Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-07-04

main there for months, draining away
my gastric juice, day by day, starving or
overfeeding me at his pleasure. I speak
Of these things, not to show you what I
have suffered, but to let you see that I
am not biased in what I am about to
say, by any desire to mitigate this mans
sufferings. The success of our antidote
experiment will, in great measure, de-
pend upon perfectly fresh and quies-
cent state of the system. Breaking his
legs will give rise to a certain amount of
nervous shock and after-fever. and will
render an experiment, if not failure,
certainly less satisfactory and conclusive.
Therefore, suggest that we proceed first
with poisoning, and break the legs after
ward"
Victim as was, doomed to almost GER
tain death, could not but admire this
scientific manner in which the old man
Cor dog) spoke. The vote of the assem-
bly, being called for, they unanimously
agreed with the last speaker. 1t was de-
clded then to poison me with strychnine.
Great God! it was too much; it was too
hard. | would not submit to it, [
would spit it in their faces. | would
starve to death rather than satisfy the
fiends. 0, if [ had never studied med
icine, or if | had only staid away from
that accursed lake! But no, it was too
late; too late. My eyes were dry,
glazed, and burning. Perhaps they
would throw pepper in them and collect
the tears for analysis
The President motioned to an old man,
who proved to be the druggist. He came
forward and held a glass to my lips [
struggled to turn my head aside. It was
useless. He poured the liquid into my
mouth and tilted my head back, trying
to make me swallow it. With fierce
effort | spat it out, full in his face All!
ha! | had the advantage of them.
| They could not make me swallow it,
The enraged druggist struck me in the
face, and glazing angrily at me, replen-
ished the glass. He held my nose and
tried to make me swallow the accursed
fluid. Again / spat it out. A murmur
of surprise and dissatisfaction went
round. They were bafled! Perdition!
That crafty, scientific dog again rose to
speak. Honorable President, suggest
that it be given him by the hypodermic
syringe"
Great Heavens! I had not thought
Of thatl Surely l could no longer help
myself. 1t was useless to fight against
my fate. The druggist brought little
syringe about three inches in length. AS
nozzle it had golden needle per-
forated. Putting the hollow needle into
"a fresh solution of strychnine he drew
the syringe full, and, piercing the skin of
my arm with the golden needle, pushed
IN the injection. | was furious with
pain and rage; yet | could not move.
The mysterious varnish or glue kept me
immovable. | struggled in my mind,
but no movement of my limbs answered
the effort of my will. The sensation was
something terrible. God pity the par
alyzed!
The solution of strychnine must have
been a very powerful one, for in a few
moments [ felt it tingling through my
veins. My head began to ache and
throb; my bones seemed to be grinding
against each other; my breath came
short and quick; my heart seemed in a
vice; shots danced before my eyes; a
sudden tremor shook my frame; then a
convulsive agony, and the glue fell seal
ing to the fooot. With chattering teeth
| prayed for death, but they laughed at
and Knocked me. The lights in the room
became blurred and misty, and seemed
to be dancing about madly; the faces of
the Old men began to grow more and
more distant, and my body, but a mo-
ment before stiff and immOvable, was
twisted about and distorted with the
most hideous commissions. Then blank.
When [ regained consciousness there
was the taste Of nicotine in my mouth,
my limbs were, oh, SO sore, and my head
seemed throbbing responses to q trip
hammer Then [ heard voices. At
first they sounded distant and unintel-
hgible Then they became more dis
tinct, and [ could understand what was
said
A wonderful success" said one.
Excellent" said another
"Didn't enjoy it much" said third,
chuckling.
"He Will appreciate how we felt when
the doctors and psychologists were tor
turing us, remarked a fourth.
II hope the fool isn't dead" charit-
ably remarked one of them, "for we
propose to experiment upon the circula-
ton during hanging, after we break his
legs"
Great God were they not satisfied?
Had I not suffered enough already? It
seemed not. [ was suddenly aroused by
some ones running heated needle into
my flesh.
CHOW, brethren" said the President,
"let us proceed at once to the second ex-
pertinent" They carried me to table,
upon the edge of which were set two
heavy, fat steel rings. My legs were
drawn through them, and the bands
screwed tight. A man grasped each leg,
and gave sudden sidewise jerk. There
was loud snap, and my limbs hung
down limp and useless.
The pain was severe, but not so great
as [ expected it would be. But soon,
the position in which the legs hung,
caused the sharp end of the broken bones
to cut through the muscles [ groaned
The pain became intense; [ could stand
it no longer, and tainted.
When | came to my senses [ was laid