The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-08

rested them. l was also present at their ex-
ecution. 1t was in the month of March;
thousands of people Hooked in to look their
last on them, believing that they were going
down in the cause of might against right
The land war it was which slew their victim;
the land war it was which was now Staying
them. So thought the multitude which
this bright, cold March morning focked
around their scaifold. Horse soldiers aud
loot soldiers were there to see that no power
should stay the due course of the law; the
Police, among whom was, were also there
Tor the same purpose. 1t was no ordinary
occasion, for not two, but three men were to
die by the rope in the public gaze, suspend
ed over the public street that morning. 81
ence reigned in the great crowd Even the
troopers horses did not appear to champ
their bits and stamp around in their usual
unrest, when a figure on the scaffold, like
an electric shock, set the whole mass stir
ring. 1t was the hangman, with black COW
ering on his face.
The scaffold is an iron structure project
ing from the wall over the jail-door; three
iron bars, with pulleys at their ends, came
out above II; and down from these danged
the ropes, The hangman came out TO soap
them, and the crowd that was calm and
prayerful but an instant before, in the view
of this brutality. broke out into shouts of
horror and execration, which adroye the
wretch in terror from his hideous work.
And now young man stepped ont. He,
too, was to pay the penalty of murder.
With earnestness he begged that the crowds
around would pray God to have mercy on
him. As he was prepared for execution the
younger of the Condons came to the narrow
door, placed his foot on the treacherous
grating, and all preparations were complet-
ed for sending him, too, beyond the reach of
human law. And now appeared in the door
the elder of the two brothers. A priest
stood ON The trap, bearing his part in the
awful business, supplicating God for mercy
and encouraging the unhappy men to forti-
tude and faith. When the elder Condor
reached the narrow door leading to the seat
fold be was praying with fervor. Just as he
was about to emerge the sound of the hang
mans voice fell upon his ears. Like magic
Il changed him. lie believed 10 wac tho
voice of an aecomplice, participation in his
plots and schemes and his crimes, who had
sold him to the Grown. and who was now
about to ccnsummate his meanness and his
malice by hanging him. Manaced, as he
was, he rushed on him, jammed him against
the rail of the scaffold, and tried to fling him
on the bayonets gjstening below. The
hangman screamed TO the culprit for mercy,
to the warders for protection. The younger
Condor managed to drag the cap from his
eyes, and seeing his brother in conflict, tried
TO join him. But tue priest interposed with
prayer and duplication, and the clergyman
and the culprit, their tears mingling, begged
for mercy on all.
'sThe warders saved the hangman; and,
after a short interval, which the clergyman
sought and obtained, to try to bring about
calm frame of mind in his unfortunate PEN
itent, the awful scene was closed in death.
My companion ceased to speak. lie APP
peared oppressed byshis Vivid recollection of
these tragic scenes; and, orr journey being
ended, babe him goodbye.