The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-02
JOHN SCOTT.

FIVE OF THE RAIDERS EXECUTED.
We had often said to each other that no
matter who else might perish, Ross in
some way would escape by reason of his
high standing as a Mason. Probably
the following narrative shows better than
anything else the fearful resolution with
which this deed of blood was carried
through. Mr.. Scott continues:
As we rose from our knees one of them-I am
not sure at this late day whether Ross or Camp
bell-gave me Masonic signal which craftsmen
are only permitted to use in seasons of supreme
peril. recognized it instantly and took him
aside and satisfied myself that he was ''son of
light" No one who has never been raised from
dead level to living perpendicular can appre-
ciate my feelings said with faltering voice:
MY brother, 1 will do what can for you con-
sistently with my obligations 20 the government
to which owe allegiance"
He replied: Il ask for nothing more. We are
about to be executed with only a few hours
notice We had no intimation of it until you in
formed us Now, can you not prevail on the mil
itary authorities to respite one or two days:''
replied Il will make an honest EFFORT
The other prisoners must have heard a portion
of the conversation, for they seemed quite elated.
knew that must act promptly, so leaving
brother MacDonell to talk with them, I left the
cell and went down into the front prison yard
where a squadron of cavalry were already drawn
up They had, I found. been waiting quietly for
our appearance. Col w. J. Lawton had on that
day assumed command Of the post. He was an
old and highly esteemed personal friend. 1 told
him what had transpired in the cell, and urged
him to respite them at least until the next day;
that to execute-them on such short notice would
be utterly indefensible; that he could easily cut
of all possibility of escape. He was a man of
generous impulses, and saw he was greatly
troubled and perDlexed. He replied:
Il agree to all you say I would most gladly
afford them relief, but, !" he continued my orders
are peremptory. am required to execute them
today and have not the slightest discretion II I
diSObev orders I a labla 70 he
/ and disgraced.'
He proposed to show me his orders, but told
1 him his statement was sufficient.
was compelled to return and announce nv,
| failure. was then asked if I would transmit
some messages to their friends. - said certainly,
| il the military authorities would allow it, They
| then dictated their messages, brother MacDonell
writing three IN his memorandum book and
| writing four in mine. There were but slight
verbal differences in their messages, and the fol-
lowing may be taken as a sample of the whole:
Il am to suffer death this afternoon for my
| loyalty. am true to the old flag and trust in
Gods mercy for salvation"
The name of the party and number of his regi-
ment was attached.
The messages were not sent because of some
| technical objections at the war department.
Immediately after this failure to get the
least respite in the inexorable orders, the
officers read the sentence of the court
martial, which directed the hanging of
/ the accused as soon as CllS OrQer snail De
made public;' between the 10Th and 22d
| days of June inst"
When this cruel clause was first in
serted, it was probably thought that all
| the band would be convicted in the same
manner, and then in one terrible hour ali
would be swept away with no opportu-
nifty to leave any word behind! The re
| fusal to send a harmless message to
/ friends-a privilege that would not be de-
] MED fO the most Infamous criminal
| agrees with this view.
1t was the manner of death rather than
death itself which seemed so horrible tc
our comrades as they took their last leave
| OF US. Most of them were also without
any clear hope beyond the grave. A day
even, to have sought divine favor would
| have been a priceless boon. Wilson wal
| professed unbeliever, and many a time
had argued the truth of the Christian re
ligion with me half a day at time; bu
he said, ''Pittinger, 1 believe you ar
right now! try to be better prepared wheI
You come to die than I am" ] coul(
scarcely release his hand as he muttered
''God bless you, - and turned away.
Shadrack was careless, generous AM
merry, though often excitable, and some
times profane- Now he turned to US witt
a forced calmness of voice which wa
more affecting than a wall of agony a
he said:
boys, I'm not prepared to meet m
Jesus
When asked by some of us, whose tear
were flowing fast, to think of heavenl
mercy, he answered, still in tones @
thrilling calmness, 'I'n try, III try, 5u
l know I'm not prepared
Slavens, who was a man of immens
strength and iron resolution, turned t
his friend Buffum and could only articU
late, ''wife-children- when uttel
ance failed
John Scott was well educated, and ha
left very pleasant home in Findlay,
Father and mother, brothers and sister
have always been among the most n
spected of the citizens there. He ha
| been married but three days before enlis
ing, and now the thought of his youn
| and sorrowing wife nearly drove him I
despair. He could only clasp his hand
in silent agony.
Campbell had half smile on his stron
face, but it was terribly unreal, with I