The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-02-22
Pathetic ScaHold Scene.

A writer in the New York Times, in
recountlng some of the notable execu-
lions which have occurred in this coun-
try, details the following: Speaking
OF courage, the bravest man | ever saw
beneath the gallows-beam was a negro
named Hawkins, who was hanged here
IN the Iombs many years ego, when
Brenann was sheriff. Hawkins had been
cook on schooner trading between New
YoTk and New Orleans. The captain of
the schooner was savage, malicious
brute, tyrant, who uniformly maltreat-
ed his crew, and took especial delight in
torturing the darkey cook, telling him
on the deck every time he could reach
him, kicking him DOWN hatchway into
the hold, ETC., and FINAL Y climaxed his
cruelty by threatening to sell him as q
slave upon the arrival o. the vessel at
New Orleans. That was before the war,
and Hawkins knew that down south he
had TO rights that the captain could or
would be made 10 respect He was a
free man, and had in New York wife
and child dear to BIN. The thought of
being sold as a slave maddened him In
desperation he seized a Ratchet, rushed
upon the captain and literally chopped
his head to little pieces Then, resign
ing himself to any late, be quietly sub
nit ed to be ironed and brought back
here to trial, condemnation and death
In arr properly organized state of So
ciety he should have teen rewarded and
honorcd Tor Kidding the world of a mon
ster When he was doomed to die,
preachers of several denominations visit
ed him and tried to pluck him as brand
from tie burning, a. it were, but he de-
clined having anything to do with them.
There was 3 STARTING point where he and
they differed. They all told him he must
primarily repent of what he had done,
and that he respectfully but firmly re-
fused . do. In his soul he know that
he had done rightly, and he would not
give The lie to his own manhood and the
sense OF justice God had implanted in
him, even TO WIN heaven.
And so the time wore on until the day
set for his execution, the preachers still
occasionally taking an argumentative
hack at him, more to keep in practice,
however, than with any hope OF soften
ing his obdurate heart Under the
gallOws- beam, when the sheriff asked him
if he had anything to say, ! g replied,
Yes, with your PERMISSION. ID. Sheriff
and gentlemen, | have 1nen he went
on speaking for some twenty minutes,
not weakly spOlOgiziDg for what be had
done, scarcely even abiding % himself,
but pleading earnestly with bis whole
soul lor reform in the merchant ser
vice by which masters and mates should
be restrained by law from the exercise
of their mercilass tyranny upon the I'M
fortunate poor men out with them on
the waste Of waters under their despotic
control, He knew his subject well and
spoke from his heart. Could be but
feel, he said, that his death would call
public attention to the monsJrous abuses
of roWer in he merchant service he
would die joyously. His voice was firm,
his hand steady, not a culver of Up or
eyelid betrayed a lurking fear of death.
But there were tears in the eyes of
nearl y every man who heard him, for
none could help plying the noble and
gallano fellow. When his speech was
done, lie turned to the sheriff, and, with
an eas7 bow and placid smile, said:
Now, .1r. Sheriff, | am at your service
Tears rolled down Brennan's cheeks as
he gave the fatal signal with his hand
kerchief, and in few moments Hawkins
was corpse. | recall no historic death
of men Of proud rank and glorious
names worthier of one about to demand
approval from his God than the step
from earth to immortality taken by that
poor black man."