The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-10-29
EXECUTION OF JOHN eaov;,:
MS oemeanor upc tn. s.
dents OF thu ~. 'caaold-,,..

YIN BROWN
His Demeanor unc
us,, dents Of the DC, A.,os- ..,., "a
Shortly before II o,,,. Aas End
t %as , ssss IN, from JAIL and ths ne pro
o oege was put in motion. F hs tmneral "a
'1 umpsn,es' then the crim; .' came the.
urawn oy two large whita ha wagon
Diown was seated on ths a ao. JOIN
panied by the sheriff ana ND + conn, accom-.
sons sons The wagon drove to wv Two Other ~.
gallows, and Brown descs ~ sne loot Of tn
r,ty ind without assistance s with slae
the steep steps to the nIat,s ana ascended
nart tnof 1 was intrepid, without hi, asde
s 20 .,o., ne made no speech. sing aras
ne desired to make one ~ y. whethe.
know; even If he had desired NV ~ !. Dol not
~ no' nave oeen permitted. An !" would
us must OF necessity have ha.ss speecad
as being directed against thu tha unlawful
dignity OF the commonwealth is peace and
such could not be allowed h hS :. and Y
Were then In engaged in tn. ~ .aose who
John Browns manner nav. .
aence OF timidity, but his court :" NJ
was not Tree from concern. and ;t' sa
70 me to have little cast n :, .,, H'eened
ne stood upon the scaffold hnt a . ~
time, giving adieus to thoss saott
MIN, when he was prons,,r ABOUT
Toned, the white can drs,.v. pm
nus face, the moose adjusted and .... oVes
to the hook above, and he ru~ s.taeaed
onnonold, few steps forward n ~,
curious to note how the instinct. ., We ".
lure operated to make him carefn, ~ ~, ~
Ting out his feet, as ii afraid he - ra pa.
Walk on the scaffold. The man ~I.
stood unbalanced on the brink -. wy. sao
nifty was afraid of falling few fsst t o,s..
ground! y" ''e' 'otns
Everything was now in readiness, nj.
sheriff asked the prisoner If he sho .as
give him private signal before the fst.i
moment. He replied, in voice ' tS..
sounded so unnaturally natural-so e ,,n'
posed was its tone, and SO distinct ia ,' -,
ticulat1on-that 1T did not matter tn him
II only they would not keep him too Inn,
waiting He was kept waiting. howevs,s
che troops that had formed his escort h.d
TO be put In their proper position. and
while this was going on he stood for ann.
ten or fifteen minutes blindfold, the rom
round his neck, and his feet on tho treaeh.
erous platform, expecting instantly tn.
ratal act; but he stood for this con,pars.
lively long time upright as soldier IN
position, and motionless. was close "a
him, and watched him narrowly. to zee Y
could detect any sign of shrinking Or
in his person, but there was
none. Once thought I saw his knees
tremble, but it was only the wind blow.
ing his loose trousers.
His f1rmness was subjected to still fur
ther trial by hearing Col. Smith announce
70 the sheriff, we are ready, MIR. Camp
oelL' The sheriff did not hear or compre-
1end, and in 4 louder tone the same an.
louncenent was made. But the culprit
IT'LL stood steady, until the sheriff, de-
Icendtng the flight of steps, with u well
directed blow of sharp hatchet, severed
he rope that held up the trap-door, which
instantly sank sheer beneath him. He fell
lbout three feet; aud the man of strong
Ind bloody hand, of fierce passions, Of
ron will, of wonderful vicissitudes, the
errible partisan of Kansas, the capturer
4 the United States arsenal at Harper's
Ferry, the would be Cataline OF the south,
he deinigod OF the Abolitionists, the man
xecrated and Landed, damned and
prayed for, the man who, in his motives
liz means, his plans. and his successes,
must ever be wonder, q puzzle and a
MYSTERY. John Brown, was hanging be.
ween heaven and earth.
There was profoundest stiffness during
he time his struggles continued. growing
eebler and feebler ut each abortive at
empt to breathe. His knees were scarcely
ent, his arms were drawn up to right
ngle at the elbow, with the hands
lenched; but there WAS no writing OF
be body, no violent heaving Of the chest
It each feebler effort ut respiration his
rms sank lower and his legs hung more
Taxed, until ut last traight and lank,
= dangled, swayed slightly to and froby
he wind. ~. T. l.. Preston III Southern
'ivouac.