Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-28
EXECUTION OF JOHN BROWN.
His Demeanor Upon the scanoId- Incl

His Demeanor Jpon the scaffoid -inci-
dents of the Occa-i"n n-The End.
"Shortly before II O'Clock the prisoner
vas taken from Jail, and the funeral cor
eye was put in molten. First came three
companies, then the criminals wagon,
irawn by two large white horses. John
Brown was seated on the coffin, accom-
panied hy the sheriff and two other per
sons The wagon drove "a the loot oi the
gallows. and Brown descended with alaC-
rity and without assistance and asCendcd
the steep steps to the platform His de
meanOr was intrepid without being Drag
CART He made no speech, whether
he desired to make one or not do not
know, even if he had desired 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 10y those who
were then In engaged in the most solemn
and extreme vlndlCati"n of law.
John Browns manner gave no evi-
ieuce of timidity, but his Cuuntenance
was not free from concern, and it seemed
to me to have a little cast Of wildness.
lie stood upon the sCatfold but "a short
time, giving adleus to those about
him. when he was properly pin
ioncd, the white cap drawn over
his face. the moose ad justed and attached
10 the hook above, and he was moved,
blindfold, few steps forward 1t WAS
curious To note how tue instincts Of ma
ture operated to make him careful in put
ting out his feet, as if afraid he would
walk off the sCatfold The man who
stood unbalanced on the brink of eter-
nifty was afraid Of falling few feet to the
ground!
Everything was now in readiness The
sheriff asked the prisoner If he should
give him private signal before the tatat
moment. He replied, in voice that
! sounded so unnatu-ally natural-so com
posed was its tone, and 50 distinct its ar
tiCuIatiOn-that it did not matter - him.
If only they would net keep him too long
waiting He WAS kept waiting. however,
the troops that had formed his escort had
| to he put in their proper position, and
while this was going on he stood for some
ten or fifteen minutes hlindfOld, the rope
round his neck, and his feet on the treaCh
erOuS platform, expecting instantly the
| fatal act: but he stood for this Cnmpara-
lively long time upright as a soldier in
/ position, and mOtiOnless. | was close To
/ him. and watched him narrowly. TO see if
/ | could detect any sign Of shrinking oT
trembling in his person, but there was
none. Once | thought | saw his knees
tremble but ii was only the wind blow
ing his loose trousers.
! His tirmness was subjected to still fur
ther trial by hearing Col. Sm tn announce
! TO the sheriff, We are ready, Mr.. Camp
! bell The sheriff did not hear or compre-
hend. and in louder tone the same an
nouncement was made. But the culprit
! still stood steady. until the sheriff, de
scending the flight of steps, with we'll
/ iirected blow of sharp hatchet severed
the rope that held up the trap door, which
| instantly sank sheer beneath him lie fell
about three feet; and the man OF strong
and bloody hand. Of fierce passions, oi
ron will. of wonderful viCissitudes. the
terrible partisan of Kansas the capturer
Of the United States arsenal at Harper's 5
Ferry. the would be CatalIne 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 successes,
must ever be wonder, a puzzle and a
mystery, John Brown, was hanging be
tween heaven and earth.
There was prOfoundest stiffness during
the time his struggles continued. growing
feebler and feebler at each abortive at
tempt to breathe His knees were scarcely
bent, his arms were drawn up to a rght
angle at the elbow, with the hands
Clenched; but there was no writhlng 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 j. I. l.. Preston in Southern
BivOu. L.