Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1898 — HE WAS REPRIEVED. [ARTICLE]

HE WAS REPRIEVED.

Bnt Thron#h an BnorUac H * Died Jut the Same. The custom in English navy, np io the beginning of the present century, >f keeping back from men reprieved, ifter sentence of death, all knowledge ►f such reprieve until the last moment, vhen ell the formalities attending the execution of the sentence, except the iread one that came last of all, had jeen duly observed, is answerable for several terrible mishaps involving tragic consequences. One dreadful affair >f the kind occurred in 1766. A marine rad been sentenced to death for desertion, and the day fixed for his execu:ion had arrived. The man received he sacrament, and was duly conducted :o the place fixed for his execution, unler escort of an officer’s guard, with all he routine formalities usual on such iread occasions—his coffin immediately preceding him, and the band playing the “Dead March.” The preliminaries »ver, he was placed in a position to re;eive the fatal volley. His eyes were bound. The firing party stepped forward and took post within six paces. “Make ready.” Click, dick, click went the flint locks. “Present.” Up went the muskets, all leveled in a row at the prisoner’s breast. Then there was a pause as the officer in command, holding in his hand, rolled up, the fatal handkerchief, the dropping of which had been arranged as the signal to “fire,” turned away. Every one looked on, wondering at the delay while the officer was apparently trying to get at something in his tunic pocket. He grasped it and pulled out a paper, but in his eagerness dropped the handkerchief. Instantly there was a line of spurting flame points—a rattle and an echoing crash—as the nine reports rang out in unison! The culprit pitched forward heavily on his face with a dull thud, aud lay stretched out as dead as a stoue. It was too late when, almost throwing himself across the line of fire, the officer ejaculated to tones of horror, “My God, stop! Here’s his reprieve!”