Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol III, No 13, 1851Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol III, No 13, 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
The prisoners having dismounted, were placed in a line on the ground
facing the guillotine, their arms pinioned. They were very different in
appearance. Fieschi had a most sinister and ferocious expression of
face, rendered more so by the scars, scarcely healed apparently,
inflicted by the bursting of his gun-barrels. He was plainly dressed,
and appeared like a workman of the better class; his age about
thirty-five. Morey was a man advanced in life, perhaps seventy; his bald
head was partly covered with a black cap revealing the white hairs
behind, and at the sides: he was a corpulent large figure, dressed
completely in black, with a mild intelligent face, and altogether a very
gentlemanly air and manner. Pepin was a small, thin-faced, insignificant
man.
Pepin was chosen first for execution. Having been deprived of his coat
and neck-handkerchief, and the collar of his shirt turned down, he was
led by the executioner up the steps of the platform. He ascended with an
air of considerable bravado, shook himself, and looked round with much
confidence, and spoke some words which we could not catch, and which the
executioner appeared disposed to cut short. Having advanced with his
breast against the truck, to which his body was rapidly strapped, he was
then tilted down, truck and all, upon his face; and the truck moving
upon small wheels or castors in grooves upon the chest, he was moved
rapidly forward, till his neck came directly under the chopper, when the
rope being unhooked from the button, the ax fell with a loud and awful
"chop!" the head rolling down upon the bare platform. After the
separation of the head, the body moved with much convulsive energy, and
had it not been made fast to what I have called the truck, and that also
connected with the raised platform, would probably have rolled down on
the lower stage. The executioner then held up the head to view for a
moment, and I suspect, from some laughter among the troops, made a
facetious remark. The lid of a large basket alongside the chest was then
raised, and the body rolled into it.
Morey was the next victim. He ascended the steps feebly, and requiring
much assistance; he was also supported during the process of strapping
him. His bald head and venerable appearance made a favorable impression
upon the spectators, and elicited the only expressions of sympathy
observable throughout the executions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account