-
ton, Locdom d Co., and the yard to the
rear of it-stood opposite to the church
on the other side of the street, and hence
the spot was fixed Oh for sensational eff
feet by the instruments of power. Rude
was the gihbet that took the life Of Ire
lands gallant son Some barrels were
placed together 10 the middle Of the
street, and on these few planks laid
side by side formed platform lasting
enough for the bloody work in band -
From this platform rose two uprights,
and beam from one to the other up
held the hangman's rope, under which a
single plank, supported at the ends on
lodges, supplied the final foothold of the
victim.
When Emmett stepped out of the car
riagc that had brought him from Kill
mainhan Jail, he mounted the ladder al
most without assistance, though bis arms
were tightly bound His words to the
crowd, which included fellow students
not few, who had witnessed his brilliant
triumphs as an orator in Trinity College,
we're brief and camly spoken " My
friends" said he. :" / die in peace and
with sentiments of universal love and
kindness toward all men" Then he
shook hands with some men about him
gave his watch to the executioner, took
off his necktie, and helped to adjust the
rope around bis neck He was placed
upon the plank. The black cap was
drawn over his face.
A moment after he was seen TO lift up
his manacled hands, raise the cap as far
as be could, bend down toward the exc
cutioner and whisper. A thought bad
struck him. Standing erect, he held a
handkerchief in bis hand He wished to
dictate the instant Of his death by letting
the handkerchief fall. There was a pause.
Then the bangman spoke to him
Are you ready, sir p
Not yet" From under the hideous
cap the sound Of the words came muffled
Another pause. Dead silence all
around. No signal from the manacled
hand
Again: Are you ready, sir p
Not yet"
Alas it was too hard to give the sign.
A third time came the terrible ques-
ton: