Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-06-02

SIoSS, VI EdIt VI ~ L thS paw VA SNS-
cution.
The place of execution was always out
side of the city, often on the public road
or some other conspicuous place. On
reaching the appointed place the DOOM
ed man was stripped naked. This was
always done in a thorough manner. as
the clothing of the victim We're covered
with a piece of cloth. The cross was
then firmly planted in the ground so that
the feet of the victim We're about three
feet from the ground. sometimes ne
was stretched upon it as it lay upon the
ground, and hen again he was lifted
with it. The latter method generally
prevailed.
THE DRINK AND THE NAILS.
Under the jurisdiction of the Romans
the Jews We're permitted to give the
criminal. before he was fastened to the
cross, a medicated drink, generally COM
posed of win and myrrth prov. XXX. 90
The object of this was to confuse the
sense and deaden the pain. This drink
was refused by the Savior, for the OBJ
vious reason that he chose to die with
the faculties of his mind ~undisturbed and
unclouded Matt. xvii. S4.) This KIND
of drink, which was probably offered out
of kindness. was ditfernt from the vine
gar which was subsequently offered by
Roman soldiers. The latter, mixed with
water, was a comon drink for the SOL
diers in the Roman Army John xix,
29.)
Everything now being in readiness, the
body was affixed to the cross by nails
driven through the hands, and some
times, but not always, through his feet.
Oftentimes the feet We're fastened by n
nail being driven through both. but
more comonly the lower limbs We're tied
with cords. This might at first appear
more merciful. hat it was not, since the
victim was doomed to a lingering death
in any case. and when cords We're used
! the relief by death was only delayed. A
partial relief was afforded by aSort OF
offset or seat on Which the body rested.
! The sufferings thus endured were of the
J most eXcruciating character. but these
were sometimes shortened by breaking
the limbs. Other methods of shorten
ing the sufferings of the victims were
by building fires under the cross to in
duce suffOcation, or letting loose Wlld
animals to tear down and @evour the
bodies.
While the victim was hanging on the
cross a guard MAS stationed to watch his
diving agonies. This was necessary for
the lingering character of the death,
which sometimes did not take place for
two or three days. At last the result of
gradual b~enumbing of the body and
starvation occurred. But for the pres
ence of the guard the person might be
taken down and recover, as was done IN
the case of a friend of JOsephus, the
Jewish historian, though only one out OF
three survived to whom the am Hirs-
ing was applied. Generally Ghe body was
allowed to rot on the cross or be devour-
ed by wild beasts and birds. Burial was
generally forbidden, though it could hf
permitted by special favor. In conse-
quence of certain passages in Deuteron.
omy, which forbade the bodies to hans
after sun down., an exception vas made
in favor Of the Jewish nation.
THE SUFFERING WAS INTENSE.
4 The agony endured in crusifion cal
be attributed to several causes. The un'
natural position and violent strain on thi
body, though not bad at first, would
gradually become almost unendurabla
The nails driven through the hands ant
feet, which are full of nerves, would ere
ate the most intense pain. The exposur
of the wounds brought on intlamlnatiol
!, and gangrene. In the distendei portion
{ of the body more blood flowed through
!, the arteries than could be carried bacl
by the veins, since the blood found it
! way into the m and head, TIL
t blood vesselS of the latter becoming
pressed and Swollen, causing a most tx
cruciating headache. To all this add
raging and burning thirst, and You hav
= a hell on earth in the way of punishment
e The period at which death ended tn
I suffering of the victim varied, as it de
\ pended upon the constitution of the SUI
f ferer, the degree of exposure n the con
:, dition of the weather. 1t rarely occurre
Y in less than As hours, and a number @
t Instances are recorded where the victir
= survived for seven or eight days. Henc
n PLATE was astonished at our Savior dy
: ing as soon mark XIV, 40.
n