The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-04-27

Life and Letters of Margaret j. I'res-,
ton," now ready for publications. 1t
was written to Mrs. Preston by her
husband, Colonel J. T. l.. Preston, who
was present at the execution of John
Brown, as part of the military guard.
The writer had no thought of publish
ing the letter, and it is now offered to
the public for the first time.
CharlestOwn, December, 2, 1859.
The execution Is over; we have just
from the field, and sit down
to give you some account of it. The
weather was very favorable; the sky
was little overcast, with a gentle
haze in the atmosphere that softened
without obscuring the magnificent
prospect afforded here. Between 8 and
9 o'clock the troops began to put them
selves I'm motion to occupy the position
assigned them on the field, as desig-
mated on the plan send you. To
Colonel Smith. of the Virginia Military
Institute, had been assigned the super
intendence of the execution, and he
and his staff were the only mounted Of
ficers on the ground until the Major
General and his staff appeared. BY
10 o'clock all was arranged. The gen.
eral effect was most imposing and at
the same time picturesque. The. cadets
were Immediately in the rear=$of the
gallows, with howitzer on the right
and left little behind, so as to sweep
the field. They were uniformed in red
flannel shirts, which gave them gay
dashing Zouave look, and were exceed
ingly becoming, especially to the bat
terry. They were flanked obliquely by
two corps-the Richmond Grays and
Company (which, if inferior in ap-
pearance to the cadets, were superior
to any other company I ever saw OUT
side Of the regular army. Other COM
panies were distributed over the field,
amounting in all to about 800 men.
The military force was about 1900.
The whole Enclosure was lined by
cavalry troops, posted as sentinels,
with their officers-one on a peerless
black horse and another on remark
able looking white Extraordinarily
dashing around the Enclosure. Outside
this Enclosure were other companies
acting as rangers and scouts. The Jail
was guarded by several companies of
infantry, and pieces of artillery were
put in position for it's defense.
Shortly before II o'clock the prisoner
was taken from the Jail and the funer-
al cortege was put in motion. First
came three companies, then the GRIM
inals wagon drawn by two large
white horses. John Brown was seated
on his coffin, accompanied by the
sheriff and two other persons. The
wagon drove to the foot of the gallOWs
and Brown descended with alacrity
and without assistance assembled the
steep steps to the platform. His de-
meanor. was intrepid without being
braggart. He made no speech. Wheth
err he desired to make one or not I do
not know. Had he desired it, it would
not have been permitted. Any speech
Of his must of necessity have been un-
lawful, as being directed against the
peace and dignity Of the commen-
wealth, and as such could not be al
lowed by those who were then en-
gagged in the most solemn and extreme
vindication of the law. His manner
was without trepidation,. but his coun-
lCudlCC was AOt A1CC AAO4H COlSClus
and it seemed to me to have a little
cast of wildness. He stood upon the
scaffold but short time, giving brief
adieus to those about him, when he
was properly pinioned, the white cap
drawn over his face, the moose adjust
ed and attached to the hook above and
he was moved blindfolded a few steps
forward. It was curious to note how
the instincts Of nature operated to
| make him careful in putting out his
| feet as if afraid he would walk off the
scaffold. The man who stood un-
blanched on the brink of eternity was
afraid of falling a few feet to the
| ground.
! He was now all ready. The sheriff
asked if he should give him a private
signal before the fatal moment. He
replied in a voice that sounded to m.
unna turally natural, so composed wa:
it's tone and so distinct it's articulation
that it did not matter to him if only
4 they did not keep him too long wait
ing" He was kept waiting, however
The troops that had formed his escor
had to be put in their proper position
and while this was going on he stooi
for some ten or fifteen minutes blind
fold, the rope round his neck and hi
u feet on the treacherous PLATFORM, eX
pecting instantly the fatal act: Blu
J he. stood for this comparatively Ion;
time upright as a soldier in position
u and mOtionless. / was close to him
and watched him narrowly to see if
y could perceive any sign of tremblin.
or shrinking in his person.; but Their
was none. Once I. thought I saw hi
knees tremble, but it was only tn
wind blowing his loose trousers. Hi
I ,firmness was subjected to still furthe
trial by hearing Colonel Smith an
nounce to the sheriff: I'VE are al
ready, Mr.. Campbell" The sheriff di
not hear, or did not comprehend, an
in louder tone the announcement
was made. But the culprit still stoo
steady until the sheriff, descendin
the fight Of steps, with a well-directe
blow of a sharp Ratchet, severed tn
rope that held up the trap door, whic
instantly shrank sheer beneath him
and he fell about three feet, and tn
man of strong and bloody hand, Q
fierce passions, of iron will, Of wonder
full vicissitudes, the terrible partisa
of Kansas, the capturer of the Unite
States arsenal at Harper's Ferry, tn
v.