e location was not in what might strictly be called "the heart of the
city," nor was it in the suburbs. Carpenters and masons, both black and
white, were busily employed in their avocations, and from the distance
all seemed fair and moving with despatch. As they approached nearer,
cries and moans sounded upon the air, and rose high above the clatter of
the artisans' work. The Captain quickened his pace, but the colonel,
as if from a consciousness of the effect, halted, and would fain have
retraced his steps. "Come!" said the Captain, "let us hasten-they are
killing somebody!" They approached the building, and entered by an open
door in the basement. The passage, or entry-way, was filled with all
sorts of building materials; and on the left, another door opened into
a long basement apartment, with loose boards laid upon the floor-joists
overhead. Here in this dark apartment was the suffering object whose
moans had attracted their attention. A large billet of wood, about six
feet long and three feet square, which had the appearance of being used
for a chopping-block, laid near. A poor negro man, apparently advanced
in years, was stripped naked and bent over the block, in the shape of a
horse-shoe, with his hands and feet closely pinioned to stakes, driven
in the ground on each side. His feet were kept close together, and close
up to the log, while he was drawn over, tight by the hands, which were
spread open. Thus, with a rope around his neck, tied in a knot at
the throat, with each end carried to the pinion where his hands were
secured, his head and neck were drawn down to the tightest point. The
very position was enough to have killed an ordinary human being in less
than six hours. His master, a large, robust man, with a strong Irish
brogue, started at their appearance, as if alarmed at the presence
of intruders, while holding his hand in the attitude of administering
another blow. "There! you infernal nigger; steal again, will you?"
said he, frothing at the mouth with rage--with his coat off, his
shirt-sleeves rolled up, and his face, hands, arms and shirt-bosom so
bespattered with blood, that a thrill of horror ran through the Captain.
On the ground lay several pieces of hoop, broken and covered with blood,
while he held in his hand another piece, (which he had torn from a
lime-cask,) reeking with blood, presenting the picture of a murderer
bestained with the blood of his victim. But the poor sufferer's
punishment had w