The yellow flag flying at the foreroyal mast head; all eyes from these different ships were gazing with interest for the succeeding: sig-nal from the Cumberland, the next sig;nal would order the execution of the sentence of the court. But in the meantime how was it with the prisoner, still awaiting in the agitation and fulness of his feelings, the summons which the signal from the flag ship would soon lead to. A little before, he had put on his shoes, remarking that he would do it, though it was of little matter whether he did it or not. And again of his jacket, neatly folded upon his cot, he said he did not know that he should need it.
The day was warm and bright, and the ship's crews were dressed in white. It was evident, however, that the hour was near at hand, and ere long, indeed, the sentry placed his hand upon the canvas and elevated one wing of the screen, as the first lieutenant of the St. Mary's entered, saying that he had come on the melancholy duty, (naming the prisoner,) to have him prepare for the execution of the sentence which had been pronounced upon him. The master-at-arms advanced, relieved the prisoner's wrists from the irons, when he immediately arose and allowed his arms to be tied at the elbows behind him; in deep anguish he now burst forth: "Oh, my God, that I should ever have been brought to this!" calling upon his Maker and his Saviour to be with him, and to extend to him mercy and strength in such a needed hour, and to receive him with pardon to himself.
It was soon over; and he preferred that his hands should be tied tlso, and that his slippers should be removed from his feet. lie was now conducted to the main deck of the ship near the capstan. All hands having been piped to witness punishment, and were now mustered on the upper deck; the officers in uniform on the quarter-deck. Capt. Saunders of the St, Mary's advanced near to the prisoner, and read the death warrant, as the authority by which he was now called upon to have the sentence of the court-martial carried into effect It was done with a voice that showed deep emotions, and the silence of the assembled officers and crew, showed how deeply solemn was the transaction now being in execution.
As the captain ended the warrant, the prisoner, standing pale and hopeless, which gave interest to his finely chiseled face, spoke in a respectful tone: " I am ready sir!" and then bursting into tears, he said: " Shipmates! I warn you to take example from me, not to give way to your passions. By doing it, I have lost my life in this world, and I fear have lost my soul for eternity; yet I have prayed to God and Jesus Christ to have mercy on my soul. 1 offer no extenuation for my offence; I freely forgive any one who may at all have urged me on in the course of passion.
I freely forgive the Court who have pronounced sentence of death against me; the Commodore who approved that sentence, and all who have had anything to do with it, I have but a few more moments to live, and I pray God to have mercy on my poor soul. I pray Jesus Christ to have mercy on me; and 1 ask you all to pray for me the few moments more that I have to live." When the prisoner had ended his brief and unpremeditated admonitions to his shipmates, he walked forward from the capstan to the mainmast where he stood, myself at his side, the master-at-arms attending him while the 1st Lieutenant advanced to the forecastle, to see that all things were in readiness for ending the fearful tragedy, and while he was gone, the prisoner let his own thoughts commune with his own soul and his God, making; a single remark or two, and saying to me, with other expressions: " i have a faint hope now that God will receive me, but i is a faint hope.
And there! see, there!" directing my < rather himself looking; forward to the larboard foreyard-arm and s< i ing the preparations that had been made for the final sc< ne, and on the forecastle beneath the yellow flag which wa now flying" at the foreroval mast head. But ^oon he turned his face to the mainmast, and knelt on a coil of ringing 1 side it ns I placed my hand on his shoulder to support him, and buried my own face in my handkerchief as 1 leaned on the bits, while this man offered up another prayer in an audible tone for his own soul. One condemned in a few moments to offer up his life as an atonement for the broken laws of his country.