The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-09-29

crowd had doubled and fear. were on.
tertained that they would break down
the bridge leading over the Jail ward.
Tor TINS reason, and lest some one
should Be Injured her by. Sheriff Wyc-
Xon admitted about Two hundred per-
ons. and then ordered the lates closed
while the spectators were crowded into
portion Of the jail yard upon a high
bank that overlooked the gibbet. The
scaftold stood eight feet from the ground
and was built on a platform l6xls
square. At last the front door opened
wlth clanking sound. and. with a cler-
gyman on either side of him.
THE CONDEMNED MAN
Approached With a step that showed
no faltering. His hat was sIouched
over his face and his head bowed, but
he never did walk very erect. DR.. Mac
he was on his right hand and Mr.. Bag.
ley on his left. He gazed quietly at the
crowd and assembled the scaffold with
wonderful calmness There is hardly
an execution nowadays, but the crimi-
nal has to be fortified with liquor. Not
a drop crossed John Thompso lips
He was too well nerved for that. As
they reached their places on the scat
fold. the Sheriff pushed bin gently on
the trap and then proceeded to read the
death warrant. This concluded. he
asked Thompson if he had anything 20
say before execution. The doomed man,
having cast aside his useless hat, said:
II call Geo 10 witness that, though |
killed Baxter. l did 50 merely in self
defence. | intended no murder. and If
| had been given "a fair trial | would
not b. here. | forgive all my enemies
As pray 10 be forgiven myself. May
God forgive my merc,lcss prosecutors
and enable them
TO MEET DEATH
AS meet it. believe in the
mercy of Almighty God, and pray that
he will pardon all my sius." The
speaker ceased, end Rev. ID. w. Mactie
offered up fervent prayer for the
parting s1ul. When he had finished,
the prisoner himself made a brief
prayer. full Of eloquent fervor, and
concluded by singing two or three
lines Of a we'll known hymn. The pale
face now grew paler as the voice
ceased; and strong men began to bow
their heads and avert their eyes from the
dreadful spectacle. The Sheriff shook
hands with his prisoner and pinioned
his hands and legs. He drew the
black cap over his face. adjusted the
fltal moose "a the prisoner murmured.
Lord Jesus, receive my soul" There
came q clanking sound. and the trap
fell. The wretched man had passed
OVER TIE DARK RIVER.
Whatever his past life had been, he
died with calmness that was appalling
in its hcroism. Sheriff Wyckof GER
tainly deserves credit for giving him
painless death, as near as possible. fer
his feet barely moved and some Of the
spectators thought they heard faint
groan. His neck was instantly broken
and life was speedily extinct. His
written statement is III the hands of
Rev. ID. w. Mactic, who will doubtless
give it publicity. Some say that be be-
longed to the Molly Maguires" in
Pennsylvania, but Of that we know
nothing. The man is gone and his sins
are expiated on earth. If the act was a
deliberate one. he died by the will of
God. as interpreted according to the
justice of men. II it was committed in
self defence, as he persisted up to his
last moment on earth, this execution
was foul blot upon our boasted civil
cation. Let him rest