Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-04-22

WlCCeo, as IL is alleged CnaG UnOS6 dppOluGcu
to the vacancies were appointed on his
recommendation.
Samuel j. Tilden has sent his check for
$3.50 to the flood sufferers in Dakota.
Avenging the Dead Gar.
EXECUTION OF THE FIVE CONDEMNED
AssAssINs.
The following additional details of the
execution of the Nihilists have been re-
ceived at London:
On Thursday Russakoff asked for three
wax tapers, such as are carried to church.
copy of the New Testament and one of
the small consecrated loaves made and sold
by the monks. When not praying he
smoked cigarettes. In the course of the
day he offered his services to the govern
ment as spy. Naturally enough he met
with refusal, for he belonged only to the
outside circle, and could be of little use.
Jellaboff spent his time in debating page
after page about the trial, and committing
to paper what he would not be allowed to
utter in speech. Sophie Pieoffsky wrote to
her mother to waste no time or trouble in
assuaging the wrath of her father for what
had heen done. He would never forgive
her. Kibaitschitisch, the maker of the
bombs, and in some respects the most re-
markable figure among the condemned
murderers, devoted his last hours to draw
ing up memoir on the subject of his spe-
cifc discoveries, which he addressed to
the High Court of Justice. In the docu-
ment he avowed his desire that his name
should become immOrtaliZed, and he made
gift of his inventions to the State, on the
condition that all the profit should go to
the ameliOration of the lot of the children
of political criminals.
The execution took place at O'Clock on
Friday morning on Simonofsky Plain, the
same spot on which Molodetsky was exc
cuted. The scaffo!d was rough wooden
structure, painted black, consisting of a
high platform, upon which were three
posts, each with a chain and manacles,
and one long horizontal beam, with iron
rings for ropes, supported by two perpen-
dicular posts. In front was low plat
form for the officials. The large plain
around was covered with snow and ice,
which was melting in the warm sunshine.
By O'Clock many thousands of people had
collected around the plain and swarmed
in the various streets leading to it. Ten
thousand troops kept them back, and
formed two squares around the gallows.
First we're the COssacks, with couched
lances, and then detachments of the G uard.
The infantry was massed in deep columns,
leaving one side of the inner square open
for the passage of the condemned prison.
ers and escort.
The cOrtege entered the eastern side of
the plain few minutes before 9 O'Clock,
having passed through some of the prin-
cipal streets on the way from the fortress.
The condemned criminals were seated high
in the centre of two wheeled platforms,
tightly strapped to iron rods. with their
backs towards the horses, and having on
their breasts large cards with the word
6 Nsareoubiest' murderer of the Czar) in
black and white. Surrounding them was
a strong escort of Cossacks and infantry,
with drums and flies playing lively tune.
and preceded by mounted gendarmes.. The
condemned persons were dressed in black
and wore sort of black hood, covering
their heads and shoulders. On the first
tumbril sat Russakoff and Jeliaboff, both
of whose features were nearly concealed
by heavy hoods. JeliabOff' 8 dark piercing
eyes seemed to shine with even intensified
brilliancy and defiance as he looked on the
scene around him. On the second trum-
bril- we're seated Kibaltschitisch, Sophie
Pleoffsky and Michailoff, the woman oc-
cupying the middle seat Of these three,
the features of Sophie Pieoffsky'were alone
distinctly visible, her extraordinary high
and broad forehead being unshrouded by
the hood. Her slightly flushed face beto-
kened great mental excitement, but there
was no sign either of fear or remorse.-
Gen. BecanOff, with the executioner and
his four assistants, were waiting under the
scaffold.
The murderers were unbound and led
up the steps. With the exception of Rus
sakoff, who seemed very feeble, all showed
remarkable frmness and resignation
Sophie Pieoffsky appeared the calmest of
all the five prisoners. They were then
placed in front of the three posts, with
their heads bare, the woman being in the
middle. While the clerk of the Senate
read the sentences the civilians uncovered
and the officers saluted. During this for
mality five priests in purple caps mounted
the scaffold and presented the cross, which
all the condemned reverently kissed. The
them, but the beating of the drums. which
now began ana laSCoQ unGll Gle execution