The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-05-23

| show his bean as he draws, and those who
| draw black ones must stand over by the win
COWS. Now, then, you ready?"
The clerk could speak and write English,
and he had our names in alpha etical order.
The first name called was that of Arson,
| and he hesitated a few seconds before ad
| yancing. Did any one hope he would draw 4
| black bean? L believe that every man of us
| hoped so! 1t would better our own chances.
| The man walked slowly forward, made a
| great effort to control himself and made his
draw. 1t was white bean
Anderson came next, and he drew his death
warrant, as also did Bagey. Then twelve
| men drew white beans in succession. When
| 1t came my turn there were there three blacks
| and fourteen whites still left in the cap. I
| drew black That fact did not shock me- as
hau almost expected my i'll luck from the
start, put 1t hurt me when the men almost
| appiauded. Only two blacks now thirteen
| whites! The very next man also drew a
| DlacK bean and there q cheer. Only one
| to thirteen now,
IL was singular fate which left that last
b'ack bean in the hat. Twelve names were
called off and twelve men stepped up and
orew ana all drew white, IT was the death
warrant OF the only man who did not put
his hand in the cap. As soon rs the draw
ing was over the thry-two fortunates shook
hahdS and congratulated each other, and
smiled and laughed. That was only natural.
After the first cbulition of feeling they turn
ed to give us their heartfelt sympathics. We
kwere not removed from the room. They would
fcome Tor us soon after daylight.
a. WHAT were our feelings? The first sensa-
ZION was that of Il nun coming to after q
luail which had deprived him Of consciousness
oil or minute. The next was to doubt if we
q iad not been asleep and dreamed it all. At
hicr that one man sat down in n corner and
3|ept. second lay at full length on the floor
with his face to the wall. A third cursed
: and inyciShcd and hoped for vengeance
,r Within three or four hours there came a
feeling of eXultation. | belve that every
|, man who goes To the galloWs has the same
hfeeling. l slept well that night | was still
sleeping when the soldiers came TO march
the SIX OF us to the execution ground We
shook hands all around, but only here and
there did one of the men trust his voice to
speak to us. Those who were to live seemed
most affected. Their faces were very pale
and their lips quivcred
Two by two. with soldiers on every side
we walked with heads up but had no word
. for each other. There were scores of citi-
sZcns out to see us, but kept our eyes to
/ the front. Haiti We have reached the
grounds. | had thought of the six of us
standing in front of six new made graves.
but there were neither graves nor collins
They stood us with our backs to a brick
wall | noticed a hundred sears on that wall
and knew they had been made on Just such
occasions as this
''Gcntlemen, your eyes the blindfod-" said
an officer as Ac came forward with several
men behind him.
The last thing I was IL platoon of
tWenty-four men forming up in front of us
Tour to man. For perhaps ten seconds [
ffHfmk at the thought Of the bullets striking
sT perhaps ten more I prayed that they
y IN s'Nc sure work of it. My hands
WED the hands of the men each side, of
Lille. for we were not bound. | said. Good
by to each, and they returned it, and I
heard the others speaking last farewce
word l herd the last man walk away when
the last victim had been blinded. heard
the platoon moving up nearer / heard one
street boy shouting TO another that the sol.
diers were about to fire. There was a deep
silence for a few seconds, and then | heard
advancing footsteps. Some one seized INV
arm and was led away to the right and the
handkerchief removed. 1t was the officer
again. and he turned me over to two soldiers
with the remark:
lie Is but 1t boy and the governor cum
mutcs. Take him back to prison"
| had not gone 200 feet when there was n
crash Of musketry and my five comrades law
dead at the base of the wall. Was | reioiced?
Strangely enough, nu-not for hours and
hours. l had been so near death that L WAS
dead to myself and all around me.