The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-08-15

| them. Then came the weary reading
Of the orders and the sentence in each
case, while the dull, gray clouds still
dropped the sullen rain, which MADE
the official witnesses in waiting feel as
though it was better to die on such
day, because the regret at leaving lie
was lessened.
sat last the firing parties, ten men
and q sergeant for each OF the con
demned, we're ranged before each OF the
respective prisoners, who were made TO
kneel on the cofins, and soon came the
orders of the provost to fire. There
were few among the 5000 in that dl-
vision that watched with open eyes the
volley, but as the smoke cleared away,
to the horror of all, several of the men
still remained upright on the collins,
others were writhing and Smuggling or
screaming, and all but four or tive, l
think it was, were still in death. The
men of the firing parties, in horror OF
their stern duty, had fred high. 1t
was a sight SO horrible that Icannotde-
scribe it, and one / shall never forget.
| The rifles were hurriedly reloaded; this
time every one with ball cartridge, and
the parties whose victims were dead
withdrawn from the line. The wound
ed men were propped up against the
%coffins, and the second volley ran out
over the slope. This time fewer stray
bullets were heard whistling away aloft
through the air, but horror upon nor
ror added-seven men were still alive,
although all were wounded. Murmurs
of pity and horror were heard all along
the lines, and many of the men OF the
firing parties-grim, battle-worn veter-
ans-were in tears, while several were
entirely overcome. Hurriedly q third
volley was fired, and CONSERVATION was
upon all, for three yet lived. Now,
came the most agoniZing part of the
whole thing.
sit became the duty of the provost
marshal to end the execution in person.
I don't remember who he was, but he
was q captain of one of the infantry
regiments, and, l think, from the 7th
Connecticut. Terry's old regiment.
We had become almost unnamed by
the terrible scenes WI had already wit
messed, which were worse for him, as
we in the lines could not hear the groans
and supplications of the suffering
wretches. When he was directed to
complete the work, he went out-and-ou
crazy. had an idea that he would
shoot himself. He tended his resigna-
ton at once; it could not be accepted.
Place him in arrest or shoot hing it
could not be done. He would not per-
form the duty. He must. Gen. Terry,
the kindest, most tender hearted man
that ever wore q saDer, was in tears but
he was performing u stern, official duty.
He was ordered to see that the execution
was duly carried into effect, and the or
der must be obeyed.
"Sharp, l~ow-spoken words Of COM
mand kept quiet the men in the rank
who were almost mutinous from the
horror, and at last the poor provost mar
tial tottered forward, revolver in hand
toward the nearest of the still living VIC
tins. A brother officer supported him,
and one after the other of the writhing
men was put ont of agony by q pistol
shot, the captain looking at each only
enough to direct his revolver, and cov-
ering his face with his handkerchief ut
each pull OF the trigger.
"The lines We're kept formed only
long enough to witness the hurried cof-
filming of the dead victims of stern mill
tary law, and until the first hard rain
blackened clods fell in each grave. and
then, without the usual pomp Of music,
We're hurriedly marched back to their
winter camping huts. 1t was an awful
sight, that I can't describe. It was an
awful necessity; q terrible one, but nc
more bounty Jumpers deserted to the
rebel lines from that command.
"That is the reason told you Ididnt
want to see any more executions"