The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-07-02


rounded the gallows. which consisted
Of two upright posts with a cross beam
over head about nine feet above the
ground. The rope ran along under the
beam on pulleys to about three feet
from one end. where II terminated in
moose. To the other end of the rope
was fastened n weight of about i50
pounds. which was In a box and held
in suspension about SO feet above tho
ground by second rope which passed
through the end post into "A little room
at the end of the gallows. Five men
were stationed in this room, and at the
signal from the sheriff one OF them cut
the rope which held the weight clear
of the ground, with a sharp axe.
Sheriff Gillian read the death war
rant to Pugh at almost precisely 10
o'clock. and he replied that he was
ready. He stubbornly refused, how
ever, to put on the black suit which
had been sent out from Butte this
morning together with the coffin.
This suit is good enough for me- he
maintained. "and ! would rather be
hung a dozen times than wear any
thing from Silver Bow county"
He repeated this statement several
times. and spoke very bitterly Of the
people, and officers of Silver Bow coun-
ty. He was told that he must wear the
clothes provided for him, but that
made no difference, and he persisted in
his refusal 10 put them on, Finally,
however Death Watch Bergman. to
whom he had taken a great liking. per-
lal l. - Iii tE..,, al
suit. He asked for some whiskey as
a bracer and was given three or four
drinks. He wanted more. but it was
refused him. and he then lit cigar
cite and started for the gallows with a
steady tread. with Sheriff Gillian and
Deputy Sheriff Dan Halford on either
side, and Under Sheriff Henry Sherlock
and Death Watch Bergman bringing
up the rear. Mr.. Blythe met them at
the door leading into the court yard
and took Pughs right arm while the
sheriff walked in front.
AS Pugh's eyes rested on the gallows
for the first time, he faltered momen-
tarily and his legs became so unsteady
that he would probably have fallen had
he not been supported. He recovered
| himself quickly. however. and walked
under the cross beam without a Sec
ond's hesitation. The only indication
of nervousness was in the manner In
which he chewed his cigarette. He
glanced up at the dangling moose and
pulled off his black hat and threw Il
to one side with a sarcastic smile. His
| face was ashy white and there was not
a sign of blood in his thin lips. but hc
stood firm and erect and calmly sur
veyed the spectators with an uncon
cerned air that was remarkable. II,
vas to all outward appearances the
coolest man inside Of the court yard
and thcre was not visible tremble il
either his form or his voice. On be
half OF Pugh Mr.. Blythe thanked tn,
officers for their kindness and good
treatment while in prison and read tht
| fourth verse of the twenty-third psalm
Yea though ! walk through the val
ley Of the shadow of death. will feai
no evil for Thou art with me. Thy roc
and Thy staff they comfort me-" Hi
then offered up short prayer. ir
which he'd thanked God that Pugh be
lieved in the Lord.
| At the conclusion of the prayer
Pugh's cigarette was thrown away b,
Deputy Sheriff Halford and he watched
II burn itself out with an expression q
regret. He was then pinioned will
straps around his ankles. kneei
and breast and his wrists were fast
ened to straps that passed around hi
thighs. The sheriff asked him II tn,
straps hurt him and he replied mo
pull them tight" The minister graspet
his hand and bade him good bye, an,
he replied: "All right" On bein.
asked II he had anything to say, h.
said mo; let her 60" The moose wa
then pulled down and the sheriff start
cd TO adjust it. Pugh elevated hi
head as much as possible, and as tn
sheriff was tightening it up and ad
justing 1t as carefully as possible, h
exclaimed in tone loud enough 4
be heard all over the court yard
Tighten her up. old son. tighten he
up" The big knot was placed unde
his left ear, the black cap was pulle
down over his head, and with a part
ing Good bye, Pugh." the sheriff CAV
the fatal signal to the men in the bo
where the rope that kept the big weigh
suspended was concealed. The axe fel
instantly and the murderer's body sho
up into the air about a foot and thei
settled back. There were a few yer,
slight commissions OF the body and /
was all over. The body gradually re
laxed until the toes were within les
than an inch of the ground. The ak
fell at exactly l0:2S o'clock. and a
1887 o'clock Drs. c. II. Lebcher an
l.. a. Vawter. who were watching tn
pulse. pronounced life extinct. At 1874
o'clock the body was cut down and
was found that the neck had bee
broken by the fall OF the weight, 3
that death was practically instantar
eous. The body was lowered into
coffin and was removed at once 10 tn
potter's field at the county poor farm
about two and a half miles froI
town, and inferred with brief funers
services.
DR.. Lebcher furnished the foIlowin
figures of the pulse beats after tn
weight fell First 30 seconds, IS: sec
end 30 seconds. Al; second minute, l2l
first 80 seconds of third minute,
strong; second 30 seconds. 40. At IN
fourth minute the pulse was too rapi
10 count and at the seventh minute
became intermittent. II continued
flutter at intervals Of increasing dura
ton up to the ninth minute. when
stopped entirely.
The execution was witnessed by tn
I fal1 sHt,ar No. II