Page:Correct account of the life, confession, and execution of Willm. Burke (1).pdf/8

8 feeling; he repeated, as if unconsciously, the words whispered to him by the priest; his face assumed a colour as if he had been already suffocated, and he allowed his cap to be put over his face without a motion. At each step of the executioner's duty, the crowd raised another shout; and when the cap was drawn over the face, a cry was raised to keep it off altogether. The authorities then left the scaffold, and in half a minute the signal was given, and the drop fell. Here the shouting, groaning, and hissing, became louder than ever. The rope seemed to be too short, as it was evident he had but a very short fall, and the struggles which followed, shewed that he suffered much. His hands were extended convulsively, and once or twice be was observe to breathe deeply. The cry for punishment on Hare now became general. “Bring out Hare;" "Now for Hare" and one continued cry was kept up many minutes. This was kept up at intervals till he was cut down at nine o’clock. At this moment the crowd called for three cheers “for humanity,” and one person from a window cried out “or cheer more,” and was answered by the whole crowd. The crowd at this time seemed greatly agitated, and fear were entertained for the public peace, but they were fortunately unfounded. The strong body of police, indeed, which was present, under the charge of Captain Stewart, would have quelled any riotous movement, and the military were under arms in case of necessity. When the body was lowered into the coffin, previous to its being taken to the lock-up-house great anxiety was displayed by a numbers of persons to possess a piece of the rope: and when disappointed in this they were content to secure a few of the shavings of which the coffin was stuffed. It should have been told, that it was the intention of the authorities to have had a psalm sung on the scaffold, and a precentor was there for that purpose but the idea was prudently relinquished, on observing the state of feeling among the crowd, and the service was rendered as short as was consistent with the occasion.

Caldwell, Printer, Paisley