The sun., 1901-09-16
THE SUN WILMINGTON DELAWARE 1901

ana don make scene simply Decausc
they submit to what they know they
cannot prevent. When I was young in
the business frequently fell into this
common error, and, now that ! come
to think of 1t, cannot recall writing
up an execution where did not devote
a considerable amount of space to de-
scriptlon of the nerve of the principal
actor. The last execution / reported
WAS in one of the adjoining parishes.
At that time much space was devoted
to executions. The crime had to be
rehashed, the particulars of the trial
warmed over and served smoking hot,
and the last night of the condemned
done up In the most narrowing man.
ner. This last night business afforded
opportunities for descriptive writing.
The reaches playing catch on the pris-
on floor, the crafty Jail rat, gray and
rheumatic, eating lunch from the con-
vict's hand, and the jailer's rusty key
that always grated harshly in the pom
derous lock, were never overlooked
and the dawn. When l remember
those descriptions of the awakening
of the felon on his last day on earth
can almost weep The little rays of
sunlight that chased each other
through the barred windows and over
the bare floor, lingering caressingly
on the brow of the man who was so
soon to die, and who slept so peaceful
ly, were sure to be in the message. |
was very fond of those rays, and
worked them in whenever it did not
rain.
"Well, on this particular occasion
devoted most of the night to writing
the description, and must say | was
| to the death warrant, the execution
was to take place between the hours
OF IL a. IN. and two p. m, and the sheriff,
a kindhearted man, so as to let his
charge live as long as possible, had
fixed the hour for the actual hanging
at 1870 o'clock. This was unfortunate,
as the train for New Orleans passed It
one. and the carrying out of his pro-
| gramme meant my remaining another
night in the town and the cutting of
my report so that 1 could send it by
wire. | tried to get the sheriff to adj
vance the execution bit, but he would
not move an inch, and in moment
Of desperation 1 appointed myself a
committee of one to discuss the propo.
sition with the condemned. We talked
the matter over very calmly. The man
who was so soon to die was perfectly
reconciled to his fate. He knew he had
no show of a respite, was proud of the
fact that I had been sent from the
great city to detail the particulars o1
his taking Off, but for all that he coult
not see why he should give up an hour
of his very valuable time. His argu
ment was unanswerable, and / was
about to give up, when an idea occurred
to me. read him my report of the ex
ecution up to and including that de
scription of the dawn of his last day
He was as proud as Punch, and his van
ity was tickled to the last degree t.
think that he should be the central fig
ure In such big affair. then proceed
ed to explain that if his execution tool
place at the appointed hour it woult
be necessary to telegraph the report
| dhu, Al thot Cfcht, dii Tie uesCTIptN'
part would have to be cut out and thu
bare facts only wired, whereas, if tn
execution was advanced an hour
could bring In my own copy and writ
, an additional column or two descrip
tive of his death and the courage h
displayed at the crucial moment. Tha
settled it. The sheriff was called, an
at the urgent request of the con
demned the execution was complete,
in time to permit me to catch the train
That negro went down in history as tn
gamest man who ever trod a sea fold.