The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1879-12-31

John Smith, the son Of . farmer st
Malon, in the East Riding Of York.
shire, went up to London when young,
served an apprenticeship with . packer
in the city, and afterwards worked - q
journeyman With the same master. He
then went to sea. first in the jeffrey
galley. merchant ship. and sfterwsrda
in the Triumph. secocd rate man Of
war. commanded by Admiral Graydou.
He was is the famous expedition againss
Vigo. in the War Of Succession, when
Sir George Rooks. With the combined
British snd Dutch flests. attacked the
French feet and Spanish ealleys. in
that port on the 18th OF October. 1862.
and besides destroying many Of the
men of-war captured several. making
prize OF abundance Il plate and other
valuable effects. Being discharged on
his return from that expedition. he soon
spent oil flts prize money and finding
himself in lack ct funds to support
himsslf like . gentlemen. - he had
done 20 long - his money lasted. he
enlisted a. q private soldier In Lord
Colts regiment Of guards, under Capt.
Swan. In this station be found Ais
psy insuficieVt 10 meet bic extra vagant
expenses, and consequently needed lit.
tie persuasion, on the part Of some dis
soluts compositions. to engage IL sys-
tsmstic hsuse- breaking. Many were
tho depredstions he and his mates
committed before hs fell isto the hands
Of justice. But at length. on the 5th
Of December. 1895. be WAS indictsd st
the Old Bailey for stealing fifty psirs Of
mems shoes from William Cox. near
Lesdsnhall Market. The jary found
him guilty OF this indictment and the
Court pronounced sentsnce of dsuth
upon him in tho usual form.
While he lay under sentence. he
seemed very little affected with his
situation. buoying himself up with the
hope of . rsprisve. through the inter-
est Of some friends. who had undestak.
en- to procure him one. And when he
found himself disappointed. he was
very much incsnsed. snd gave vent to
his passion in vehement curses. An
order came for his execution on De-
cember 24th, aud he was consequently
casted OF to Tyburn. Here he behaved
himself in q les. unseemly manner. d.
string that sil present would take
warming by hrs unti,nely end. and
having perf,rm-d the usual devotiJns
1t the fatal tree. he was turned Of.
After be had been hsnging about 6f-
teen minutss. . cry was raissd from the
skirts Of tho crowd "A Roprisve L"
And this nsws tarning out TO be trse.
he was at encs cut down anl carried
into house in the neishborhood where
he was bled to relieve the congestion.
and other means were hurriedly used.
proper 70 bring him back r. life. These
were successful. Before long he was
able to cit up and stare about him. and
10 soon - he had sufficiently recovered
himself. be Vas taken to Nswgste.
Being asked what were his feelings
while banging, he repeatedly replied,
in substance ~ follows:
"When Was turned Of I was ssnsi.
ble. for some time, Of very great
pain. occasioned by the weight of my
body, and felt my inside in strsnes
commotion. violently pressing upward.
Ny whole life forced its way, - it
were. 10 my head. and ! saw . great
blaze. or glarinS light. which seemed to
90 out at my eyes with AAsh. Then
! lost all sense 81 pain, and Il Vas - il
. sweet sleep had begun. After I was
cut down and began 70 come to @yeslf.
the blood. forcing itself back into its
natural channels. put me. BY . sort Of
pricking or shooting. to such intolersble
pain that I conld have wished those
hanged who cut me down"
After this narrow escape from the
grave. Smith pleaded HE pardon ON
the Goth II February. 1896. But - he
had been but half banged. % it appear.
cd he Vas bot half cured Of bic dis
honest and thievish inclinstions Tor
thoneh 1t first he kept himself Within
the limits of privats frauds and pssty
larcsnies. at length, when the pain q
hanging BY the neck bad veil nigh
worn out Of his memory. he snteeed
agaia upon bis forwsr practice Of house.
breaking.
MA00rx DIxoN's CASE.
Margaret Dixou was the daughter 81
,>sno. s~~ .>ck. .h~ 1s~>A - HR~..llhss.~k,