The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-08-18
.ERREpRFSsIRLE DR.. BAScuM

l3RREPRESSIBLE DIR. BASCTM.
Il GREAT DAY TN EAST TFNNES-
6EE-TfEE EXECUTION or TIE
MURDERERsS, WEBB, BRRRYAED
UONBYOUTT- WHY TT SHOULD
HA YE TAKEN PLACE on SEP
.ARATE DAYS.
MARYynLE, Tenn, Aug. Is. 70.
To the Editor Of tbs. Norrsssova a>zesses
Dear brother John. this has IN
doubtedly been a great day for re-
joicing, throughout East Tennessee.
Tens of thousands OF souls made hap
Ply in one day. by witnessing the
deaths by hangingl Of two or three
OF their fellow-men. A long train OF
cars left this place for Knoxville.
crowded with living human beings,
to witness the death OF John Webb,
and happier set, apparently. 1t has
never been my misfortune to see. l
tell you. sir. this is big day. 1t
beats your 22nd of February, the
day upon which George Washington
and his little Ratchet were born, all
hollow, and the 9Th of January, the
day upon which General jackson
gained such q victory over John Ball
at New Orleans, is forever laid in
the shade by this, the 18th day of
August, 1875. And the 4th of July,
the day upon which the Declaration
oeIndependence of the United States
was declared, and the day which has
been celebrated by the American
people for ninety-nine years, is for
ever n fear) obliterated by this, the
18th day of August.
tell you, John, this is a day long
to be remembered by East Tennes-
scans, and this day will. no doubt.
be celebrated for the next hundred
years to come. Scores of people
went to Knoxville to-day who, owing
to bad health, have not been to
preaching for months past. Many
church members went from this place,
paying eighty cents for the trip, who
have not given as much as tifty cents
in the last Eve years for Gospel pur-
poses. and many will pay more to-
day for the privilege Of seeing poor
soul launched into eternity than they |
have paid for the last five years to
have the Gospel preached to dying
sinners. But then, this is nothing, /
when we take into consideration the |
fact that another holiday is added to /
the list, for the benefit of East Ten I
nesseans.
But, John. quite an error has been I
committed 10y those having control
Of the hanging powers. We might I
inst rs well have had two more bully |
holidays added to each year during
the next hundred years, as to have
had this one. Three men are TO he
hung in East Tennessee today, when
they SHOULD have been hung on sep
arate days. These things should be
cooked after. and it is to be hoped
hat our authorities win hereafter
pay more attention to the interest of
he people. And then, again, all
his hanging on one day is not Civ
ng the railroads half chance. Our
country has been flooded with COM
half-fare tickets to the
hanging Of John Webb for several I
lays; and il the other two hangings
lad been set for other days be-
sides this, we would probably have
vent to them also, thereby patron
zing the different railroads, and hay
ng a day of joIlificatton also. This
8 certainly a grand treat to the chris
ian portion Of our community. who
ire generally too unweil to attend
preaching. and when they do attend,
heir financial condition is such that
hey can only give one nickle for the
airport Of their preacher, for Mis-
,ionary purposes, and for the Cos
,el generally. But this is big day,
Tohn. and viii not soon be forgotten.
Yours, as ever,
rnvrno u