The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-07-03
JOHN BROWN.
His Execution Described by an Eye VT.
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His Execution Described ~ an Eye WIZ
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Cincinnati Enauirer. -
By the kindness OF the gentleman to
whom had letters, / was the only
newspaper man inside the guards that
surrounded the scsfold. The newspaper
reporters were placed on a slight rise OF
ground, in perfect view, but where they
could hear nothing. The reason assign
ed for this was that Brown had deter
mined to make speech of an incendiary
character. To prevent this they deter
mined, 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 q speech was
concocted for Brown, and published as 4
be had spoken it, there might be written
evidence of its falsity. I happened to
be the person selected, and stood within
few feet of the gallows when the exc
cution took place. Brown was brought
to the place of execution-an open field
near the town-in q wagon, seated On
his coffin. He was neatly dressed in his
every day apparel, His long, white
beard and his fine face-for b chad fine
one-gave him a truly patriarchlal APP
pearsnce. No one seeing him at that
moment could suppose him to be a bound
M alefactor on his wsy to the gallows-
without hope of reprieve. None OF
the early martyrs of the Christian
church ever met death with more OF
seeming stoical indifference. Brought
up with fixed and firm belief that ne
had been doing Gods work, he believed
the course he pursued, the shedding OF
innocent blood, the taking the property
of his enemies, and that the death he
would die had been traced by an
Almighty hand in the beginning, and
nought could change that decree and
hence he would pass from earth TO
heaven as one that God had selected for
this particular work and the change
fyom esrth to bliss immortal would
more than compensate him for the
pain of strangulstion. The gallows was
surrounded in front by the cadets OF the
military institute, the West Point OF
Virginia. They were fine looking youths
of from sixteen to twenty years ot age
dressed in blue pants and red flannel
shirts. Behind them were picked COM
panies of volunteer infantry, other COM
panies forming the sides and rear OF the
hollow square in the centre OF which
was the gsllows. At proper points
the artillery was placed in position, the
guns loaded and pointed at a portion
of the field occupied exclusively by
strangers and those suspected OF not
being true to the Old Dominion. IN
case an emeute O. 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'
peeted crowd. The outlying pickets
and the reserve guard, stationed within
proper distance, were to flank the
resources, and the cavalry to charge up
on them, and to finish those that the
cannon and musketry failed to send to
kingdom come.
Thrown anticipated srescue, glance
at the field was sufficient to convince him
it would be folly to attempt it. That
he intended to make speech l think is
more that probable. When the eyes of
the doomed man took in the full situs>
ton a shade of disappointment seemed to
cross his face but it was but for mo-
ment. The shade passed from his brow
snd be was himself again. He stood en-
the gsllows gazing with unblsnched cheek
upon the preparations. He was asked by
the sheriff if he wished handkerchief to
drop when he was resdy. His reply, IN
A loud and firm voice was: No keep
me no longer than is necessary" The
cap was drawn over his face, the rope cut
and John Brown was left dangling in the
air. His neck was broke By the iall
He suffered bat lite, and soon hung d
Ii ,eless corpse. The sensation was great
no voice spoke and no souno was heard
while the awful scene IRON life to death
was enacted.