A Millian Hanging

History 217

Robert Mobley

Fall 2011

A Millian Hanging

My editor has somehow convinced me to write a story covering a murder and hanging that occurred in Virginia City, Nevada between January 20, 1867 and April 24, 1868. Which, I personally thought was absurd until he said that I get to travel back in time to Virginia City and witness the hanging for myself.

My editor has made it perfectly clear that I am not to interfere with anything going on, but only to ask questions and find out more answers. I have to appear as though I am from that time, act, speak, and be a person of that time. I will arrive in Virginia City on Monday, April 20, 1868 and then will arrive back to present time on Friday, April 24, 1868. I have been given a gorgeous golden locket that holds the key to me being able to transport to and from present time. I must not lose this. A bag has been packed for me; it contains a notepad with a pen along with clothing to last an entire week. I have also been given money to last the week that I am there.

It’s Monday the 20th. It’s bright outside and rather warm. I am looking forward to this adventure and to learn firsthand what it was like ‘back then.’ I walk into my office, preparing my last arrangements for the week when my editor walks in and asks if I am ready for my departure. He walks me into a room on a floor that I did not even know existed, floor 44. My editor carried a key in his coat pocket that unlocked this floor. The elevator has never showed a floor 44 until today. The elevator ride up was quite, I just stood there in silence wondering what to expect. We arrived, the doors opened and the room in white and completely full of glass-glass doors, glass rooms. You could see everyone and everything going on. I walked into a room and was told to hold the locket in both of my hands and repeat the date and location of which I wanted to go to. I close my eyes and wait for it to happen.

I heard a voice asking if I was all...