The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-05
RUNK's DEATH.


HOW THE EXECUTION or HIS SENTENCE WAS
MADE SLOW PROCESS OF ToRTURE-A
HORRIBLE SCENE IN SAN FRANCISCO.
From tho san Francisco Bulletin, April 20l
Last night Runk slept but little, he said, getting
not moro than four hours sleep. He ut about
O'Clock this morning and took light breakfast Of
eggs. teass Father Mosweeney and two sis-
tors OF Charity visited him, and at about $3.50 his
mother and sister admitted to tho jail
permitted to SOC HIM. Tho meeting took place
in the SheriG's Office. whore the was
said to DO most affecting The mother ON
braced her boy with the greatest emotion, aud
soon became violent that tho officers had sep
srato them, fearing that she would do him vio-
lence. Runk wcpt and showed much emotion and
begged hts mother to DO calm aud 10 BIO broken
hearted At what about to take place. Ho then
allowed embrace his the interview WINS az
end II lasted not longer Than ten minutes, tho
officers fearing 10 allow tho family to be longer to-
gcthcE The mother and sister remained In The Jail
until about O'clock when thcy lett In a hack. ihe
Sisters Oi Charity ano Father McSwceney remained
with tho connemned youth IN his Cell, pray ing with
him and giving him what spiritual consolation they
could offer. Nobody was allowed TO enter the jail until
marched up IRON the CITY Hail anu those who had
passos 10 witness the execution were admitted.
just before the spectators entered the jail Runk
takcn up stairs TO tho condemned cell ut the end
OF tho balcony .he east ride OF The corridor
the platform mat had been erected across the north
END OF tho building. Hc walked up tho stairs with
nrm stop. and seemed to DO affected than any
ordinary VISITOR. rho gali0ws consisted OF beam
passed through two ven,iinlor holes near lhc roof
Jus. over the northern the gallery. Tho plat.
form rested upon tho railing o tho gallery, The drop
being In tho centre.
and increased every minute, until at 80 tho
Was we'll nea. Every thing was orderly, and
there noise or disturbance OF Any KIND.
Al 1:05 Sheriff Nunan with some depuI,cs On
tered cell and renamed with tho condemned
maa some time In the meantime the interior OF Tho
Jai' became filled with people, Of whom there were
Two hunarcd moro 10 witness tho execution. At
was Lett alone with Fathers Mcowceney and CAssloy,
the latter from Mission san Josc Ruuk appeared re-
signed and calm A. 1:35 the shcrin's deputies took
their pnccs on tho platform. but a promise mad boon
gwen to delay the execution as long possible, In
order 10 give the condemned overy chance.
A. LOT SherIn NuDan and those VINO mad boon with
Runk IN his cell came cut followed by the doomed
youth, who walked up the steps and took his stand
on tn. drop without iremor or movement of u m usclo
OF his iaco His had been strapped before ieav-
ing Tho cell, and there remained only tho labor Of
binding tho legs, adjusting the moose and drawing
being performed Rank stood calmly looking
nj The crowd Of witnesses, sometimes gianc-
Tho people In the corridor. There no change IN
expression denote any cm0tion but whom ghe
was placed about his neck be took dcop breath.
during time the priests wsro praying and thcir
low could DO plainly hoard. IL was said that the
condemned man uttered u lew responses, but no
movements OF thc lips could DO seen snort distance
away.
SIGNAL CUTTING ROPE.
Tho black cap drawn over tho Taco OF tho boy,
ami the mad hardly been lied when tho signal
was gwen aud she rope Was cut There Was snap,
sound as though tno bolt nad caught and mo drop
did not ial but In Tow seconds which seemed iko
an uRc to those Witnessed is, tho drup tcl Win
thud, aud Rank toll Ut just O'Clock.
Inc mad not been properly adjusted probably.
renamed under sne chin throw the head back
without breaklng thc neck For low seconds there
motion In The body, and then The hands began
10 work and tho body 70 sway with The struggles OF
strAnghDg youth. The chest heavcd aud gasps
could be plainly heard with the expulsion Of The DIR
from tho lungs tho victim underworld
to initiate them. The horrible,
aud many OF the spectators trcm0led IN evcvy
limb as they watched tho struggles OF Tho
boy At length the contortions ceased aud
Kuak MAS pronounced dcad, after hanging eight
n.inutea The knos the ropo found 10 have
slipped up but litte, II any, and two nngcrs could
have put between inc ropc and sho neck at any
time.
When she Witnesses emerged from the jail they
found front ha. building crowded tn
people, who nearly nilcd Tho block bctwo Montgom-
cry avenue kcarny streot rhore probsb y
not lar IRON thousand people gathorod together
that time to learn tho result and 10 hear what
might the last words OF the condcm nod " he spoka
al all. They were ANXIOUS 10 know how ho appeared
and exclaimed against the way IN which tho exccu
ton WAS performed.