The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-06-12
JOHN BROWN.
His Execution Described BY IN Eye-Wit


His Execufio. Described BY IN Eye-wit-
Prom tie Cincinaad Esquzss.
By the kindness of the gentleman to
whom I had letters, was the only news
paper man inside the guards that surroun-
ded the scaffold. The newspaper report
ep were placed on slight rise Of ground,
in perfect view, but where they could hear
nothing. The reason assigned for this was
that Brown had determined to make q
speech of an incendiary character. To
prevent this they determined, if speech he
made, IT would be to the military and TO
the officials who would be within hearing
distance. 1t was thought best that some
one Of the Northern residents in the shape
Of a newspaper correspondent should be
present, to the end that, if speech was
concocted for Brown, and published as if
he had spoken it, there might be written
evidence of its falsity. ! happened to be
the person selected, and stood within few
feet of the gallows when the execution took
place. Brown was brought 10 the place OF
execution-an open field near the town
in wagon. seated on his coffin. He was
neatly dressed in his everyday apparel.
His long, white beard and his fine face
for he had fine on-gave him truly
patriarchial appearance. No one seeing
HIM at that moment could suppose HIM to
be bound malefactor on his way to the
gallows, without hope Of reprieve. None
of the early martyrs Of the Christian
Church ever met death with more OF seem
ing stoical indifference. Brought up with
| a fixed and firm belief that he had been
doing Gods work, he believed the course
he pursued, the shedding Of innocent
blood, the taking the property of his enc
mics, and that the death he would die
had been traced by an Almighty hand in
| the beginning, and nought could change
that degree: and hence he would pass
| from earth to heaven as one that
God had selected for this particular work
and the change from earth to bliss
immortal would more than COM
pensate him from the pain of
strangulation. The gallows was sur
rounded in front by the cadets of the
Military Institute, the West Point of Vir-
glnia. They were fne-looking youths Of
from l6 to % years Of age. dressed in
Dlua pants and red flannel shirts. Be
hind them were picked companies of vol
unteer infantry, other companies forming
the sides and rear of the hollow square
IN the centre of which was the gallows
At proper points the artillery was placed
in position, the guns loaded and pointed
at a portion of the field occupied exclu.
sively by strangers and those suspected OF
not being true to the Old Dominion. In
case of an emeute or hostile disturbance,
the cadets had orders TO shoot Brown, SO
as to prevent rescue, while the cannon
GERS and infantry were to FIRE on the sus-
pectcd crowd. The outlying pickets and
the reserve guard, stationed within prop
err distance, were to flank the rescuers,
and the cavalry to charge upon them, and
to finish those that the cannon and mus
kerry failed to send to kingdom come
II Brown anticipated rescue, glance
at the field was sufficient to convince him
it would be folly to attempt it. That he
intended to make a speech think is more
than probable. When the eyes Of the
doomed man took in the full situation Q
shade of disappointment seemed TO eros:
his face but it was but for a moment
The shade passed from his brow and he
was himself again. He stood on the gal
lows gazing with unblanched cheek up
on the preparations He was asked BY
the Sheriff if he wished handkerchief e
drop when he was ready. His reply, in a
loud and firm voice was: "No-keep me
no longer than Is necessary" The car
was drawn over his face, the rope cut and
John Brown was left dangling in the air
His neck was broken by the fall. He sui
fered but little. and soon hung lifeles.
corpse. The sensation was great; nc
voice spoke and no sound was heard
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