The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-07-09

HAnefD ms. SUahAU.
Captain Chris. Rath Tells About thu
ouadrupls Execution.
The report that Capt. Chris Rath, fol
nearly quarter Of century mai! agen'
on the Michigan Central, has become in
cane, 10 without foundation, writes cor
respondent from Grand Rapids, Mich
He has recently been 6ering from .
carbuncle on the back Of his neck. Last
week, against the advice Of his physician
he returned to his duties on the road.
His run il from Detroit to this city, oy
way OF jackson. He reached the city al
right, but on the return trip was overcome
by weakness and had to give up. He IL
now 1t his home in Jackson, and hopes to
be able to be out again in few days.
Can't. Rath was provost in charge Of the
Washington prison under Gen. Hartranft
ut the time of Lincoln's assassination, and
conducted the execution Of Mrs. 6urratt
and the three other conspiratofs. Before
the war he was . sailor in the United
States navy. When the war broke out
he enlisted in the Seventeenth Michigan
infantry. Afterward he raised company
of twenty-five men and received COM
mission as second lieutenant, and was
attached to Capt. John Goldsmiths COM
mand under Col. Wilmington. He served
with distinction throughout the war, be-
ing promoted to the rank of captain.
II conducted the execution of the four
leaders," be says. "They were Mrs. Sur
raft, who kept the clearinghouse were
the conspiracy was hatched; Louis Payne
Powell, the son of q Babtist clergyman,
who attempted to assassinate Secretary
Stanton; Harold and Atzerott, who tried
to kill other members of the cabinet. The
prison was comparatively small build
ing, surrounded by yard Of about an
acre and half of ground. The prisoners
we're confined in separate cells on the first
floor, and above was the court room
where the trial was held. The conspir-
ators were held several weeks before they
were finally disposed of.
II frequently mingled with them and
allowed the men to 60 into the yard to
exercise and play quoits. l knew they
were guilty from what I overheard them
say when they were together. Mrs. Sur
raft kept her cell most of the time. Her
daughter Anna, then 16 years old, was al
lowed to visit her mother at pleasure.
'The sentences of death were pro-
nounced upon the prisoners the day be-
fore the execution. They took it calmly,
but the following morning, just before
the execution, they showed signs of emo
tion-all except Powell, who was un-
moved to the very last.
"Mrs. Surratt expected reprieye and
we all hoped she would get it. Powell
made statement exonerating her from
any completely in the plot, and said if he
had two lives he would willingly give
both to save hers. This statement was
to Secretary Stanton, who or
dered an Investigation, but in the mean
time the woman's counsel got out some
civil papers to prevent the execution.
That settled her fate and she died with
the rest.
"The scafold was erected in the Jail
yard near the building. The platform
was twenty feet above the ground and
twenty feet square. 1t was furnished
with two double drops. The rope was
of an inch, twenty lone
strands, Boston hemp. / purchased it
myself, made the nooses and arranged all
the details of the execution. The men
employed about the prison almost revolt |
ed when ordered to build the scaffold.
One old guard, who had been in the SER
vice all his life, fairly wept. The work
was finally performed by detail of sold
iers. The 6 raves were dug in front of the |
scaffold. opposite where the four would
take their last view of the world, and in
plain sight.
"The execution took place at 2 o'clock |
in the afternoon. The prisoners we're con
Quoted to the scaheld each by an officer.
Mrs. Surratt was escorted by q major |
and held the place of honor-if there
be such place on scafold-at the ex-
treme right. Then came Powell, Atzerott
and Harold. Only the reporters, Cath
Ollie priest for Mrs. Surratt, Gen. Hancock
and myself were on the platform. The
invalid guard and regiment Of Michigan |
troops guarged the walls. There we're no
spectators.
II covered the faces of the doomed !
quar- tet with masks and tied their hands |
and legs to prevent any struggling. Pow
ell was tall man, with thick bull neck. |
He looked brutal fellow, but had
voice as soft as any woman. l noticed
the roro X, HE noan vrna uoA ~.o~n~1- |