The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-02-02
CHAPTER XXI
A DAY OF BLOOD.

The 18th of June was bright summer
day. Our party in the jail were making
merry with games and songs, utterly I'M
suspicious OF immediate injury. But one
of our number, looking out Of the win
dow, saw a squadron of cavalry approach
ing and called attention to it. There was
nothing unusual about this, for we often
noticed bands of troops on the streets;
but they now halted at our gate and sur
rounded our prison. This was unusual
and startling.
The doors down stairs opened. We
heard the shuttle of feet in the hall and
the clink of officers sabers as they
assembled the stairway. We held our
breath in painful attention, while they
paused at our door, unlocked and threw
it open, and then one of the number,
stepping before the others, read the names
Of the seven tried at Knoxville. They
were ordered to respond and stand in
line before him, which they did. Robin
son was sick with fever, but a guard as
sisted him to rise, and he stood with the
rest Then they were all told to follow
over into the opposite room, while the
Tennesseeans there were brought in re-
turn to us.
With throbbing hearts we asked one
another the meaning of these strange pro-
ceedings. Some supposed our comrades
were about to receive their acquittal;
others, still more sanguine, that they
would be parOled, preparatory to an ex-
change. But we had no confidence in
these suggestions even while we made
them 1t would not have been necessary
to surround the prison for such purposes;
and the faces of the officers who had en-
tered our room were solemn and stern.
was sick, too, having suffered a good
deal recently with malarial fever, but
rose to my feet oppressed with unutter-
able fear-the most deadly ever remem-
Der feeling A half witted fellow who
had been put in with the Tennesseeans
came to me and wanted to play game of
cards! had been fond of the game, but
never played it after this day! Now /
struck the greasy pack from his hand and
babe him leave me.
From over the way we heard the sound
| of voices, mufled and indistinct because
| of the two iron doors between; then the
opening and shutting of doors, the passage
4 of several persons up and down the stair
/ way, and last the sound as Of solemn
| reading
| A little while after-I cannot judge OF
the length Of time spent in such fearful
/ agony-the ministers in the other room
| think it must have been more than al
hour-the door opened and our comrade:
| came back, one by one; but the change IL
them was fearful. Ny own friend, Georg'
D. Wilson, was leading, his step firm, hi
form erect, but his hands firmly tied, and
his face pale as death What is it:'
some one asked in whisper, for his ap
pearapee silenced every one.
I'VE are TO be executed Immediately,
was the appalling reply, given in a Low
tone, but with thrilling distinctness. Tn
| Others followed him into the room, al
tied ready for the scaffold. The officer
were standing in the door, and barrel
granted them the privilege of taking u
once more by the hand before death
Then came the fareweiIs, hopeless in thi
world. 1t was moment that seemed q
age of measureless, heart breaking sorroN
What had occurred in the other ROOF
while we were separated, The narratiy
Of the ministers will make that plain.
Rev. w. ]. Scott was requested by Co
G. ]. Foreacre. then provost marshal