The record-union., 1894-07-14
Special to the REcoRp-UNIoN.

CHICAGO, July 13.-Within the gloomy
walls of the Cook County Jail to-day all
was hustle and suppressed excitement, as
the time drew near when Patrick Eugene
Prendergast, the condemned murderer OF
Mayor Carter Harrison, would expiate
the crime with his life. Jailer Morris
and assistants made the final test OF the
rope, trap and trigger at 1925. Jaller
Morris at 10:45 said: "As near as l can
Judge the march to tie scaffold Will begin
at about 11:30."
Prendergast rested well last night, and
seemed calm and collected. He refused
until late last evening to receive spiritual
consolation, but when night came on he
asked for Father Muldoon.
Between and o'clock Prendergast
partook heartily of ham and eggs. and
about 8 o'clock he sent word to Jailer
Morris that he was again hungry. The
Jailer had the prisoner served with an
other hearty meal, which he seemed to
relish greatly.
The assassin talked freely with his
spiritual advisers, and several times re-
marked: You must stay with me TO
the end"
AS the hour for his execution came
nearer, Prendergast showed signs OF
slightly increasing nervousness, but on
the whole he was remarkably calm and
well-collected.
Father Barry was a constant attendant
upon Prendergast all the morning. The
little assassin was most deterential. he
announced with trifle of bravado: II
viii die game, and set great and shin
ing example to my country"
At IL a. M. Prendergast was removed
to the ante-room of the Jail Office, where
the last kind offices were performed.
Prendergast specially requested Sheriff
Gilbert TO allow him twenty minutes TO
make dying statement.
A jury OF physicians at lilo filed in
and inspected the scatfold and appurten
ances. Fifty Deputy Sheriffs were ranged
around the corridor.
At 1i:42 a. NJ. Sheriff Gilbert and Jailer
Morris appeared at the right of the scat
4old.
The prisoner, pale and unsteady,
walked behind. He stood without any
apparent nervousness, though a trifle
weak and unsteady. As his arms were
being pinioned he looked calmly out on
the assembled crowd below him. While
the shroud was placed about him, bar
ring little restless movement of the
eyes, he made no motion.
Jailer Morris placed the rope about his
neck and white cap over his head.
At I1:4S the body shot downward, the
head twisted to one side, the neck having
been apparently broken. A slight spas
modic movement OF the legs was the only
sign of life apparent.
Surrounded by jury of physicians,
the corpse swung to and fro, and at Il:57,
nine minutes after the trigger was sprung,
he was pronounced dead.
The assassin made not an audible sound
from the time he left the cell until he was
executed. apparently being lost in con-
temptation of his awful fate
He was gently dissuaded by Sheriff
Gilbert from his determination TO make a
speech.
AT II:5S. Jailer Morris unloosened the
anchored end of the rope, and the shroud-
ed corpse was slowly lowered and laid in
coffin standing underneath the plat
form.
The face was not badly distorted, al
though the mouth was open and the
tongue was protruding.
The color Of the features was of a blush
tint, which. with the unkempt, reddish
hair, struggling down over the forehead,
made the sight one long TO be remem-
bered.