Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 November 1887 — PARTING SCENHS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PARTING SCENHS.

How the Announcement of the Governor’s Decision Wui Received. When the news of the commutation of the sentence of Fielden and Schwab was received at the jail there was an extraordinarv scene of activity. The news was sent to the relatives of all the condemned men, and in a short time they began to arrive at the jail. The first of the women to come was Mrs. Schwab. Soon after Schwab was brought from his cell to the main office. His wife quickly advanced to him and, throwing her arms about his neck, burst into tears. Schwab returned the embrace in a calm maimer and soon the two were chatting quietly together. After this Spies and Fischer were brought from their cells and taken to the jail library. Engel was brought to the private office of Mr. kola. Thi3 was done for the purpose of allowing the relatives to take their last interviews. The'first of the women to arrive after Mrs. Schwab was Miss Engel, the daughter of the condemned anarchist. When the two met in the private -office there was an outburst of grief which it is impossible to describe.' Father and daughter dung to each other and sobbed convulsively. Their conversation was in German, and was listened to only by Deputy Olesen. Then came Mrs. Spies, the mother of August. She had been wating outside for an hour and a’half. Her sobs could be beard through the corridors of the

.building. She.' didx-otustay long irr the library with her son, and on her exit from the jail, Mrs. “Fischer was admitted, She wen t into the library and her lamentationsw ere heart! above the tramp of the deputies who swarmed about the place. But the crowning scene of all was the visit of ./Nina Van Arndt, the, proxy wife of Spies. She was conducted to the library by Deputy Oleson. As she walked through the main office she betrayed no emotion. The moment at which she saw August, however,completely changed her demeanor. There was a lob,k, then a gasp, and in a thrice they were in each others arms. A bevy of curious reporters and officers crowded up to the door of the library, but it was quickly shut by the deputy. The interview between the prisoner and his devotee lasted nearly half an hour. What actually transpired will never be known to the world, but it was sufficient to bring a glimering tear to the eyes of the old deputy. In half an hour the lovers had parted and the excitement of the entrance of Nina had passed, BIOGRAPHICAL. Albert R. Parsons, the only one who can be strictly called an American, was a native of Texas. He was a printer. He lived in Chicago for fourteen years. Of the two his wife was much the most bloodthirsty. Bamnel Fielden (commuted) is an Englishman, coming to America m 1866, and to Chicago in 1860. August Bpies was a German, coming to America in 1871". George Bn gel was, also, a native of Germany, and came to America in 1872. Michael Schwab (commuted) is a Bavarian. He oame to . America in 1879. Louis Lingg was only 24 years old, and was a native of Germany. He had been in America fnnr years. Adolpfr Fischer, German, had been in this country 16 years. Oscar W. Neebe, sentenced to the penitentiaYork in 1850, of German parentage.

ADOLPH FISCHER.