Page:Notes of the Mexican war 1846-47-48.djvu/398

392 The rope attached to the trap was pulled at 12.30 o'clock, when the two men swung off in the air, in the midst of the tolling of church bells, in the neighborhood.

While the prisoners were ascending the scaffold, the band played the Marseilles hymn. One died without a struggle, while the other, Mr. Meecks, suffered very much, strangling and struggling for some time.

Mr. Meecks hailed from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; the other one was a foreigner, he wouldn't give his name.

After hanging for nearly half an hour, they were pronounced dead, and lowered. During this time, some of the Ohio men talked pretty loud, saying that it was an outrage to hang these men.

After they were lowered, the military moved on past the scaffold. The music not playing until we had passed the scaffold; we then marched to our quarters, where we were dismissed for the balance of the day.

I noticed that the Mexicans who witnessed the execution, watched every movement of the prisoners. The Mexicans shoot their prisoners in place of hanging.

Wednesday, November 24, 1847.—This morning, according to the orders read to us yesterday, we were formed in the plaza ready to start on our march, but orders came from Col. Hughes, not to leave until the two Mexican officers (convicted the other day) are executed.

About 9 o'clock,, the ambulance wagon containing the two guerilla officers made its appearance near the scaffold. The wagon stopped at the front of the gallows, the same on which the teamsters were executed yesterday. There were a great crowd of Mexicans gathered around the prisoners to bid them good-bye.

Among them I noticed an aged mother and a sister of Col. Juan Clamaco; they of course wrung their hands, wept and took it very hard. They were told that the time of execution had arrived, and that the friends should take leave.