The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-05-07
AVENGING THE DEAD CAR.
EXECUTION OF THE FIVE CONDEMNED AS
SASSINS.

The execution of the assassins of the
! Gar took place at 0 o'clock on Friday
morning, April 22nd., at Simonofsky
Plain. On the day previous Russakotf,
one of the condemned, 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 Gov
eminent as spy. Naturally enough, he
met with a refusal, for he belonged only
to the outside circle and could be of lit
tie use. Jeliabot' spent his time in die
tating page after page about the trial,
and committing to paper what he would
not be allowed to utter in speech. Sophie
Pieoifsky wrote to her mother to waste
no time or trouble in asSuaging the
wrath of her father for what had been
done. lie would never forgive. kibal-
tschitisch, the maker Of the bombs. and
in some respects the most remarkable
figure among the condemned murdererS,
devoted his last hours to drawing up a
memoir on the subject Of his specific dis
coveries, which he addressed to the High
Court of Justice. In the document he
avowed his desire that his name should
be immortalized. and he made gift of
his inventions to the State. on the condi-
ton that all the profit should go to the
arnclioratiou of the lot OF the children Of
political criminals.
The Scai1old 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 Il low plat
form for the officials. The large plain
around was covered with snow and ice.
which was melting in the warm sunshine.
By s o'clock many thousands of people
had collected around the plain and swarm
ed the various streets leading to it. Ten
Thousand troops kept them back and
formed two squares around the gallows.
First were the Cossacks, with couched
lances, aud then detachmcnts of the
Guard The infantry was massed i'll deep
columns. leaving one side of the inner
square open for the passage of the con-
demncd prisoners and escort.
The cortege entered the eastern side of
the plain few minutes before 9 o'clock.
having passed through some of the prn-
cipal streets on the way from the fortress.
The condemned criminals were seated
high in the centre of two wheeled plat
forms, tightly strapped to iron rods, with
their backs toward the horses, and having
on their breast large cards with the word
Tsarcoubiest y (murderer Of the CZar)
in black and white. Surrounding them
was strong escort of Cossacks and in
fantry. with drums and flies playing
lively tune. and preceded by mounted
gendarmes. The condemned persons
were dressed in black and wore a sort of
black hood. covering their heads and
shoulders On the first tumbril sat Rus
sakoff and Jeliabotf, both of whose
features were nearly concealed by heavy
hoods. .Jelabot"s dark, piercing eyes
seemed to shine with even intensified
brilliancy and defiance as he looked on
the scene around him. On the second
tumbril were seated kibaltschitisch,
Sophie Pieolfsky, aud Michailot1, the
woman occupying the middle seat. OF
these three the features of Sophie Pieoh:
sky, were alone distinctly visible, her
extraordinary high and broad forehead
behind unshroudcd by the hood. Her
slightly flushed face betokened great
mental excitement, but there was no sign
either of fear or remorse. Gen. BccanoH
with the eXccutioncr and his four assist
ants. were waiting under the Scaifold.
The murdererS were unbound and led
up the steps. With the exception of Rus
sakotf, who seemed very feeble, all show
ed remarkable iirmness and resignation.
Sophie Pieoflsky appeared the calmest
Of all the five prisoners. They We're then
placed in front Of the three posts. with
their heads bare, the woman being i'll the
middle. While the Clerk of the Senate
read the sentences the civilians uncover
ed and the officers saluted. During this
formality five priests in purple caps
mounted the scatlold and presented the
cross, which all the condemned reverent-
ly kissed. The prisoners were then allow
ed to kiss each other, and word or two
passed between them, but the beating Of
the drums, which now began and lasted
until the execution was finished, drowned
every other sound. The prisoners were
then placed under the beam. Each
prisoners head was covered with white
hood attached to a kind of sack. Each
one, beginning with Russakoff, was led
to the top of Il small stool with steps.
The rope was drawn tight around one of
the supporting beams and the culprit was
left to strange by the stool being with
drawn from under. Ali remained firm
and imperturbable until the last moment.
Russakotf alone appeared to faint before