The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1890-11-15
BIRcHALL KEPT HIS NERVE.
He Refused To Make Any Confession an,
Died Game.


He Refused to Make Any Confession and
Died Game.
WOODSTOCK, Ont, Nov. N.-At S:2Othis
morning Reginald Birchall was launched
into eternity for the murder Of his fellow
countryman, II. e. Benwell. lie partook
sparingly of breakfast at q, and then be.
gan TO prepare for the final ordeal. lie
put on a white flannel shirt with coat and
vest, but asked the turnkey to see this re-
placed after the execution by an ordinary
white shirt with a s,arched collar aud tie.
Tie would not wear a slarched collar at
the execution, he said, because IL might
interfere with the placing Of the rope
around his neck. Al $50 and from
then on the crowd began 10 collect In
front OF the jail, chiefly newspa-
per men from all over Canada and the
United States. At7:D the doors were all
opened and the crowd admitted and
passed through TO the yard in which the
scaffold was erected. About one hundred
and hfiy were admitted. The executioner
appeared on the scene at % minutes be-
fore o'clock with rope In hand and be-
gan 10 put things in order. The scalTold
was made Of three pieces OF timber six
inches square, two uprights sunk in the
ground aud the third timber crossed over
the top. The rope ran over pulleys in
this cross beam, and canister Of iron,
weight $50 pounds, was attached Co
the opposite end Of the moose and
held up by a cord to staple. Cut.
ting this cord releases the weight, which
ia lla nd al 81 alrs1
four feet. Al s:l5, the hangman having
completed preparations outside, came In
long, black Prince Albert coat and re-
moved night guard Midgley. lie had a
hard look on his mouth, but the tell-tale
moistness about the eyes. lie climed the
stairs and stood on the gallery beside
Birchalrs corridor door. There the old
soldier stood gloomy and sorrowful until
the sad procession had passed out and
down the spiral steps. Al s:9S the execu-
toner was beckoned TO go up. He had
been walking around the rotunda. lnhis
hands were straps with which To tie
Birchalrs arms. Waiting for the signal
he put behind his back and partly under
the skirt Of his coat the russet colored
straps and went up stairs.
In minute or two he undertook 10 strap
the prisoners arms behind his back and
then the awful march 10 death began at
s:2S. First came the Rural Dean Wade
in surplice and reading the church Of Eng
land service for the dead. Behind him
DIR. Chamberlain, followed by a servant
and Deputy Sheriff Perry. The prisoner
came next, deathly pale, but rcsolute, his
jaws locked with the ilxity Of death. His
step was steady, his jet black hair and
mustache made the pallor OF his face like
marble. lie was dressed in dark colorcd
tweed clothes and white flannel shirt with
a black bow at the collar and light patent
leather shoes. lie looked 81 young aud
there was such an expression of unmoye-
able resolution and undaunted courage
that men who saw him and knew him
worthy OF death In the eyes Of the law
back in a lonely swamp. The faces of
half the men there were as white almost
as that Of the doomed man. Al the foot
of the spiral staircase the procession
formed and his friend Weetham walked
on one side Of him with the day guard,
George Perry on the other. Jailor Cam
eron followed them, and after the hang
man the aged sheriff was supported 10 the
door Of the corridor overlooking the west
yard.
The march was slow along the corridor
and out into the yard. Wectham walked
close and held one hand in botn Of his
with all the assurance Of a friends heart
clasped. The principal actors in the
tragedy stopped with their charge l5 feet
from the gallows, and the solemn tones
Of the Anglican service thrilled everyone
there with horror that hardly let them
realize the tremendous importance Of that
In which they were taking part. They
felt oycrpowering pity for the black
haired, white-faced young man standing
on the threshold Of eternity. His eyes had
not trace Of the frivolity that lightened
his imprisonment. As he stood listening
10 the low-toned priest they we're fixed on
the blue sky over TO the north. There was
not a haunted look nor was there any
fear in his eyes, but fixed purpose that
seemed 10 consume his reason. ID
is not possible 10 imagine tho ex-
preston OF his face. lie was living life
time In that hour, and no one there but
would have shown the strain OF this terri
BILE ordeal. Il was not despair. but he had
strung his whole being M To die game.
Al the utterance Of the words "dust 10
DUST in the service Birchall stepped
firmly forward and took his place under
the scaffold with his face to the south and
turned up slightly. He took Weetham's
hand in his and tho friends kissed under
the gallows. The ekecutioner put the
strap around the prisoners legs just above
the knees. When the clergyman took
Birchalrs hand and kissed him, the wit.
nesses were sure the end was near and the
suspense was terrible. Terrible ON the
witnesses. No humhn knowledge can say
how terrible 10 the man standing there
alone on the green sward. As the priest
entered upon the Lords prayer the execu-
toner put the black cap over the head OF
the doomed man and adjusted the moose
about his neck. Birchall had declared he
would say nothing at the scailold and the
witnesses did not expect he would. His
silence seemed. by the intensity Of his pur-
pose, 10 be silence concentrated a hum
lred times. lie did not say word after
leaving the cell, exceptit might have been
10 mutter a word TO Weetham or Wade
when he bid them good bye with kiss.