Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-19

I
At last, when this operation-during
which. confess, my face was bathed in n
cold peTspiratlon--was completed, new
one began. Troppmann was requested to
take seat on the stool, and the gouty old
man began TO cut his hair. He fret took
out small pair Of scissors, and. with many
grimacet OF the mouth, carefully cut away
the collar OF the condemned mans shirt-oi
that same shirt which he had Just put on
with so much care, and which il would
have been so easy TO have cut previously.
The material wds thick aud resisted
the cutting instrument. NJ. de Paris
was watching these preparations. and he
did not appear pleased; the opening was
not large enough; he wanted the width OF
his hand. The gOuty old man began again
and cut away a large piece Of the shirt.
The top OF the back was now bare. and we
could see the shoulder blades. Troppmann
moved them up and down. The room was
cold. The old man then turned his atten-
ton TO the hair. He placed one swollen
hand on the head OF the young man, who
bent forward submissiyely, and cut with
the other. The tufts OF dark hair slipped
over the shoulders and fell to the ground.
One curl rolled TO my feet. Troppmann
kept his head bent forward resign
edly, and the priest said his pray
ers still more slowly. could not
take my eyes off the hands Of
the condemned man hands REDEEMED with
blood and now lying, one on the other,
powerless. Ny eyes wandered 10 the white
and delicate neck, a neck like that OF
child, and inyolHntariy my imagination
drew q transverse line on il. There.
thought /, there in few minutes The heavy
ttrtn . h. fat..
the muscles and nerves. This body did
not seem TO wait its destiny, 1t was 40
white, so full Of life, and. in spite Of my
self, wondered what that bent head was
thinking about at that moment. Was Il
thinking, with clinched teeth, No, win
not show any weakness! Perhaps It was
watching awhirIwlnd OF insignificant sOuve-
Mrs pass thrOughit. Perhaps IL saw the con-
yulsive agony Of some OF the victims OF the
murder about to be expiatcd. Perhaps
that head was saying 10 itself: "Ths is
nothing TO what We shall see presently"
And IL will repeat that until death seizes
upon il. The old man sill cut away; the
scissors could be heard sevcrng the hair;
presently the old man finished, and Tropp-
mann got up and shook his head. Gen
orally at this moment the condemned men
who are still strong enough TO speak make
their last requests TO the governor of the
prison, give him any money they may have
left, asking him TO pay their debts; they
thank their keepers, and request some
one present TO send letter or lock
Of their hair TO their families. Tropp-
mann did not belong to this class
he disdained all such "sentimentalities."
He did not say word, and waited with
quiet calmness. A short jacket was thrown
over his shoulders, and the eXecutloner
took hold OF the rope. Come, TrOpp-
mann," said NJ. Claude in the midst Of
sepuchral silence, the last moment has
come; in few minutes all will be fin
Ished. Do you still persist in asserting
that you had accoEplc6s - " Yes, sir, /
persist" answered TrOprmann, and his
pleasant baritone voice had not altered.
The condemned man accompanied these
words with a slight nod, as il it was with
regret that he did not answer differently in
order TO please his questiOner. "Wcll,
let us co." said Claude.
We went out into the large courtyard OF
the prison. Ii was Gas O'Clock. The sky
was hardly lit up; a fog filled the air and
veilcd everything. The bowling OF the
mob deaiened US. 10 wGS an interminablc.
noisy, and insuppOrtable hoOling, which
fell upon US before we had hardly crossed
the threshold. our party had again grown
smaller, and as we FASTENED toward the
gate some remained behind. myself as |
walked with the others felt a strong in
clination to do the same. TrOppmann ad-
yanced rapidly, dragging his feet, for the
straps impeded his steps. How small he
seemed to mellow youug-almost a child.
All at once, slowly like throat spread
ing its jaws, the gate opened in front OF
US: a crv Of satisfaction burst from the
crowd, and the monster Which was waiting
for its prey presented itself to oar sight,
with it's two uprights and its knife in the
air. A glacial cold penetrated us--a cold
which made me feel sick at heart-and |
felt my legs giving way under me. How
ever, watched Troppmann he drew back,
threw back his head. his knees gave way as
though be had received 4 blow on the
chest. "He Is going TO faint" said voice
near me. But he at once recovered him.
self, and walked forward with firm step.
Those who wished to see how the head
would fall preceded him, running.
| had not the courage my heart
gave way / stopped near the gate.
l saw the executioner suddenly ap-
pear on the left side Of the guillotine. |
saw how Troppmann. separating from the
group Of invited spectators, whom he LETT
below, went up the steps-there were ten
OF them--I saw how he stopped and east a
glance backward heard him pronounce
these words, "Tel NJ. Claude" | saw
him on the platform; saw how two men
seized him on the night and left IS spiders
seize ny; saw how bs advanced, head
foremost, and how his feet moved. But
then | turned away and waited; Ne ground
swan under me. 1t seemed as though had
to wait whole eternity. had had the time
TO notice that on the appearance Of Tropp- |
mann the shout Of the crowd had burst
forth like bomb, then a breathless silence
followed. In front Of me stood a sentinel, |
q young fellow with rosy cheeks and robust |
figure. | saw that he was staring at me |
with frightened and stupid perpleXity, |
and ! said to myself "Here is a soldier, |
born in some distant village, the child OF |
an honest family. What are they showing |
him herei" Al last head light blow, |
the sound OF two pieces OF wood striking |
together; il was the upper semi-circle OF |
the collar which holds the head OF the con-
demned man motionless which had kller |
into its place. Then heard deep roaring. |
something rolled noisily and gave forth &
gushing sound. You might have thought |
II some powerful animal which had just re-
lieved itself by 4 sudden vomit. i can find I
no other comparison. Everything around |
me turned black. Some one seized me by |
the arm; / looked; II was the subordinate
Of Claude, whom, as | learned afterward. |
Maxine du Camp had asked to watch over
me. "You are very pale; will you have |
little watery" he asked smiling. thanked |
him, and returned 10 the courtyard OF the |
prison, which seemed TO me shelter from |
lI,a otr hot In nKftfp a.