The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-16

commenced 10 clear tho people away from
the vicinity of the prison When ths
troops marched to the square, called Cour
Suchet, in which the execution took place,
hardly u score of onlookers were In It,
The aspect at dawn was most dismal.
Nobody was permitted to walk the pave
ment around the prison. Black figures
passed through the deserted streets, and
after an exchange of words with the
soldiers, crossed the square TO the prison.
These were detectives and journalists.
At 8 o'clock this morning from prison
window, not Santos, prolonged sigh,
followed by the cry, twice repeated, of
"Vive pAnarchie" broke the stiffness.
was thought to be a signal to warn Santo
of his approaching doom.
The Execution.
After the guillotine had been brought
out Of the prison, shortly after o'clock,
II took but short timo 10 put it in readi-
ness for the execution. Newspaper report
ers were allowed to take up a portion in
side the Gordon OF the troops.
The crowd outside tho lines at o'clock
was small, bat from that time it quickly
swelled, until toward 4 o'clock, the time
at which the execution was expected to
tions. When the preparations of Deibler
had been completed he twice tested the
guillotine and pronounced it satisfactory
1t was then 4:2o o'clock.
The troops then closed in around the
guillotins. When daylight arrived the
square and the streets near by were
.hronged with people Deibler and his as
sistants doffed their working clothes and
put on coats of black. Then escorted by
squad of gems d armes, the executoner and
his men entered the prison at 4:30 o'clock.
NJ. Raux, the governor of the prison,
awakened Santo, saying to him, Courage,
Santo; the hour has arrived" The CON
demned man with n great effort raised
himself, his face turned livid and his
hands and limbs trembled conyulsively
despite his efforts to appear careless at his
fate.
This trembling continued until the last
moment. He could hardly stand, and his
limbs were so stiff with cold and fright
that his clothes were put on him with the
utmost difficulty. In reply to the question
of the governor whether he would have
breakfast, Santo declined either food or
drink He also refused religious consola.
ton from the priest.
Asked whether he desired TO speak TO
the judge, he replied In the negative. He
also declined to see his counsel.
His Shaking Increased
while he was making his toilet TO such an
extent that Deiber's men had much
trouble i'm pinioning him.
When he was assisted into the wagon he
was in most pitiful condition. His knees
shook together and his teeth chattered
violently. He no longer appeared like n
man, but n being half dead with terror
Tho command to "fix bayonets" was
sounded from squadron to squadron of
troops, while murmurs arose from the
evorgrowing crowd Deibler and his as
sistants and the officials issued from the
prison at 4:50. At the command OF "pre-
sent arms" and "draw swords, J." the wagon
issued from the building and took UP a
place on the left side of the guillotine.
The assistants fixed the gangway. The
priest approached Santo, who pretended
not 20 see him.
When Santo appeared, walking with ex-
treme difficulty, his open shirt displaying
his breast, frail and bony, his eyes were
first fixed on the guillotine and then
wandered TO the troops and the crowd
He uttered the cries, Courage, mes cam.
arades ""Vive pAnarchiel but the sound
issued feebly from his closed teeth and was
scarcely audible beyond the troops
The words were hardly uttered when
Santo was seized and pushed towards the
basculc. He made feeble strugg.s and |
fell. His weight was much too light, and |
his executioners were compelled TO raise |
him and thrust him forward. He made |
another frantic movement, obliging |
Deibler TO come 90 the assistance of his |
men and place Santos head under the |
lunette.
Much time was taken up with these
movements. At last Deibler pressed the |
handle and released the knife A sharp.
short sound announced the severance OF |
the vertebra, spurt Of blood sprinkled
the wagon, the head fell into q basket Of |
sawdust and the body was rolled into
another. Bravos sounded from the crowd,
which seemed less moved than at ordinary
executions