The New York herald., 1876-12-03
EXECUTION OF A FIGHTING NAN.
LAST MoMENTs-scENEs AT THE GALLONS.
From the San Francisco Post, Nov. "a.

LAST MOMENTS-SCENES AT THE GALLONS.
From the San Francisco Post, Nov. "a
MODESTO, Cal, Nov. "a, 1876.
At nine O'Clock last night Rev. Father Kcardon left
Collins alone his cell after giving him the holy CON-
munion. Collins went Immediately to bed and rose at
half-past five this morning. after comfortable night,
during which he slept toeraoly we'll Father Reardon
was with him again at six O'Clock and stayed with him
until eight, when Collins sat down 10 breakfast eating
with excellent appetite. He still refused 10 be
by any but the clergyman and jail officials Father
Rcardon states that died pcnitcnt and says ho
prepared for death. Ho was litlo nervous
black clothes and shirt taken in him at eight
O'Clock, and he put them on without betrayng any
emotion. At hafpast ten your correspondent was al
lowed to him IN his CELL Ho was quiet and collected
in manner, except that his hands were slightly
tremuIous. Father Reardon was with him, and the
table was prayer book and gold cruc1x. Collins
htto and pressed the few visitors to take
o cigar each, a full box being the table. He rs a
short man. about live feet IN height neither stout nor
slender with we'll shaped face; has pleasant ex-
prcssion ordinarily and during the interim bore him.
sell bravcly He wore brown Iausache, and his
dark hair grew rather low on his forehead Accord
ing to lai,ers testimony he is OF the pleas
the world 10 get along with. He did
wish mis- iathcr, who rs living IN tho East, TO know
anything OF his death, but finally desired to have
Father Kcardon write that he was dead, without CIV
ing particulars. Collins wns
DEsrERApo BY rAsrx.
For some years he has worked dcckhand tho
Sacramento and San joaquin river steamboats,, and
when not ut work spent his timo around barrooms
loadny, drinking ana quarreling. In company with
Mexican Emanuel Burgcon, he was almost terror
in tho towns along the river being powerful, un-
scrIpuous, unprinciplcd and quarrcsome bully
Quite number OF visitors IRON stockton and other
towns in tho vicinity are IN town TO attend tho "neck
ito party Inc natives facetously term the hang
Ing Sherins Harry Morse and Tom Cunnin gham. tho
yascucz capurers, here with their fellow WORKER
Sheriff Harris, oil Santa Clara The hanging is the
universal topic. and, while every talks Of it,
pressons oi pity ior tho condemned men are rare.
At haipast eleven no left the cell, accompanied by
Sherin Rogers aud Father Reardon, and walked
through the hall to The room adjoining tho Jail yard
lie walked with sprlnsy, rolling gaii and seemed
cool and composed. He sat down beside the father
while the death warrant was read, betraying emo
ton and making no movcmont-his hands being
strapped his slde-beyond bending forward once aud
kissing tho cruclfx the priest held 'front.' When tho
warrant read he and walked the steps to
the scafold with the same springy step and
composed demcanor. Arrived at ihc platform hc
stepped upon the trap and looked the sheriff in tho
face. He was placed wrong on the trap and at sign
from the Shcrii turned In different direction, facing
the walls. lie had only wrist straps the time, and
others were quickly adjusted around his eicows,
pnning them TO his sdcs his thighs and ankles
also pnoncd. While ih,s was going on hc was repeat
prayers after Father Rcardo saying them hurricdy
ana nervousiy lie bore up we'll however, and showed
signs OF weakness. A few moments amer the Sheriff
took down tho rope which hanging to side, and
xcd tho Knot under Collins lett car. lie turned and
WHISPERED NOT TO MAKE 1T TOO TIGHT;
then looked UP at the bright blue sky and sad
nothing more II was evident that he did not desire
say anything and he therefore mot asked. Tho
seventeen minutes TO twelve Sheriff Rodgers taking
out his penknfo CT the cord that held up the weight
| on the bolt The trap opened with harsh, grating
sound, and
THE DOOMED NAN rgLL THROUGH.
There was slight twiich!?G and contraction OF tho
muscles OF tho body, but that was all anu alter two
| minutes not tremor was noticeable There were Two
4 physicians (Drs Jackson and WiIhte) Present, and
they notcd pulse, which gradually decreased Tor
ten minutes and alter that time II was no longer per-
] ceptibc. Ten minutes OF waiting followed,
during which time the coffin, OF plain red wood,
brought IN and placed TWO chairs. A, five minutes
| past twelve o'clock the body lowered and carried
By tue coffin, Iaid IN the Id and examined
by the physicians. Thc cap was taken OF ana the lace
| found very mucn d,scolorcd Tho neck was broken,
and therefore death must have been instantaneous
deaD ridge visible aii around The neck where the
rope had cnclrcod H. .Altor tue examination
Tnk HopY WAS PLACED IN rhK COFFIN
and given TO Father Reardon Tor ncrment, according
10 Collins request About thirty y-nvc people were
present in the yard AZ the execution and quite crowd
gathered the outside. but having no permits, could
nothing The man did bravcy and with no cxhib-
ton OF praggadocia. He thirty-fiyo years and
n native ireland.