New-York tribune., 1886-07-09

HOW HIS LAST DAY OF LIFE WAS SPENT.
REFUSING TO SEE His UNCi.E-FNJOYING FLOWERS
BROUGHT BY SISTERS OF MERCY.

REFUSING TO SEE HiS UNCLE-FNJOYING FLOWERS
BROUGHT BY SISTERS OF MERCY.
The last day of Miguel Chacon's life was passed
much as every other day during the last fortnight
except that his spiritual advisers spent more time
with him and gave him little opportunity to mcd-
tate upon his DOOM He arose at $3.50 a M. appear
Ing much refreshed by uninterrupted sleep of six
hours and dressed with his usual care. He had
hardly put the finishing touches tn his toilet when
Father Durauquet CAME III and was received with
more than customary eitusion. Ihe prisoner has
become greatly attached to the priest and has
looked forward 10 his daily visits as the bright
spots in his monotonous life in the Tombs Indeed
he credits Father Duranquet with having given him
new lease of lie and prevented him from relaps,
of the fate which awaits him. Deputy Sher:fs Nc
Closkey and Hanley, who had been on guard since
midnight, sat outside the cell door levefeh'y
ercises At o'clock they resigned their places 10
Deputies lavcry and Crawford who had been as,
signed TO keep the condemned man company untli
p. m. Father Duranquet had been with Chacon
On hour and half W hen two Sisters OF Mercy from
the Yorkville convent arrived. One OF them carrieu
large bouquet of roses. lilies of the valley linnior
teles and geraniurns. which she presented TO the
murderer He seemed much pleased at ms marx
OF attention and requested one o ine oepu,,ts ,b W
bring him glass of water IN which 10 put ine
stems of the flowers and every few moments uuiine
the day sprnkled them with water TO keep thei5
fresh until to-day. Break fast OF nam ana eggs anu M
coffee from Warden FInn's Kitchen; where Az the
meals for he condemned man have been cooked ior
the last fortnight, was brought 20 'ne HuIucIcIs
cell at o ocloct and he ate heartily. m
While lie Sisters of Mercy were still with him
1he noise made by the carpenters Ill erecting the
paliow, reached his cell. Ihe gloomy lOok Vhlch
oversprcad his face for minute told plainly that
he knew what was going on but his attention was
quickly distracted ny thc SISTERS ana he naue no
reference to the gallows. II is erected across the
pavcd driveway between the Old prison ana the
ilm-st wall and is the same as was used IN the
eyecutIon Of Edward HOvey on October ~, 1883.
aud McGloin and Malone on March {? 1883. 1t is
simple in construction and merely consists of two
upright hard wood posts twelve feet IN height and
ltt,h Ias ffAil
with pullevs. Hanging from the centre "f the beam
is "A rope litcd with hook which is 10 6e attached
To the moose about the victims neck. lhls rope
runs over pulley III the centie OF the beam 10
another at the west end. where 1t /, fastened TO
TWO iron weights. one weighing 500 ounds and
the other $50 pounds A half inch cord holds the
weights III position at the tpp OF the sCanold and
when this is cut by the eXecutuncr they Will fall
on 90 cushion ON tie pavement below. frame
box arout three feet wiuc bv five long has been
erected around the weights and IN TINS the eNecu-
1onor viii be concealed. The scaiiold is painted
Shoriiy before noon Chacon and his guards went
into the prison yard for a walk. They were Just
about eater the driveway across winch the
galows sands. when lie turned on his heel and
sad with a smile: " / guess we hadn't better 20
Tmoni'ei Lopcz. one of Chacon's unales who lives
in Sul'ivan-st.. reached the Iomhs about noon and
rcIucsted a last interview with his nephew. Cha
con was told OF his presence by one of the keepers.
Does lac look bad asked the prisoner IN broken
Eaelish.
Then dOnt want to see INN. I'm AFRAID he ii
break me down. Tell him I'm all right"
Lopez complained to Warden Finn that he had
no To harry his nephew aud Father Bvrnesoi
S. Andrews Church, VINO happened to be going in
10 see the condemned man NJ the time, assured the
old man that he would take care OF Il at and woud
give him IA good burial in Calvary Cemetery.
lupex seemed much relieved at this promise.
The first Indication of weakening that ChacOn
has shown when dinner of cOrncd beef,
cucunhers mashed potatoes and Strawberries WIS
taken to hIm ~ $3.50 o'clck. His appetite seemed
So have cit him and the meal was left almost un-
touched ile smokes almost constantly and his
first impni-e alter the many devotional exercises
Yesterday WAS to roll cigarette and hight 10.
Father Caitel!o speut an hOdr with hun between
3 aud 1 o'clock aud when ne departed told the re-
rortcrs that Chacon wac thoroughly resigned and
truly happy at the prospect OF dying.
Toward dark Chacon came u full real
izaion Of the ia which awaited him.
lie was moIOse. uneasy and plainly de-
spondent. Al 8 o'clock Deputy DclmOur brought III
eight raw oysters, but the doomed man could eat
only hvc Fathers DuIarEuet ana
Il, rits endeavored TO occupy his mind with
religions ministratIons but were unsuccessful
Deputies Anderson aud BTasscl relieved the watch
promptly at midnight