The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-11-10
HANGED FOUR TIMES.


HANGED FOUR TIMES.
The Unusual Experiences of a Man
whose Neck Was BADLY Abused.
Watts, sir, Watts, is my name-Jesse
Watts-leastways that is the name by
which care to be called for the present.
sail tomorrow for Colorado, where
they say there is plenty of work for a
man who cares to dig for money, and /
know what a mine is and what miners
life is like; but you spoke something
about the sensation of hanging. Now,
look here, sir. As sure as I'm living
man, l have been hanged four times.
Three times danced my senses away
on thin air, and the other time l was
saved just as the bolt was about to be
drawn to break my neck. Still, as the
cap was over my head and the parsen
had said, ''Lord, receive his spirit"
should say that's about as near hanging
as most people would wish to go, so /
calls it four times. l was born in the
Town of Falmouth, Cornwall NV
father was a sailmaker, doing a fair
business. The Cornish coast abounds
in rocky cliffs, where thousands of
gulls build their nests. l often used to
go egg-hunting with my boy friends.
We used to fix stick in knot of rope
some twenty feet long. One end would
be fastened securely to stake in the
, ground and then we. used to let our
selves slowly down over the cliff and
swing backward and forward, seated on
the stick, along the face of the rocks,
brighten the old birds away and fill our
wallets with eggs. One morning l
started out alone with my coil of rope.
expected to find some comrades by
the shore, but none were there. How
ever, thinking they would soon arrive,
/ let myself down, not on the seat, as
usual, but with the rope in slip-knot
beneath my shoulders. Directly nv
full weight was in the moose, it began
to tighten to an uncomfortable extent.
SO / placed my foot against a small
ridge and began to loosen the strain.
FIRST AND SECOND HANGING.
got one arm out and was gradually
putting the rope over my body so as to
sit in the moose, when a dozen gulls
flew out and began to attack me. NV
foot slipped from its hold
as the rope closed rapidly round
my neck. had time to
place my right hand to my cheek, an
act which saved my life, for, although
the pain was severe, L could breathe.
shouted for help, but no help was near.
Finally the agony was SO great that
with an effort of despair I freed nv
hand and suffocated. / recovered con-
seriousness to find myself on my back in
fishing tent with two men bending
over me. 1t seems they had discovered
my dilemma and were drawing me up
within half minute after the rope
closed round my neck.
When / recovered my health l be-
came wild and dissipated and, although
managed to remain on friendly terms
with my father for the next five wears,
Twas regarded in my native town as a
quarrelsome fellow, foremost in eyery
row and ready to get drunk whenever /
had chance. One night in general
row killed one Of my pot-house COM
panions with q blow on the head, de-
livered with heavy pewter vessel.
was arrested, tried and condemned to be
hanged The day arrived for nv exc
cution. My hands were pinioned, 1
took my last look, as supposed, at the
sun, felt the white cap drawn over nv
face, and begged the hangman to pull
the bolt when l arrived at the supplica-
ton in the Lords Prayer, sForgiye INV
tresspasses." had hardly finished the
first words of entreaty to heaven when
loud tumult fell on my ears, and the
word '.Repriever' was shouted from
mouth to mouth. The next moment
was unbound and the royal message of
mercy read to me. The death penalty
was commuted to ten years penal serv-
itude.
THE THIRD HANGING.
Never mind how / passed the next
ten years. Finally l was once more a
free man. My poor old father gave me
ECO and his blessing. and shipped for
the Cape of Good Hope and the dia-
mond fields arrived at the fields.
and in partnership with an acquaint-
ance ! made, purchased q claim for
ESQ. For month we found next to
nothing, then success crowned our
work. and within six months of leaving
England / was worth $4,000. l re-
turned to Cape Town, but could not
make up my mind to cross the ocean
home, SO / took rooms at q crack hotel
md began to enjoy myselt Those who