Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-22
AFT Err THE HANGING

TOE III kuOWn lDdU JnlS was GIl6 0fSt
execution that had ever occurred in KEN.
per county.
IT there is one thing more entertaining
than a hanging per Sc, it Is the variety
of fleet produced by the ghastIy spec
tacle upon the faces and manner of the
assembled witnesses. The majority were
present because they had never seen a
han ging; others went to crafty the natur-
al vengeance of outrage humanity; a
moiety went in the interest Of science,
hoping to hear the swapping caused by the
Sundering of the epinal ligament.
A pretty, dimpled, rosy lass from the
country barefoot, and arrayed in yell
and pervaded by an odor of fresh butter
and milk, and wild violets and innocence
started hoIror-stricken at the awful
preparations. The cheek roses fed, and
refused longer to play hide-and seek with
the dimples; and the large blue eyes over
flowed with tears.
The cap was drawn; the loop was ad.
justed.
The girl buried her face in her gaunt old
mother bosom and gasped:
Are they nearly ready?'
"Ve1y nearly"
w no Is Lndu tdlRmgl
The priest. -"
"Praying?"
Yes"
There was pause.
What are they doing now, mother?"
They are tying the mans feet and
hands.
do they tie his hands before or be
hind ?"
Neither; 10 his sides"
''Oh, mother, mother!
what. my child?" the voice began tc
quaver.
Poor fellow! poor feIlow!"
The girl sobbed pitifully. She buried
| her face deeper, and chung closer TO bel
mothers neck.
What are they doing now, mother?"
The sheriff has a long, bright knife. )
"What for?"
Ito cut the string;'-so family that i
is a whisper.
And now, mother2"
"My-God! my-child! [ don't know
i can't look any-longer!"
There was one int resting group among
| the spectators, composed Of boys between
the ages of and 8 years. One was
negro named Tony, z years cd, black 81
tar, homely as an ape. The others were
all white. One of these, Buck" was {
chubby boy of Tony's age, with freckleC
face, red cheeks and white har. Thes'
two and five or six others were standing
or sitting in every imaginable posture In
| dlcative of awe, interest and fear. Tony
was dressed simply in pair of his father
pantaloons cut off at the knees. Conse
| quently the waist-band came quite under
! ais arms, dispensing with the necessity Of
a shirt; and the buttons IN the front were
connected with those behind by shor
| strings, which served as suspenders. H.
was quite small and weakened. Buck, on
the contrary, was large and strong; hi
| general manner was nearly like that be
longing to the advanced years of patri
arch.
After the body had been placed in cot
fin, Tony staggered pompously up tt
Buck, and burying his skinny hands deer
into his vest pockets. demanded:
''Wh-what yer smoking yer thumb
| ferb''
Buck, ashamed, snatched the thumb
from his mouth. Tony pursued his ad
vantage 10y remarking, tauntingly:
You was skyered, tool"
wash l., pLCbtSlto DUN.
"Yas You wus, wh-when he chopped d.
string!"
81 wasn't; but you was, though
Seen you.
Seen me?"
A nod.
Il wonder if it hurt him?'
Course it did!'
do x,o,, lznpxxy 90
Didn't you see him dom his shoulders
this way, and sorter reachin out his fee
before him?'
Why, I've seen 'em do like that in tht
circus"
What do you think about it, Buck?'
"Nothin'"
Would you like to be bung?"
Buck shook his lead.
"Why?'
Hurts"
How do you know"
! Dunno.
| Il wouldn't mind it!' exclaimed the
boastful Tony.
a peculiar and mischievous look cam,
into Buck face. He asked Tony:
You wouldn't?"
| mol"
Buck developed an idea.
Les hang Tony" he said.
| The proposition was hailed with de
| light.
| But numerous obstacles presented them
selves-there was no material for buiidins
a scaffold, no carpenters tools. Bucl
solved the problem by suggesting tree
There was no rope. Buck stole an oil
clothes line.
They soon found an appropriate spo
fer the execution. It was at the head o
a deep and shady ravine. walled in Oh
three sides by PERCEPTIONS bluffs. Th'
boys clanbered down, and discovered a
tree on which could be successfully teste,
the efficacy of capital punishment. 1t wa:
a stunted, crooked magnolia, leaning fa
to one side, and having branch that RAJ
out horizontally, about eight feet from tn
ground. They danced around the tree il
the highest enjoyment of the delightful
preparations which were conducted b,
Buck Tony and two or three others
none nlore happy than Tony himself
They tieG one end of the rope TO th
limb, and secured the other around Tony
neck.