The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-12-10
sunlight, and then shut them forever
in the eternal darkness OF deaths real

ed OF q day or week, and then forgot
ten? Is it who am to look at thoss
twelve soldiers III silent rank twelve
PAGES at my front? To hear the COM
mand, 'Ready-aim-fre!" and hear
the death message, feei deaths bullet,
and know death allin one briefinstant
and then forever know no more?
For the life of me l could not say,
"Yes, it is /" had no such feeling,
and why cannot tell.
l knew the law military-knew if
was found guilty as spy no power
but that OF the pardoning prerogative
of the chief executive could avert
death. ssS
knew alIthad been done by my
friends that could be done, without
avail.
Still, could not think that was
to die so soon.
Such reflections, retrospections, self
came to me daily, as the
time drew near appointed for my ex-
ecution.
Finally it came. Shall ever forget
that November morning?
They had told me I would be taken
would be allowed an officers room in
the barracks, where my parents, sis.
ters and brothers would meet me and
spend the last hours few hours with
me.
When taken out, they had to seat
me in the outer guard room quarter
OF an hour, until my eyes became ac-
customed to the piercing glare of the
sunshine.
Then they took me to the room
where l found my friends and minis
ter.
Just outside-we could see them
through the window-stood a special
detail OF twelve men, selected as the
executors of the sentenced
man
Telling me l should have until the
last minute before o'clock, but then
would have to go, the colonel locked
the door and left me with my friends.
They had secured the privilege OF
spending these last few hours with me
II knew to comfort and console, per.
haps to strengthen me for the fearful
ordeal through which l had to pass.
But had to comfort and console
them.
My father was broken down. It
must be q horrid strain on fathers
feelings to sit and look at his son, in
the prime OF manhood, and count of
the few intervening moments OF that
boys remaining life.
Brothers and sisters could only gaze
at me in speechless misery, appalled,
by the gloomy shadow OF death that
was then casting about me.
Ihad to become consoler, and strain.
ed every power to smile. l would
not permit the man OF God to offer
prayers, knowing his words would fall
upon loving ears as death walls, as
clods falling on my coffin. ! drew
them by everything interesting | could
think OF, to contemplate anything but
my impending doom.
AS would about succeed the little
clock in the mantel would strike, or a
tootstep on the stair outside. or some
movements OF the garrison, would re-
call them to the horrid present.
The little clock seemed to me in
these intervals to tick as loudly as
the clatter OF q mill. 1t struck the
half hours as we'll us the full stroke;
and it seemed to me It's tiny hammer
struck every five minutes. Ten! hall
pastl Eleven! and q half! Twelvel
Half! One!
Heavens! How it ticked off the sec
onds, galloped the minutes. and start
led our ears with those half hours!
We were seated around the room
close to each other as we could get
Father on one side, mother on the
other, a hand clasped by each, wher
q step sounded without, hand touch
ed the knob, the key turned in the
lock, the door was thrown open and
the colonel stood looking at us.
Irvstinctively jumped TO my feet
as father and mother sprang to my
side, a hand each upon my shoulder
How rapidly thought does it's Office
in such emergencies!
My first thought was, their dining
hour approaches, and these officer:
wish to get this unpleasant duty
through.
For minute-it seemed eternity
and that the little clock had ceased
to tell off time-we stood, the colone
and myself, silent, gazing sternly al
each other.
He evidently expected me to speak
But ] did not, could not.
AT length he slowly drew from hi.
pocket q slip of paper, and saying
Captain. l have just received thi.
telegram" }" read, while we gazed upor
him in strained, listening caeernees
1.-THE execution OF the sentence in tn
case of Capt. William f. Gordon 10 post
poned until further orders. BY order OF
The PRESIDENT"
None OF us spoke.
"You can stay with your friends
till 8. Then yougo back to your cell,
he said. closed the door and left u:
hurriedly.
Father drew long, trembling sigl
and sank slowly to the floor, wher,
mother had already fallen. Theil
support gone, the sudden, unlocked
for lifting OF the cloud OF death. tn,
rush OF relief from the horrid night
mare, caused quick revulsion OF feel
ing that made me limp as rag veal
as dying babe. And l too, sank be
tween my parents.
The minister said something l die
not hear, brothers and sisters knel
around us, and ! heard the preache
pouring out prayer ofgratitude tha
the dark shadow of death had passed
by, leaving the light OF life.
My sentence OF death was commut
ed to Imprisonment and labor durin
the war.
But it was lifel Isl
"Mrs. Cleveland is not seeing so man.
visitors as formerly, and these only b!
appointment" writes the Boston Her
aid s Washington correspondent. "Sh
riIou ont avarv 6o, voppo 10 4