Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-20
Met His Deserts.

FONDA, April 20-This community has bs,n
greatly excited over the crimes of Sam Steeu.
bergb, who was convicted Of the murder cfa
falm:r banned Jacob S. Parker, 10 Ncvenb.r
las. Steeubergh is very black and powerful,
He was oearly Fix feet high, formed like an
athlete, and weighed about lS5 pounds. Ply.
sicslly be was almost perfect. Almost all CT he
time sine, be wss OLD enough 10 drink wbiskev
be has been drunk, aud SO seldom was be without
doing some evil thing, his accompi: hucp.
running all the way from petty lhie7lug to
murder. A bull neck, great lower i.v. lie.
ofremarkable thickness even for 50 fun boodrd
negro as be, low forehead ard Iurkiop eyes that
always sought the ground. were the danger sr
pals nature had huug out on him. He hal
four brothers and as many sisters, apd very bai
as some Of the boys were. be Was the VOLS Of
all. He was 10 tie peoitentary eighteen
times before be was thirty tt rec years DID, II.
had perpetrated at least dozen murders.
1t was feared that when he should be tsk.o
out for exc cutioo yesterday that he would ua. ca
desperate resistance. THURSDAY h, va, 10 Z.
great slate of nervous excitement.
Carpenters were at work creclng a li.h
fercs to enclose yard back Of the all ani pu
ting up the gao~s. Every souou reached tie
condemned mans ears, and he became at one
time furitus. Thursday ni2ht bis moods alter
mated. At one moment he laughed sang sli
snapped bis 6ogcrs a. though jutiIsltly n :lf.r
ent. A moment afterwards he raved ,tbreatcneG
and delivered cstbs His religious procI VIII.
have been rather vague; u1tI Thursday tie
Methodist cIergymeu, the Dutch Reform d.
and the Roman Catholic. al visited h!u sut
had hopes ct hin.
Last Sunday morning he called the Warleu
| to his eek, s'ood smoking meditsively Ilr;Ie
and remarked: God only koows whtr: Ill b.
next Sunday. I've bean bad niger !
ought to have died Thirty years sgo." Tn
ccly beiog for whom be manifested any stt.e
lion was bis iegitimate daughter, Suie, VIII
| is not eleven years old.
There was an immense crowd present al h.,
execution yesterday. Hc met bis fate resigo
eddy and died easy.
Tickets to about 500, iocluiiog about fl :
| for ladies. were issued, giving admittsnce 10
the Jail yard where the execution took place
| An immense crowd gathered outside. occcp,
| log the house tops aud other poInts OF ots''v'
ton. Cries of hang the tieger." brior hiN
out, and the likewere FIR qucnt. At ll:3DJ { 'ock
the procession from the jail was f1rmed, led b.
Rev. Father Lowry and the sheriff. Sam.
came close behind betWeeu Two coostabes -
Rev. Father Lowry offered prayer. when Ssw
asked: Can see my little erI?' lie ks" al
the cross il, lis feet sud haud,
were beiog pinioned. he looked trouble;
although upright aud brave. The DEAF
warrant was read. aud Sam, wheo ask
il he had aoythiog to say. replied ''f'lr
where is those young people that suns then.
uice hgmus; Id Xix, to hear them" Tul,
being refused, he said 10 low voice: "Tna.
confession, | said it from heart At 20.
the Moose was &C ,sted, and San. spoke aeao,
saying: Il say there has been worse meD hon.
than me-" lie requested the moose to b
drawn up higher, The crowd hooliog ou'sli
meanwhile. After that he moved his bps =.
if 10 prayer, Father Lowry standing c!osa b.
side bin and praying constantly. Just b:tr~
the adjustment of the black cap he recognlz o,
his counsel 10 the crowd and called OUT, "iioI
10, Mr. FISH" lie kept up running fire T."
question:. As the cap was drawn down IL
wanted to koow how long the law allowed ye'.
etc. His last words were Hurry up. e.!
forgive my sins for Jesus slke." Just at
o'clock be WIS swuug into the air. lie swuo.
f,rward acd upward swiftly asd fell with 4
thud. He raised bis nbs six or seven umS
withio the first two minutes, and in ten uionte-
thereafter he was dead. His neck was brok u.