The New York herald., 1875-12-17
IN THE ToMBs LAST NIGHT.

IN THE ToMBs LAST NIGHT.
The aspect OF Murderers Row last evening vastly
different from what IL was midday AT the latter
hour It resembled fair on small scale. II only
wanted the accessories OF stalls and vendbles to make
the illusion complete. Well dressed men coming
and going chatting and smoking, surmsng, conjectur
ing hoping and fearing. Amid the motley group
could be singled out couple Of the then doomed,
Dolan and Weston They seemed as unconcerned
any OF the visitors Indeed the whole aspect Of the
place gave the idea of the preminaries Of poti
cal caucus.
On the upper tiers the numerous prisoners were
tramplng round, taking their exercise. All hustle
and life.
After dark all this changed The denizens Of the
higher regions OF the prison had all betaken themselves
to their cells and the only life evident was in Murder
ers Row, where the deputy sherifs hobnobhing
with each other in subdued tones and the wary officers
Of this sombre elysium keeping watch and ward
the three negroes who this morning viii IN
company to the scafod.
Upon entering Murderer's Row last evening ones
first thought naturally Of Doan; but, the Sis
ters Of Charity were engaged in prayer with him, he
could not be disturbed Ellis was, however, leaning
listlessly against the wall the entrance gate.
Upon being accosted he talked freely of his position,
laid the chief blame Weston and said that he hoped
he prepared. When asked what he thought OF the
stay Of proceedings in Dolans ne replied that be
he had 70 go himself he did not desire that any
else should 20 with him. that he knew his life
ended and that sufficient for him There not
a shadow of fear trepidaon In him as he said this
Warden Finley here gently touched the reporter on
the arm, ana informed him that John Dolan ready
TO see him. DoaE was peerng through the grating OF
his cell door He put two fingers out 10 touch the out
stretched hand OF the reporter and said with subdued
emotion:-"0h, sir, am thankful 70 God for this and
next TO him to my counsel Mr. Beach feel perfectly
happy" Now that the moose Is taken from OF tho
prisoners neck be securely locked up In his CELL
while the men who are TO be hanged this morning have
the free range Of onehalf Of Aurderers Row. From
the gloomy corridor the interior OF Doans cell looked
quite bright and lively. Several candles lighted,
a crucihx and Madonna were visible, and table a
basket of superb grapes
Not wishing to trouble Doan after the exhausting
emotions Of the day the HERALD reporter wished him
good night He then walked TO the end Of the row
and saw Weston with his wife and sister and EliIs'
forming kind OF Salvador Rosa group in the gloom.
Weston remembered the visitor and arose and shook
him by the hand Ellis was sitting. smoking cigar
with an air Of the greatest nonchalance. Weston's
sister made a remark Of a very pointed character.
"You had good warming" she said to him, "for your
mother took you TO see two men hanged at Toronto
when you were only seven years old Z" Weston looked
down, but made no reply All the difference between
then and nowl
Meanwhile preparations were going forward for the
last prayer meeting 10 be held with the condemned.
The Tombs ''harmonum" (strange antithesisl was
placed about the middle of the row, and everything
made ready for the last service.
While waiting in the condemned cell the attention OF
the reporter attracted 10 certain sounds
proceeding from the soil pipes which have sprung in
each cell He surprised, In place whore disci-
pne is supposed TO be rigid 70 find voices other
than those OF the keepers proceeding along the pipes
running between those unsavory oriacea
.'sixtecn" was shouted
"Well, twelveY"
care you going to States Prsoni'
oNoh
care your"
"Yesn
''For how lonp7n
t'Five years"
II would be possible to give q full quarter OF an
bours such conversation, distinctly audible IN the con-
demned cell What At arst personal and IN a
entertaining at last degenerated into the vlest
ribadry. This burned out like FIRE, and all was again
silent
Those who came TO attend the services for the
demnod negro Ellis passed the cell in which the re-
porter was seated IN Indian hle He followed them
They took up their position at the extreme end of the
row. the object Of their solcude Ellis taking his place
next 10 the HERALD man or all those taking part IN
the services the most unconcerped looking individual
Ellis himself He joined In the HYMNS now sing
ing the arr the bass part chapter from the Old
Testament and the third chapter OF ST. John read
70 comfort the condemned man, who looked though
he needed no such commodity short sermon was
Preached by the officiating minister coored T. A.
Davis upon sin and its penalty as well as upon the
mercy Of God This DONE really eloquent prayer
hortatons followed and the meeting having taken fare
well Of the culprt, finally dispersed While these
we're going forward Fathers Duranquet and
Barry miniserng privately 10 the spiritual wants
OF weston and Thompson.
APPRr1rE.
The last sounds Of hymn and exhortaton died away,
the deputaton Of colored brethren took their de-
parture and the unfortunate youth Ellis was let TO
muse upon the dread morrow Externally he was as
intrepid ever but his appetite had forsaken him.
He could face cup OF tea and piece Of toast
Total loss Of appetite In well knit healthy negro is
bad sign How will ho fass the beam and rope
Warden Finley IN talking to the reporter this point,
said was his experience that they generally stood 10
very well until the ropo put about their necks and
the cap their heals Then they usually gave way
There was something horrible In the stiffness which
pervaded the prison. The seemed heavy with death
The fingers Of the clock they moved silently round
seemed impelled by inexorable but patient fate.
Three men whose few last sands Of life were running
out and i've more on the first tier whose blood must
curdle At the vaedctory hymns sung for and with the
condemned negroes There Is something positively
sickenng In the thought And yet that same clock
will silently move round, hour By hour and
day by day, until the same similar
scene takes place IN the or some OF the
murderers up stairs. Seen Al II in that dismal
ed6ce last night blood guiluness ia, OF truth an
awful thing. Bat human life Il curious thingl These
M rec men win drop out Of existence to-day They will
be like pebbles thrown into ghty The
viii close over them. Murderer and murdered will soon
be forgotten In the eversweng tide Of sensatonS
Don't call this mOral,zng The Tombs ~ suggestive
place on the night before the execution Of three men
ON a signal from the Under Sheriff AZ ten O'Clock tho
Il