The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-12-11

whose voice waSvU
ton and his eyes beol
tears, as he completed this idg
for the dying and prompted Tracy
repeating the invocation given before.
While these services were proceeding
he was pinioned at the ankles, above
the knees, and around the arms, and
then the Sheriff said; oiiaEsafa tnI
"Andrew Tracy, have you anything
to say why the sentence of death
should not be executed?" Il
Tracy family responded in the mega
tive, and Father Dent at the same
time speaking for him, said, mo, he
has nothing to say. He loves hui
manity and forgives all his enemies;
don't you, Andy?" Tracy family an
swered, "Yes, Ido.'
"oH, GOD! THIS is BUTcHERY!"
At 1:49 the moose was adjusted, the
black cap was put on, and while a
faint murInur came from behind the
hideous surroundings of his head, in
response to the eXhortations of the
priests, the attendants were signalled
away from the trap, there was the
sound of sharp blow, then a second
shock, as the black object shot below
the surface of the platform, paused
for moment, and, swinging to the
right, fell with a sickeDing thud in a
horrible heap close to the coffin on the
floor below, while the ravellIng moose
spun swiftly from the neck of the dy-
ing man and swung in seeming mock
cry over his tortured body. 'Oh,
God! this is butchery!" strong men ex-
claimed, turning pale, and great hor-
ror swept over the spectators as the
Iaf ho IL
| The greatest excitement prevailed and
rush was made for the gallows.
Sheriffs' deputies kept back the crowd
and the black and inanimate heap,
that a moment before was man, was
hustled like bag Of salt through the
trap. doors to the platform of the scaf-
fold. 1t was dumped on a chair, and
as mems eyes again turned in that di-
| rection it was seen that Father Nc
Ginley had swayed over against the
railing almost in a fainting condition,
and that Fathers Dent and Smith
were barely able to stand. Perspira-
ton streamed from Sheriff SartwelPs
face, in which was an expression of the
utmost horror. A new rope was taken
and while another knot was being tied
the fearfnl discovery was made that
Tracy was rapidly recovering con-
sciousness. The men at the rope
worked with frantic haste, but long
before things were again in readiness
for the certain dispatch of the pool
suffering wretch, in the black bag, hi
had fully recovered his senses and in
ACCOUNTING GAsPs.
responded to the fearful invocation
of Father Dent. His last words dice
away in a gurgling murmur, and a
he was moved to his place on the trap
and before the moose was adjusted tn
second time, Tracy tainted, and whei
the drop fell he was unconscious, an'
died without struggle, the victim Q
one of the most frightful executions il
the criminal annals of this country
The moose had been tested the da
previous with an l60-pound bag G
sand, and Sheriff Sartwell believes
was tampered with by curious specta
tors on the day of the execution. H
will, however, never cease to regre
that he failed at the last moment t
make an examination so critical as
provide against an accident of such al
appalling character. Ten minute
after the drop fell life was extinc
The remains were placed in the cofh
that had been provided by his siste
Mary, to whose house they were take
and from thence to the Catholi
church of this village, from whic
they were taken for burial on Friday
the last mass having been celebrate
by his tutor pastor, and frient
, Father Francis Dent. He was burie
: at his own request on his mother
farm beneath the spot where his mul
, dered love first plighted her trOth
him.