The Sun. — 1862-09-13 (London, England)

UNITED KINGDOM ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH COMPANY.) The extraordinary interest felt in this execution was proved by the fact of the gaol being visited on Friday by a larger number of persons than had ever been known previously. Several hundreds remained on the spot during the whole night. The crowd was not at all confined to the lowest class, there being several well-dressed gentlemen, and even some of the other sex—all of whom, to comfort themselves through the somewhat chilly night, were huddled together among the warm bricks in the kilns hard by. Every point commanding a prospect of the wretched scene was crammed with the boisterous mob. Taylor still remained obdurate to the earnest ministrations of the chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Appleton, but as the fatal moment approached he seemed to relax into a better frame of mind. Ward was thoroughly resigned to his fate, and seemed quite penitent. An immense number of labourers and operatives apparently from the vicinity of Manchester and Ashton were present, and we saw many of them who had walked all the way from those towns to witness the execution. By half-past 10 the crowd had reached fully 50,000. Several of the worst class amused themselves by singing ribald songs, and cracking vulgar jokes, having a bearing upon the occasion, whilst a few infatuated, but doubtless, well-meaning individuals in black, improved upon the opportunity by distributing religious tracts, singing melancholy hymns, and addressing the populace ; their solicitations were, however, unheeled entirely. A strong body of police under the charge of Mr. Superintendent Ride were upon the spot. People continued to pour in with such rapidity from all directions that at 12 o'clock it was computed there were folly 100,000 persons in front of the drop. . In shocking disregard for the awful position of the two men who were about to expiate their crimes on the scaffold the motley throng was swayed to and fro by the horrible levity of thousands who seemed to appreciate the exhibition as an exciting show. Loud shouts of laughter, inhuman gibes, not of hardened men, merely, but of showily dressed women, too, rose from the dense multitude. As the dreadful hour approached, these scenes became less boisterous, and a feeling of awe seemed to creep involuntarily upon every one present. Shortly before noon Calcraft, accompanied by the Governor, Captain Gibbs, Superintendent Ride, and other officers, came out upon the scaffold. The old executioner, who seemed ashamed of showing his face, having found that the arrangements were satisfactory, retired amid loud shouts of derision. Contrary to expectation the groat bell was not tolled, and it was seven minutes past 12 when, without announcement, the unhappy criminals, pale and pinioned, stepped out upon the drop. Now every voice was hushed—there were gibes no longer. A sickening:and painful sensation overcame all subject to human feelings. Beside the poor fellows stood the chaplain and governor of the gaol, Mr. Thomas Wright, the prison philanthropist, and other gentlemen, whilst Calcraft, with business-like alacrity at once set about drawing the white caps over the pale faces of the condemned, and adjusting the ropes. Both men appeared in their ordinary clothes. The appearance of Taylor had undergone no perceptible alteration since his trial beyond a slight twitching of the features and hands which appears natural to him. He was perfectly cool and self-possessed, clasped his hands, smiled at the throng, and bowed lowly and frequently as well as the manacles would allow. Ward was as cool as it is possible to conceive. On meeting the eye of some comrade in the front he nodded to him familiarly, and then looked around as if to find some other friend. Calcraft was! busy with the ropes while Mr. Wright addressed a few earnest words to the culprits, and the chaplain real the usual services with loud emphasis and solemnity, the responses of Ward being heard distinctly, at a distance of 50 yards. Then the bolt was drawn and the condemned murderers were launched into eternity almost without a struggle. A fierce shout of execration greeted Calcraft on the completion of this work. We understand that Taylor has made no statement in reference to the doaths of his children further than that they were not occasioned by chloroform or wet cloths, but by some simple medicine, which caused no pain. He has not been visited since the departure of his wife, but she wrote him daily up to Friday. Ward was, on Friday, seen by his wife and two children, and the interview is said to have been of the most heartrending description.