Countdown to July 7

[Lincoln Wonk]

(07-05-2012 09:49 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Indeed, Betty! The day after the hangings, July 8, 1865, ol' Ned was taken outside to exercise in the same yard where the executions took place. The scaffold was still standing. Ned said to Rath, "Captain, I have been in hell for 24 hours. I heard the condemned pass my cell. Then my heart stopped beating, for I expected to be called next. I heard the drop fall and my agony was terrible. I had no relief till supper-time when I couldn't eat, and this hurt me worse than anything else." (Gray, John A. "The Fate of the Lincoln Conspirators: The Account of the Hanging, Given by Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Rath, the Executioner." McClure's Magazine 37 (October 1911)

Roger, Thanks for this. This is amazing. How awful to be in poor Spangler's shoes.