Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 October 1873 — Execution of Capt. Jack and His Associates. [ARTICLE]

Execution of Capt. Jack and His Associates.

An Associated Press dispatch of October 3 thus describes the incidents attending the execution of Captain Jack and his associates: At precisely 9:45 a. m., the interpreters, Capt. 0.0. Applegate and David Hill, explained to the culprits the nature of the order to be read to them by the Adjutant, and at 10 a. m. Adjutant Kingsbury read the orders promulgating the sentence of the Commission and the President’s order therein, with the orders of the Secretary of War and tire Department Commander in the premises. General Davis’ order had directed that .they be executed the day after their capture, but its execution was prevented by instructions from Washington to hold the prisoners until further orders. The friends of the peace policy in Washington raised the question whether the Modocs could be legally tried by a military commission. The point was made that General Canby was not acting as commander of the military forces, but as Peace Commissioner, and, therefore, a military commission could legally take cognizance of the crime; that the killing of Captain Thomas and the other officers and soldiers should be viewed as an act Of war, being performed while the parties were engaged in hostilities. These objections, however, were overruled by the President, and a military commission tried the murderers, and condemned them to be hanged. The two reprieved prisoners, Barncho and Slotuck, yet stood On the ground in front of the scaffold, shackled and under., guard. During the reading, the pinioned victims were seated on the platform of the scaffold,which consisted of uprights about seven feet high, surmounted by a crossbeam thirty feet in length. The platform was seton pine poles, eight feet below the beam, solid at the back, and, w’ith a hinged drop on which all were seated, with their feet on the drop,listening anxiously, but, of course, not understanding a word of it. The reading occupied- ten minutes, then the adjutant read the order of - com mutat io n in-4 h e case o f Barn ch o an d Slotuck, which was issued on the ground that they were merely acting under Capt. Jack’s-orders in what they did. The poor fellows were taken back tothe stockade, evidently happy at not accompanying the others to the happy hunting grounds. The coffins, six in number, had been placed directly in the rear of the gallows, two of them destined to be unoccupied, as the order commuting the sentences ot Barncho and Slotuck only arrived at 10:30 last evening, and preparations had been made for them likewise. The chaplain then offered an earnest and fervent prayer for the souls of the culprits, which was listened to attentively. At 10:15 the fatal nooses were placed around their necks, under direction of Capt. Hoge. It w’as necessary to cut off a little of Jack’s long hair, which was in the way of the rope. Capt. Hoge then bid farewell to the prisoners, and the black caps were placed over the heads of all the culprits. It must have been an awfal moment. At 10:20 they stood on the drop. The rope was cut by the assistant at a signal made by Captain Hoge’s handkerchief. The bodies swung round and round, Jack and Jim apparently dying easily, but Boston and Schonehin suffering terrible convulsions. Boston and Schonehin repeatedly drew up their legs, but the two others seemed to die almost instantly. At 10:28 their pulses were felt by Captain Hoge, and as I write they arg, swinging lifeless in the air. JV As the drop fell with a terrible deadly thug four poor wretched human beings fell into eternity, and a half-smothered cry of horror went up from the crowd of over 500 Klamath Indians who witnessed the awful spectacle. Wails of deep and bitter anguish went up from the stockade where the wives and children Of the poor fellows had a fair view of the shocking scene. An application was made this morning by the sheriff of Jackson County for the custody of the Indians indictee! by the grand jury, to General Wheaton, but it was refused.