Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-02
,,o.s Gazette Il Virginia Advertiser.
E,lNET'S EXECUTION.

EMMET'S EXECUTION.
Tb. Dublin Nation is publishing sketches OF
H.. historical localities Of that city, and irom The
l,., paper the following is taken:
r'r-ah how far remote from Heaven, from
grace, from mercy, are the thoughts stirred up
~ our miuds wheu, passing westward quarter
n y mile along this line of street, We staud op-
,,.;,p the old church of ST. Catharine. a sleepy
,ot;re place. The stoucs OF it are black with
The SQUARE paned windows are almost level
u1b the front of the wall The rails before 1t
ors rail- aud gaunt, looking almost. one might
iancy as ii they had been taken from the earth
in that condition, and needed 20 stroke OF ham
mer no skill of art to put them luto servlcea-
Me shape. The one stone step is trayed With
the tread of generatlons
To the right grim betry tower--only mid
die aged to all appearance, 10 COMPARISON with
the church boasts drowsy clock Oh the side
.yposcd 10 view, and an old fashioned wooden
lattice on the top. Inside, ,slhe fancy strikes
one, there are cobwebs 10 odd corners. aud
blvh, diu-ighted pews wherein apoplectlc
r,rstiaus might fud repose 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 men
ory il fills us With is, 10 truth, OF deed OF
blood nevcr more to be forgotten IN this land.
Here in front of the church, two and seventy
wears ago, 10 the flush Of Septem Der day,
when the Irish sky was tender, and the Irish
air was soft aud sweet, the sentence OF Brush
law upon the lite OF Robert Emmet was carried
iuto full effect.
One of his depots for munition of war-the
house now in possession OF Hampton, Loedom
4 Co., and the yard 10 the rear OF it-stood op-
posite TO the church on the other side OF the
street, and hence the spot was fixed on tor SEN
sa,iona effect by the instruments OF power.
Rude was The gibbet that took the life OF Ire.
lands gallant 500. Some barrels were placed
together 10 the middle Of the street, ,and on these
q few plauks laid side by side formed platform
lasting enough for the bloody work IN hand.
From this platform rose, two uprlghts, and
beam from one..to the other upheld. the hang
mans rope, uuder which single plank, sup.
ported at the ends on lodges, supplied the hnal
ioothoId Of the victim.
When Eumet stepped out ofthe carriage that
had brought him from kluainham Jail, he
mounted the ladder almost without assistance,
though bis arms we're tightly bouod. His words
TO the crowd, which included fellow students not
few, who had Witnessed bis brilliant triumphs
as an orator 10 Trinity College, we're brief,aud
calmly spoken "My trieods," said be, II 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 walch
to the execu,ioner, took off his neektie, and
helped to adjust the rope around his neck. He
was placed upon the plank. The cap Was drawn
over his face.
A moment after he was seen to lift up his
mauaced hands, raise the cap as far as be
could, bend down toward the ex.cutioner and
whisper. a thought had struck him. Standing
erect, he held Handkerchief in his hand. He
wished to dictate the instant of his death by
letting the handkerchief fall. There was a
pause Then the hangmau spoke to him:
"Are you ready, sir p
mot yet" From under the hideous cap
the sound of the words came mufi Id.
Another pause Dead silence all around.
No sigual from the manacled hand.
Again: Are you ready, sir z
mot yet"
Alas it was too hard to give the sligo.
a third time came the terrible question
"Are you ready, sir p
The great spirit lowered futeriugly on the
verge of the unknown life.
mot" -
Ere another word could be said, the plank
vas tilted off, and presently all was over.
Al was over with gallant Emmet, but not
yet with his sentence. The dead body was
taken down and bcheaded the head, grasped
BY the halr, was carried around the platform
BY the exccutioneer who cried out to the hor-
rlied people '"rhis is the head OF Robert
Emmet, traitor y Ay, traitor to the alien,
with his store of brbes and torments but loyal
10 the cause of his native land The hero's
blood streaming down from his headess body
was Tapped up by the dogs OF the street, but men
and women also come to the scene of that bru-
tai spectacle, and. coming, they dipped their
handkrrchicis in that martyrs blood for rever-
euial memory of his name. His body, taken
tak to kimainham jail, lay waiting for bis
trends to claim it.
Friends What friends? His father had
b'co dead for moths. His mother, by the
mercy of God. passed out from life of grief a
day or two before himself. His brother was be-
youd the ocean. The brave men whose hearts
were with him we're safe in British jas, and
those outside who would have done honor to
his clay were too fearful to speak or move, so
full Of dismay and terror was the time" He
WAS ourled 10 Duly ac[e' q graveyard useu
tor Criminals aud paupers.
1t is thought that his remains were in secret
aud by night removed to St. Michan's church.
yard, and that a very large slab, with no 10
scription upon it, which is laid along grave
about midway op the left hand side Of the walk
from the church to the wall at the extremity OF
the graveyard, marks the spot where lie the
ashes of him who said "Let my tomb remalD
uniuscribed, until other times and other men
can do justice to my character.
nISSOLUTION