The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-02-10
CHAPTER xxx.
A nhX or nj nOn

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 Il 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 ct 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 a
line before him, which they did. Robin
son was sick with fever. but 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. Ii 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 Il good
deal recently with nGilaral fever, but
rose to my feet oppressed Utth unutter-
able fear-the most deadly CT 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, muffied and indistinct because
of the two iron doors between; then the
opening and shutting of doors, the passage
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 an
hour-the door opened and our comrades
came back, one by one; but the change in
them was fearful. My own friend, George
d. Wilson, was leading, his step firm, his
form erect, but his hands firmly tied, and
his face pale as death. "What is it?''
some one asked in q whisper, for his ap-
pearapce silenced every one.
1--WE are to be executed Immediately -
was the appalling reply, given in low
! tone, but with thrilling distinctness. The
others followed him into the room, all
tied ready for the scaffold. The officers
were standing in the door, and barely
granted them the privilege Of taking us
once more by the hand before death.
Then came the farewells, hopeless in this
world 1t was q moment that seemed an
age of measureless, heart breaking sorrow.
What had occurred in the other room
while we were separated The narrative
of the ministers will make that plain.
Rev. w. j. Scott was requested by Col.
! G, j. Foreacre, then provost marshal In
| Atlanta, to visit some Federal prisoners
at the city Jail who were about to die. On
| his way Mr. Scott called OH Rev. George
G.. n. MacDonell and asked him to go
along. At the Jail they were taken into
the room where our comrades were.
| Scott says:
"They impressed me at once as body
Of remarkably fine looking young men.
could but notice also their cheerfulness
urder such painful environments. He
told them that he was the bearer of I'M
welcome tidings. This arrested their
attention, but they were still unprepared
for the blow that followed. Then Scott,
with the brevity which was the best kind
ness, with q few questions answered,
gave the full truth, every word being like
an added stab, telling them that they
had been found guilty at Knoxville-of
| being spies-that they were to die to die
| by hanging-and ut oncel Their natural
and indignant protests were waved aside
AZ something with which the ministers
had nothing to do; their only business
was to help the doomed men by prayer
and counsel to prepare for death, and the
hour was Mt hand. Anxiety and even
horror was in an instant depicted on every
countenance. When they asked, "How
soon?" he answered, SIN less than two
hours This was probably merciful
overstatement. Tbs hearts of the preach
ers, upon whom had been rolled the fear
full task Of first communicating this ter
rible intelligence, were very heavy. Scott
adds: "They were gallant men, who
would have stood mistaken In the irnmt-
nent deadly breach. They were picked
men, chosen for their soldiery qualities;
yet in moment every cheek blanched to
the lIly's whiteness. Inanother moment,
however, they rallied and appeared firm
and unfinching." Scott and MacDonel
then gave them such counsel as the dying
need, recitsd to them appropriate Scrip
tuSe passages, and nagva with thsm.