116 > 
Those persons who were sentenced to 
Omcea, were principally officers and non- 
commissioned officers, under Miranda. 
Those sentenced to Porto-Rico, were 
generally privates and mechanics, and 
those sentenced to Bocca Chica, were 
generally seamen. 
On the morning of the 2ist of July, 
about six o’clock, the prisoners were 
alarmed by the ‘noise. of an assem- 
blage of Spanish soldiers at the door 
of the prison; when presently the 
door was thrown open, and discovered 
- to their view about three hundred soldiers, 
with muskets leaded, bayonets fixed, and 
arrayed in two lines on the right and left 
of the prison door, facing inwards, and 
in a position of charged bayonets. 
The prisoners, after being ordered to 
put on what clothes they had (which 
were nothing more than a piece of a 
shirt, and a pair of ragged pantaloons ; 
some had not even those articles) they 
were lashed two together by the elbows, 
and placed in a line, between the sol- 
diers, for marching. The ten prisoners 
to be executed, were then brought out 
and with their hands lashed fast before, 
and with white robes on, that extended 
from the lower part of their necks to their 
heels, and a white cap upon their heads, 
were placed in front; in front of them, 
were placed the three catholic prisoners, 
attended with three priests, carrying in 
their hands the holy cross, and accom- 
panied with attendants carrying the sa- 
crament, wax candles and other imple- 
ments of the church. In this situation 
the prisoners, with their irons upon their 
feet, marched slowly aleng between the 
lines of soldiers, out of the walls of the 
castle, to the pilin: 
Castle St. Philip is situated upon a 
large level space of ground, im the har- 
bour of Porto Cavello, and separated 
irom the town by a narrow arm of 
water. The walls are nearly a quarier 
of a mile in circumference; about four- 
teen feet high, and about thirteen feet 
thick, forming also the outward walls of 
the prison; mounted with about fifty 
pieces of large metal. Outside of the 
walls, and fronting the town, is a large 
area, for the purpose of exercising the 
soldiers, &c. upon this spot the galiows 
were erected, being about FOO rods 
from the prison. 
_ The gallows were about twenty feet 
long and fifteen fect high, and separated 
in the middle by a post, making two di- 
visions and two pair of steps, one for the 
Rovine Catholic prisoners, as directed by 
thé prie sts, and the other for the presby- 
terlaus, or heretics as they were called. 
Account of the Sufferings of the Crew 
s 
[March Tf, 
Whence it Aeaeaen that they could sé- 
parate their bodies, if they could not 
their souls afterwards. About half way 
up the middle post were placed Miran- 
da’s colours; underneath them. lay the 
instruments of war, taken from the 
schooners, together with the military 
coats, hats, and feathers, of the officers. 
After the procession reached the gal- 
lows, those to be executed, were taken 
in the front, the other prisoners were 
drawn up in the rear, so as to be infront 
ofeach other as they ascended the steps. 
Immediately round the prisoners were 
drawn up two or three companies of uni- 
form soldiers, principally Old-Spainers ; 
in the rear of those were several compa- 
nies of militia, the greater part of whom 
were natives of the country. Ata little 
distance in the rear of these, were drawn 
up several companies of artillery : and 
along the shore of the town of Porto Ca= 
vello, were stationed a number of come 
panies of cavalry. From this extensive 
military force, brought to attend the ex- 
ecution, some concluded that aa oppe= 
sition was feared from persons friendly 
disposed to Miranda, but nothing of that 
kind was manifested. . 
Being ready to proceed to the execu- 
tion, the prisoners awaited their fate 
witha coinposure of mind that seemed to 
evince a reconciled conscience. Not the 
least intimidated, they discovered a firm- 
ness and resolution indicative of soldiers. 
Mr. Farquarson being first selected to 
meet his fate, was led to the steps of the 
gallows, by a negro slave, whe acted as 
the jack-ketch of the day, and for which 
he was promised his liberty; his irons 
were then knocked otf, and he Jed up to 
the top of the scaffold, where he was 
seated, fronting his fellow-prisoners; the 
ropes* being placed round his neck, he 
rose upon his feet and took a final fare. 
well of his companions, wishing them a 
Letter fate. The negro then gave Inma 
push from the top of the scaffold, and 
Jaunched him into eternity. fete dic 
ately the negro let himself down upon 
the roves, and seating himself upon the 
shoulders , with his feet hanging upon the 
breast, Reet the breath out of the body 
with his heels; then jumping down, 
caught the body by the feet, and pulled 
it towards one. end of the gallows to 
inake room for another. 
In the same manner they proceeded to 
* Tbe Spaniards use two ropes in their 
manner of hanging: one something smaller 
than the other, and a few inches shorter, 
which serves to break the neck, while the 
other sustains the we eight of the boay. ; 
Pe "execute: 
