Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-05-31
'e9 Press ana Aakotaiax
JOHN BROWNS DEATH.

JOHN BROWNS DEATH.
CHAT WITH THE MAN WHO Lee
IN THE PROSECUTION.
-
4 Act in the 1ragedy-A False State.
ment Corrected - "Porte Crayon's'
sketch-Politeness on tho scaffold.
= The only time during the whole time OF
his captivity that John Brown showed
temper, according to Mr.. Andrew Hunter,
was when his wife visited him the day
before the execution. and Gen. Taliaferro,
who was in command of the troops, re.
fused to let her remain over night.
Brown did show right smart temper
over that" said MI. Hunter. "But he
soon Gained down and aequiesced In the
arrangement. AIRS. Brown stayed in the
Jail two.or three hours and was then sent
down to Harper's Ferry, where she waited
until next day, when the body of her hus-
band was delivered to her. She was a
woman of very little sentiment. I think.
for while she was asiHarper's Ferry wait.
Ing for The body she was getting receipts
TO make particular dishes"
Ofthe last act In the tragedy Mr.. Hun.
tor tells some interesting "reminiscences.
lie, with Mr.. Smith, Of the military insti-
tute, went out the afternoon before tho
s~axecution and selected the location for the
gallows, which wa immediately nut up
by Capt. Cockren, the town carpenter.
TIE EXECUTION.
we chose an elevated place, Just ont
Of town, where there wasn't q tree or
anything else to serve as q landmark.
Our idea was that the exact spot should
be forgotten as soon as possible. And we
were eminently successful There ism { a
man living, except myself, who can tel.
you just where John Brown was hung. /
can put my hand on the spot, but |
wouldn't. Tho gallows was put up the
afternoon before. ard IL was taken down
as soon as the execution was over. and
the timbers were stored In the Jail yard.
Afterwards the gallows was erected as
wanted for Browns companions, but not
In the same place. AS soon as one hang.
ing was over the gallows was taken
down. When the war came on the tim
beyS were moved from the jail yard and
built into q porch to hide them from the
Yankees. There they remained until a
few years ago, when their owner. Capt.
J. w. Coyle. sold part of them for more
than his whole house cost him. Thew
were.tafaen north to be distributed among
admirers Of old John Brown"
Some thugs which have been printed
about the execution were utterly untrue.
according to Mr.. Hunter.
"That story Of John Brown stopping
on the way to the scatford to Hss a little
negro child Is utterly false" he said.
mo negroes were allowed to be near. I
saw him all Che way, from the iaH to che
gaiows- was close beside the scaffold
when he mounted 1t and ! heard him say
In alplaintdve tone. 4 hope they win not
keep me standing here any longer than
necessary The military were going
through q lot OF movements. While
Sheriff Campbell and Capt. Avis were
binding him and adjusting the rope /
heard him say, Make hastei' Make haster
When ! heard that / dropped my handler.
chief as o signal for them to cut the rope
which held the drop. and they obeyed.
The military kept on moving about, but
before they got into position and knew
what had happened John Brown had been
hung and wss rs dead as Henry VIII"
IN LAST sKETcH.
Strother. the artist sind author, best
known to the literary world as Porte
Crayon, untl recently In the diplomatic
service Of this country, was q nephew of
Mr.. Hunter. He died q few months ago
ut Charlestown- He was hero during the
trial reporting and ~sketching.
.Strpther," said Mr.. Hunter. IVA with
mo when the drop fell He slipped up,
raised the cap from John Browns face
and commenced making q sketch Of the
dying maR's face On my asking som
question. strother replied that Lydia
Maria Chiids had published her wish to
have a picture Of John Brown In every
condition of life to hang tn her room, and
he was taking the, sketch that she might
have him when he was Finished
Mr.. Hunter says that he Immediately
had Browns body packed and sent il off
that afternoon to Esrper's Ferry.
.Not one Of them was buried here he
added II shipped the bodies north to
friends and was very glad to do so. Ste
phens' sister and sweetheart came here
from Connecticut and were with him the
night before he was hung. They took his
body back with them.
There was one thing In connection
with the execution Of Brown have always
regretted. said Mr.. Hunter, as he con.
STUDDED bis "reminiscences ..and that Is
this: AS he ascended the gallows hs
bowed to me very politely. was looking
In enother direction and did not see him,
but was told of 1t afterward. II had
seen him should certainly have returned
the bow.
Mi. Hunter said this with the sincerity
OF q Virginia gentleman Of the old school,
who felt that by accident he failed 10 sus
tain OF one occasion his reputation for
good amer wv. B. s. In Globe
Democrat.
Russian Conyiots and Their Chains.
While Q number OF conyicts en-
gagged In games OF hazard In the corridor,
most o. those In the rooms were absorbed
In another occupation. Heavy metallic
strokes rang through .he prison. the fall
OF chains upon the floor could be heare
from time to time. but the noise disturbed
neither those who were fast