The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-08-18
The Execution of John Brown.

Ae<&SS~@~-~-~
J. T. L. Preston in August Bivouae.
'shortly before IL o'clock the pris-
oner was taken from jail, and the fun
eral cortege was put in motion. First
came three companies, then the GRIM
malls wagon, drawn by two large white
horses. John Brown was seated on
his coffin, accompanied by the Sheriff
and two other persons. The wagon
drove to the foot Of the gallows, and
Brown descended with alacrity, and
without assistance and assembled the
steep steps to the platform. His de-
meanor was intrepid, without being
braggart. He madeno speech; wheth-
er 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 beng directed
against the peace and dignity OF the
commonwealth, and as such could not
be allowed by those who were then en-
gagged in the most solemn and extreme
vindication of law.
"John Browns manner gave no evil
dence of timidity, bu his countenance
was not free from concern, and 1t
seemed to me to have little cast OF
wildness. He stood upon the scaffold
but a short time, giving brief adieus to
those about him, when he asproper-
ly pinioned, the white cap drawn
over his face, the moose adjusted and
attached to the hook above,
and he was moved, blindfold, q
few stems forward. It was curious to
note how the instincts of nature oper-
ated to make him careful in putting
out his feet, as if afraid he would walk
of the scafold. The man who stood
unblanched on the brink of eternity
was afraid OF falling few feet to the
groundl
Livery thing was now in readiness.
The sheriff asked the prisoner if he
should give him private signal be-
fore the fatal moment. He replied in
O. voice that sounded to me unnatur-
ally naturalist composed was its
tone, and so distinct it's articulation
that it did not matter to him, If
only they would not keep him too long
waiting He was kept waiting, how
ever; the troops that had formed his
escort had to be put in their proper
position, and wtfifs- this was going on
he stood for some ten or Ifffrtteasn min
utes blindfold, therope round his neck,
and his feet on the treacherous plat
form, expecting instantly the fatal act;
but he stood for this comparatively
long time upright as soldier in posi-
ton, and motionless. was close to
him, and watched him narrowly, to
see if l could detect any sign otshrink-
ing or trembling in his person, but
there was none. Once I thought l
saw his knees tremble, but it was only
the wind blowing his loose trousers;
His frmness WAS subjected to still
further trial by hearing Col. Smith an
nounce to the Sheriff, we are ready Mr..
Campbell The Sheriff did not hear or
comprehend, and IN louder tone the
same announcement was made. But
the culprit still stood steady, until
the Sheriff, descending the fight OF
steps, with well-directed blow OF q
sharp hatchet, severed the rope that
held up the trap-door, which instant.
ly sank sheer beneath him. He fell
about three feet; and the man ofstrons
and bloody hand, of fierce passions,
of IRON will, of wonderful vicissitudes,
the terrible partisan OF Kansas,
the capturer of the United States
arsenal at Harper's Ferry, the would
be Catiline ofthe 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 a wonder, a
puzzle and a mystery, John Brown,
was hanging between heaven and earth.
"There was profoundest stiffness
during the time his struggles continued,
growing feebler and feebler at each
abortive attempt to breathe. His
knees were scarcely bent, his arms
were drawn up to a right angle at the
elbow, with the hands clenched; but
there was no writhing of the body, no
violent heaving of the chest. At each
feebler effort at respiration his arms
sank lower and his legs hung more re-
Taxed, until at last, straight and lank,
he dangled, swayed lightly to and fro
by the wind.