The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-04-08

SS~-S~S>~>S S~AAN S<ASSASA0~~'
Some Of them go back to such remote
periods that they are in general regard
ed as deserving to be placed in a cate
CORY with the wondrous discoveries of
Marco Polo and Ferdinand Mendez
Pinto, but subsequent explorers have
verified many things in the narratives
Of those two which, at one time, were
considered impossibilities, and science
may vet demonstrate beyond contradic-
ton the possibility of many startling
events narrated as having occurred at
executions. The fact remains that for
centuries the impression has prevailed
among certain scientists that the brain
still retains it's capacity for thought,
and even action, for some moments
after its separation from the body, and
some of them have made experiments
upon the heads of decapitated criminals
even more than an hour after execu-
ton, and have met with certain
roborated their theories.
The curious in such matters will find
that historians relate a remarkable in
stance of speech after execution which
recalls the story of the head of the
poet musician, Orpheus, which was said
to have still murmured the name of his
beloved Eurydice after it was thrown
| into the waters of Hebrus. This in
stance occurred in the thirteenth CEN
fury, when Conradin of Swabia and
Frederick of Baden were executed on
the market place in Naples. These two
young princes had invaded the king
| dom with an army in defense of Con-
radin's rights as heir to his father.
Having been defeated and captured by
the forces of Charles of Anjou, they
were held by him prisoners for a year
and then condemned to execution.
Bartoned has given glowing de-
scription of the death scene, drawn
from contemporary accounts, the cen
ter of the market place covered with
crimson velvet, the king in distant
tower to see the execution Of his will,
land the crowd Of curious and plying
u lookers-on. Prince Frederick's head
was the first to fall, and the nearer
spectators were electrified to hear the
quivering lips call twice upon the
Virgin: maria, Maria!' Conradin
was moved by it to forget momentarily
his own coming death. Lifting the head
he kissed it tenderly and pressed it to
his breast, while he deplored aloud that
the youthful prince-Frederick had not
yet reached his eighteenth year
should have been brought to his death
through devotion to himself.
One of the moss remarkable records
in all history of action after execution
is contained in the police archives of
the Austrian capital. This is the case
of the bandit Schaumburg, who, with
four companions, was condemned to
death in 1880 for sundry adventures
rivaling those Of Fra Diavolo. Accord
ing to this seemingly impossible chron-
icle, the chief, finding he was to be the
first to suffer, demanded one last favor
of the presiding judge. This was that
his companions should be placed in
straight line, several feet apart This
having been granted, he then begged
that ne might attempt their reprieve
in the following manner: If, after his
head had fallen his body should walk
past each comrade in turn, he prayed
that the judge should grant an am
nesty. That officer, who no doubt
thought this quite an impossible feat
agreed to the proposition and the exc
cution proceeded. The robbers body
bent before the headsman, Strengthened
up after the head had fallen and walked
up to each of the other bandits con-
secutively before it finally fell. The
Judge made haste to notify the kaiser
and his imperial majesty was pleased
to confirm the promise Of clemency and
to have the story placed on record in
the police archives. :,
In the present. century an interestins
; case of apparent sensation and intelli
, gence after execution has been record
ed by M. Pettigaud as having occurred
, at Saigon, in Anam, where he witnessed
, the execution of several pirates. Hi.
, Interest and sympathy were excited b,
, the fine physique and manly bearin,
of the leader of the condemned men
who manifested no fear and met hi
death with the greatest courage ant
GOODNESS.
]. The culprits were made to kneel OF
. the sand before the executioner, who
= with one expert blow, separated tn
. heads from the bodies. The head o
Q the chief fell almost at the feet Of M
Pettigaud, the severed neck restini
!, squarely upon the sand, thus arrestin
( the flow Of blood from the arteries. H
{ was Mortified TO find that the eye
Y looked up at him with an air Of per
( feet consciousness and intelligence. 4
order to test the reality of this appear
ance M. Pettigaud moved to one sid
and found that the eyes followed hi
movements. AS further test he the
3 resumed his first position and the eye
turned slightly, but before regainin
their first direction an expression {
9 agony passed over the face, such q
= might have been produced BY auffoca