The Anderson Intelligencer

Fearful Scene at an Execution.

On Friday, June 26th, Rufus Ludwig was executed at Salisbury, N. C., for the murder of his wife, the circumstances attending the execution making it one of the most extraordinary that the history of public executions in this country has shown. A correspondent, after giving the particulars of the crime, tells of the crowd assembled at the execution, of the manner in which the culprit passed to the gallows and of a long address which he made to the crowd. The correspondent then adds:

The sheriff now began to get up into the wagon. Ludwig rose from his seat and began another speech, which was a mere repetition of his former one. He rambled on disconnectedly for several minutes, and it became clear that he would never voluntarily stop. An hour and a half had already passed since the arrival at the gallows, and the hour of two had already gone by at which the final act was intended to have taken place. But the sheriff in his kindness of heart, was indulgent to the poor wretch, who it was evident, clung to life with extraordinary tenacity. And yet there was no blanching nor change of color, nor visible unsteadiness of nerve in the prisoner. About the time the sheriff mounted the wagon, however, the prisoner put one foot on the side of the wagon body, and evidently thought of jumping off, though this movement was little noticed at the time. He took it down again and went on with his talk, looking around now and then in different directions. Seeing he did not intend to stop talking at all, Sheriff Walton at length took him by the arm and asked him to step on the platform. But he begged to be allowed to finish what he had to say. The sheriff told him he could finish on the platform, and commenced drawing him by the arm towards it, but he hung back and insisted on talking in the wagon. The sheriff then called his deputy, who took hold of the other arm, and they began to lead him toward the hinder part of the wagon. He then asked to be allowed to tell the ministers farewell, which was permitted. After that he turned round and expressed a wish to shake hands with all the bystanders inside of the guard, who were perhaps twenty in number, consisting of officers, &c. It was evident that this was the effect merely of reluctance to go on the platform, and a desire only to prolong the time. So the sheriff and deputy paid no attention to the request, but gently, though firmly, moved him to the platform, he all the while showing great repugnance to it, and leaning back, but making no strenuous resistance.

But the instant he touched the platform a most extraordinary and exciting scene ensued. He at once made a wild plunge forward with the intention of leaping off the platform on the farther side, and with the evident purpose of making a break and a desperate endeavor to push his way through the crowd and escape his impending doom. Nothing could be more hopeless than such an effort, as would be manifest to any reflecting mind. But Ludwig had ceased to reflect; he only felt the animal instinct of self-preservation. To submit was death. To struggle was more than death. He succeeded in throwing his feet off the platform; but the two officers having hold of his arms and shoulders, held fast, and pulling him backward he fell with the upper part of his back still on the platform, his legs and part of his body projecting over the edge. The platform was about four and a half feet high. Several of the nearest officers of the guard at once rushed to the assistance of the sheriff and laid hold of Ludwig's legs, endeavoring to shove him backward on the platform. But the prisoner struggled with almost superhuman strength. With all the vigor of his powerful and muscular frame, nerved by despair, he wrestled with fate. For a long time he uttered no word, but with convulsive and rapid movements of arms and legs strove to wrench himself from the grasp of the eight or ten men who now had hold of him.

A thrill of awe and horror ran through the immense assemblage, and it swayed to and fro like a forest shaken by a mighty wind. Some turned and fled from the awful spectacle; exclamations of excitement and terror broke from others; women and negroes shrieked. Such a scene is not often witnessed in this world. But those whose duty it was to act remained calm and cool. The guard, most of whom had been old Confederate soldiers, simply brought their muskets to a "ready," and stood as serene as they were wont to do in recent times of real danger. And still the struggle went on, one against ten; and it seemed at times almost like the despairing wretch would succeed in freeing himself from the powerful posse who were holding him. The noose was two feet above his head as he lay, and powerful efforts were used to push him up to it. Meanwhile the platform grew rickety and several were employed in steadying it. At the end of more than five minutes—which seemed, however, to be three times as long—the sheriff was about getting the noose over Ludwig's head, which he threw quickly from side to side to avoid it. He then exclaimed that he would stand up and be quiet if they would release their hold; but this was evidently said only for the purpose of inducing them to relax their efforts, for he showed no sort of disposition to relax his own exertions. The officers persisted in placing the noose over his head, and as he felt that inevitable fate now had him, he is said to have muttered a curse, which was overheard by some of those nearest him. The noose was at last put on and drawn tightly around his neck. He still used his feet to the utmost in kicking off those who had hold of him. It took several minutes to pinion his hands and feet, he meanwhile lying on his side and choking to death as fast as possible, for the rope was stretched by his weight. His face was perfectly livid, and his eyes starting from their sockets, presenting a spectacle not easily forgotten, the sheriff being too busy subduing and pinioning him to take time to put on the white cap. By the time his arms and legs were tied he had become motionless: the cap was put over his face, and the officers sprang off and knocked out the prop. Ludwig being in a recumbent posture, and the rope at full tension already, when the drop fell he swung gently down, with his feet a short distance from the ground. His neck could not have been broken, but he died very quickly, and without a single movement after he was swung off, except one or two slight heavings of the chest.