The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-09-08
JOHN BROWN.

HIS Execution Described by IN Eyc-witness
BY the kindness OF the gentleman to
whom l had letters, | was the only
newspaper man inside the guards that
surrounded the scaflold, says q core
spondent Of the Cincinnati Enquirer,
Who was present at John Browns exc
cution. The newspaper reporters were
placed on n 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 speech OF an iucendiary charac-
ter. 10 prevent this they determined,
II speech he made, it would be to
the military and to the officials
who would bo within hearing distance.
1t was thought best that some one of
Northern residence in the shape Of
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 lis falsity. I hap.
pened to be the person selected, and
stood within few feet OF the gallows
when the execution tock 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 everyday apparel.
His long, white beard and his fine
face--for he had a fine one gave him
truly patriarchal appearance. No one
seeing him at that moment could sup
pose him to be q bound male
factor on the way to the gallows,
without hope of reprieve. Mono
OF the early martyrs Of the Chris.
tian church ever met death with moro
Of seeming stoical Indifference Brought
mp with fixed and firm hclief that he
had been doing Gods work, he believed
.aae course he pursued, the shedding Of
of his enemies, and that the death no
would die had been traced by an AL
mighty hand in The beginning, and
hence he would pass from earth to
heaven as one that g cd had selected for
this particular work, and the change
from earth to bliss immortal would more
than compensate him for the pain of
stranaulation. The gallows was sur
rounded 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 OF age, dressed in blue
pants and red flannel shirts. Be-
hind them wero picked companies OF
volunteer infantry, other companies
forming the sides and rear OF the hollow
square, in the center of which was the
gallows. At proper points the artillery
was placed i'll position, the guns loaded
and pointed ut portion OF Tho iold On.
cupiod exclusively by strangers and
those suspected Of not being true to the
Old Dominion. In case of an omeute or
hostile disturbance, the cadets had Of
ders to shoot Brown, so as to prevent o
scue, while the cannoneers and in
fantry were to fire upon the suspected
crowd. The outlying pickets and re-
serve guard, stationed within proper
distance, wele to flank the rescuers,
and the cavalry to charge upon them,
and to finish those that the cannon ana
musketry fsiled to send to kingdom
come.
II Brown anticipated rescue, q
glance at the field was sufficient to con
vince him it would be folly to attempt
it. That he intended to make a speech l
think is more than probable. When the
eyes OF the doomed man took in the full
situation, a shade of disappointment
seemed to cross Lis face. but it was bui
for a moment. The shade passed from
his brow and he was himself again. He
stood on the gallows gazing with un.
Rleep%Sah s dss cheek upon the preparations;
q handkerchief to drop when he was
ready. His reply, in firm and loud
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 broken ny the fall. He
suffered but little, and soon hung q
lifeless corpse. The sensation was
great; no voice spoke and no sound
was heard while the awful scene from
life to death WIS enacted.