The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-27

West 3, were also in heiHclosure. BsBidel
these were newspaper meD, curiou
friends OF the sheriff and several negroeI
and Mr.. Bopp, Of Allegheny City, whC
made the rope, and who has uiuety'eiRh
hangmen's ropes and has eeen sixty o
them used.
A NERVOUS AssEMBLAGg.
The mere appearance OF the doomet
man caused nervousness in the speCts
tors, but they were destined to see th'
most revolving, sickening and disgusting
ly dreadful sights it is the lot OF many
men to view in this world.
West was still in semi.ConsciouH
state upon the ecalro'd. He seemed tC
be aware OF the awful proceedings in
which he was about TO take part, but he
could not open bis eyes, but his features
and the muscles o. bis body and limbs
twitched nervously. Once after the black
cap was in the hands Of the Sheriff and
the board to which he was pinioned was
being lifted 10 q perpendicular position.
his eyes opened for an instant, and
though he seemed too far gone to smile,
his face lighted as II some pleasing fancy
fitted through his mind or he saw a
vision OF iairer land awaiting him.
The cap was placed over his head and
face. He wss still in that painful semi
conscious stste when tho board at his
back was placed upright upon the tramp
in the scahold, and John McCahan, Il
railroad conductor veIsed in the tying
ropes, arranged the moose about his neck.
The rope was half an inch in diameter
and was arranged 10 allow the body to
drop three and half feet. 1t was
wound several times round the overhead
beams, and was securely fastened.
THE TRAp FALLS.
At precisely 2:SO, Sheriff George E.
Lockhart touched the trigger, firm,
substantial strip of wood, but very light
to be the only wall between the poor
misguided man and eternity.
The body fell. 1t did not come to a
sudden and deadly stop and pity the
more it did not. Tho rope broke o few
inches above the nocse, and the body
shot, straight upright, to the ground.
The Jerk OF the rope brought poor
West to consciousness and be drew up
his hands and feet as il 10 save himself,
but the orael pinions held him tAat and
he fell upon bis face among some blocks
Of wood, cutting several gashes and
dis6guring the already patn.dIstoFled
face. -.
nerve up to this time, but he grew pale,
and his DEPUTIES lost their heads en-
tirely. One fellow tried TO push the
stretcher down through the trap door,
hut failed. Others, with more presence
Of mind, ran down to the ground and
removed the black cap and carried the
board with It's prisoner to the scahold
again. .....,,.,
which will haunt the spectators to theiT
diving dayg. West had freed his arms
by a superhuman effort, and siezing hil
head between his hands, groaned
aIond. His legs were still held under
The strap, but he drew them up into the
position Of one straining every nerve to
free himself from an awful bondage
he gasped and groaned and beat hla
head against the cruel board.
1T WAS SOON ENDED.
But It was all soon over. The cap was
again placed upon his head. Nc
Cahan made another moose and at ex
sctly 2:4O the drop yes sprung again
andin eight minutes life was pEonounc'
ed extinct and the body was cut doTn.
Vests heavy weight drew the rope
taut and IL bad not elaoticity enough 9
cause a rebound. He hung Q DEAD
weight, and while the rope gave out th'
twist the body revolved slowly seVera
times and settled quietly, while the sou
tied to it's eternal resting place
Death resulted from etrangulation, ih'
peek having withstood the shock
When ths physicians pronounced hiu
dead. the rope vas cut and the bod!
turned over TO Basil West, the deai
man's brother. II was placed IN plain
neat black coffin, and was dressed =
black shroud. Tomorrow the remain
will be taken to centrevllle where the,
will he inferred among these Q! 3 NUN
ber az his relatives.
After the hanging, there WAS greS
curiosity to see the sCalFold, and seyera
hundred people looked at the structure
SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.
| Another sensational incident occurre
nreviors to the execution. West
brother, Basil, he'd been granted an in
teEvieW With him last night and the tw
hnd held a long, whispered conversation
with each other. Rilerward crowd
newsoaper men got bold OF and attempt
cd to pump from him what the eonyel
sation was about-whether or not WEI
had made any admissions. In order !
do this they got him drunk, but Bas
was too wary and their efforts we're un
Rvailinr This morning liG5.! made IN
|, arrange request that he be allowed
, witness his brc,her's death on the sea
fold. This was granted. bnt 1t was oil
served that he was still insoe.cate
and went EIost mutteriug to himseI
suo :rpeared 10 be WSEipg threats. In a
lss.s lid tGck him into . room aEd exa't
Sns ;nSd h;|1, O0 searching him eott,e I /
iusS ns;.Ln nS' M revolver were iouna Q
S'Ss Ne Hsyson ~ NsY we're taken from mn
ana Hs BasiI told the fheIg be was q ga !
that this was done, as " ~ hSGltEogS, t,4oi,S,,
had saved him great deA. " HoDi onJn
II was suspected that he had 'H'eu1S ~
tn tn Shoot he condemned man before "
hanging could takS place, In order !
cheat the gallows, and that the matte
had been arranged during the conVeIsi
tion Of the night bslora. Basil attende
, the hanging and Vowed the horrible o
currences with stolid indifference
ANOTHER RtfORr