The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-08-28

Shortly before II o'clock the
prisoner was taken from Jail, and
the funeral ccrtege was put in mo-
ton. First came three companies,
then the criminals wagon. drawn
by two large white horses. John
Brown was seated on his coffin, ac-
companied by the Sheriff and two
other persons. The wagon drove
to the foot of the gallows, and Brown
descended with alacrity and with
out assistance and ascended the
steep steps to the platform. His
demeanor was intrepid, without be-
ing braggart. H. made no speech;
whether he desired to make one or
not | do not know; even if he de-
sired it, it would not have been
permitted. Any speech of his must
of necessity have been unlawful as
being directed against the peace
and dignity of the commonwealth,
and as such could not be allowed
by those who were engaged in the
most solemn and extreme vindica-
ton of the day.
John Browns manner gave no
evidence of timidity, but his coun-
tenance was not free from concern,
and it seemed to me to have little
cast of wildness. He stood upon
the scaffold but a short time, giving
brief adieus to those aboW him,
when he was properly pinioned, the
white cap drawn over his face, the
moose adjusted and attached to the
hook above, and he was moved,
blindfold, few steps forward. II
was curious to note how the in
stincts of nature operated to make
him careful in putting ont his feet,
as if afraid he would walk off the
scaffold. The man who stood un-
blanched on the brink of eternity
was afraid of falling a few feet to
the ground
Everything was now in readi-
ness. The Sheriff asked the pris-
oner if he should give him a private
signal before the fatal moment. He
replied in a voice that sounded to
me unnaturally natural-so com
posed was its tone, and SO distinct
its articulation-that it did not
matter to him, if only they would
not keep him too long waiting lie
was kept waiting, however; the
troops that had formed his escort
had to be put in their proper posi-
ton, and while this was going on
he stood for some ten or fifteen
minutes blindfold, the rope round
his neck, and his feet on the treach-
erous platform, expecting instantly
the fatal act; but he stood for this
comparatively long time upright as
soldier in position, and notion
less. | was close to him, and
watched him narrowly to see ii /
could detect any sign of shrinking
or trembling in his person, but
there was none. Once | thought /
thought | saw his knees tremble,
but it was only the wind blowing
his loose trousers. His frmness
was subjected to still further trial
! by hearing Col. Smith announce to
the Sheriff, We are ready, Mr..
: Campbell The Sheriff did not
hear or comprehend, and in louder
tone the same announcement was
made. But the culprit still stood
steady, until the Sheriff, descending
the flight of steps, with a well-di-
rected blow of sharp hatchet, sew
cred 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 U. S. Arsenal at
, Harper's Ferry, the would-be Cati-
line of the South, the demigod of
the Abolitionists, the man execrated
and lauded, damned and prayed
for, the man who in his motives,
his means, his plans and his sue
cesses, must ever be a wonder, a
puzzle and a mystery, John Brown,
2 was hanging between heaven and
earth.
"There was profoundest stiffness
, during the time his struggles con-
/, tinued, growing feebler and feebler
e at each abOrtive attempt to breathe.
His knees were scarcely bent, his
{, arms were drawn up to a right an
gle at the elbow, with the hands
r clenched; but there was no writh-
r ing of the body, no violent heaving
I of the chest. At each feebler effort
5 at respiration his arms sank lower
e and his legs hung more relaxed,
until at last, straight and lank, he
! danglcd, swayed slightly to and
e fro by the wind j. I. l.. Preston,
r in the Southern Bivouac for Au-
gust.
/ The manufacturers of playing
: cards have resnOnded TO n fashion,