The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-19
THE GUILLOTINE.
COMPLETE DEscRlpTloM Of rNE FRENcea
INSTRUMENT or DEATH.

The guillotine Of the present day is
smaller, less clumsy, and more manageable
than its prototype Of old, still it is the same.
instrument, and the notifications which it
has successfully undergone have not changed
the nature Of ITS mechanism nor its general
form. 1t consists Of square-shapeCl
scaffold, thirteen feet long by about twelve
feet six inces wide, supported on four posts
six feet in hight, and reached by fight Of
ten steps. This scaffold is rallied in on all
sides, with an open balustrade, and at two
thirds of its length are fixed two upright
parallel posts, surmounted by cross beam
which goes by the name Of the " chapeau" :"
They are thirteen feet high, and have a
space of about fifteen inches between them.
The knife, which is attached to the chapeau,
is composed of triangular blade of steel,
fixed by means Of three iron pins into a
leaden haft, called the mouton," which
gives il great weight. This noutOn is nearly
fourteen inches broad, and the blade at its
greatest width hardly a foot At rather
more than three feet above The platform are
two planks, placed vertically one above the
other, and with semi-circular portion cut
out Of each, 90 that when they are brought
together the opening has the appearance Of
full moon. These are known as the
lunette." The lower plank is fastened to
the upright posts, while the upper one, slid
ing in lateral grooves, can be raised or low
cred at will. Between the posts and the
staircase is the "bascule, narrow piece Of
board, which when at rest is vertical, but
which mere touch will bring into a hori-
zontal position. In falling it comes on to a
solidly supported table, longer than itself,
and extending right up to the lunette. The
bascule, furnisI ed with castOrs, rolls aIong
this table, and, by rapid action, brings the
neck Of the criminal, who is fastened to It,
on to the lower half circle, so as to secure
1t there To the right of the bascule, and
attached to it by hinges, is an inclined plane
placed 50 as to rest against the side Of an
enormous wicker basket, lined with zinc
and filed with sawdust. Underneath The
bascue and the lunette is trough Of oblOne
shape, and in front Of the upright posts is ar
apparatus which secures the bead OF the
criminal and prevents it from rolling on tc
the platform should it fall from the hands q
the assistant charged to bold it. The en-
tire machine, together witk its various aCces
sories, Is painted a disagreeable blood-reC
color. The bascule is provided with !
double leather strap and buckles, 10 order b
prevent any resistance on the part of tht
criminal; but this is rarely if ever used
The upper semicircle falls rapidly by mean'
OF very simple piece of mechanism put II
action by button, which it is only neces
sary to press. The knife Is attached to th'
chaPeau by kind Of claw, shaped ike
figure 8, The lower part Of which opens wheI
the upper closes. A cord hanging near t
, the button already noticed hangs upon
lever, which, bringing the upper portions
} the claw together, compels the lower 7
! separate, and set the knife free, This latter