The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-15
HOW JOHN BROWN DIED.

"A Scene of Unnecessary Cruelty-The Old
Martyr Stands 1t for Hour.
j. T. l.. Preston. in August Rivouac
Shortly before IL o'clock the prisoner was
| taken from JAIL and the funeral cortege was put
| in motion First came three companies then
the criminals wagon, drawn by two large white
horses. John Brown seated on his coffin.
accompanied by the sheriff and two other per-
sons. The wagon drove to the foot of the gal
lows, and Brown descended with alacrity and
without assistance and assembled the steep steps
to the platform. His demeaner was intrepid
without being braggart He made no speech;
whether he desired to make one not l do not
know; even if he had desired it, it would not
have beeu permitted. Any. speech of his must
of necessity have been unlawful, as being di-
rected against the peace and dignity of the Com
monwea]th. and as such could not be allowed by
those who wore then engaged in the most solemn
and extreme vindication of the law.
John Browns manner gave evidence of
tlmidity, but his countenance was not free from
concern and it seemed to me to have a little cast
of wildness. He stood upon the scaffold hut a
short time, giving brief adeus to those about
him. when he was properly pinioned. the white
cap drawn over his face, the moose adjusted and
attached to the hook above, and he moved
blindfod few steps forward. 1t was curious
to note how the instinct of nature operated TO
make him careful in putting out his feet, as if
afraid he would walk off the scaffold. The man
who stood unblanched on the brink of eternity
was afraid of falling few feet to the groundl
Everything was now IN readiness. The
sheriff asked the prisoner If he should give him
private signal before the fatal moment He
replied in voice shat sounded to me unnatur-
ally naturalist composed was its tone and SO
distinct its arIiculation-that it did not matter
to him. il only they would not keep him to long
waiting He was kept waiting however the
troops that had formed his escort had
to be put in their proper position, and
while this was going on he stood for some ten or
fifteen minutes blndfold the rope around his
neck and his feet on the treacherouS platform
expecting Instantly the fatal act; but he stood
for this comparatively long time upright a sol
dier in position, and motionless. l was close to
him, and watched him narrowly, to see if /
could detect any signs of shrinking trembling
in his person, but there were none. Once l
thought l saw his knees tremble, but it was
only the wind blowing his loose trousers. His
irmness was subjected to still further trial by
hearing Colonel Smith announce to the sheriff,
we are all ready. Mr.. Campbell The sheriff
did not hear or did not comprehend, and in a
louder tone the same announcement was made
But the culprit still stood steady. until the
sheriff, descending the flight of steps, with a
well-directed blow of sharp Ratchet severed
the rope that held up the trap-door which
instantly sank sheer beneath him. He fell
| about three feet; and the man of strong and
bloody hand, of fierce passions, of iron will, of
wonderful vicissitudes, the terrible partisan of
Kansas, the capturer of the United States ar
senal at Harper's Ferry, the would-be Cataline
OF the OouLn, the OemlgOu or the ADontlonlSts
the mau execrated and Landed. damned and
prayed for, the man who, in his motives, his
means. his plans and his successes, must ever be
| wonder, puzzle and mystery, John Brown,
was hanging between heaven and earth.
There was profoundest stiffness during the
time his struggles continued growing feebler and
feebler at each abortive attempt to breathe.
His knees were scarcely bent his arms were
! drawn up to right angle at the elbow, with the
hands clenched, but there was no writhing of the
body, no violent heaving Of the chest. At each
feebler effort at respiration his arms sank lower
and his legs hung more relaxed, until, at last,
straight and lank. he dangled, swayed slightly
to and fro by the wind"