, 1889-09-12
SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT,
from the new York Mercury.l

III ttlc prisoner lclV any uuulHiS VI iVt
ne failed to show 1t.
There was that Same look of stoic-lilo,
doggedness he had worn during all thcs'
years of imprisonment. Pale he certain
ly was, not with the pallor of fear bu
rather that grayness which Is brought
| by tho intense strain of norvo and mus
Gle upon tho inventors s face when he II
about to take some stupcndous leap for
ward upon the pathway of mighty pro
gression.
The mans arms were pinioned ovei
| his broad breast his feet attached ankle
to ankle but few inches apart, shuiiled
awkwardly across tho stone floor Us one
of the keepers of the prison hurried him
toward the chair raised upon slight
! platform In the center of the room.
| Through the window, through whose
narrow confines struggled faint Kicker
of morning light, came the low, sweet
thrill of the bobolnlS Then, and foI
the first time, came deep sigh from tho
mans breast. Tho breeze stirred the
leaves aud he opened his mouth in ono
long gasp to drink in tho sweetness
waited through the little window.
~ am ready"
He was lead to the chair. He seated
himself upon 1t, was tilted back and
metal cap was placed upon his head,
while both feet were put upon lOot-rest
and strange shoes put upon his feet.
There was the stilluees of death after
that, only broken by the footsteps OF "a
slightly built man who entered the
| room.
A silken bandagc was placed over the
eyes of the man in the chair. Ono
quick glance nc gave up into the eye OF
the man standing over him. Then he
sighed, relaxed his muscles and drew u
long breath
Tho slightly built man hurriedly but
carefully fastened copper wire to the
crown OF the cap, another one to the
plato which held both shoes together.
The medical men drew near. The sun
went behind cloud and the bobolink
upon his swinging perch in the meadow
ceased his lay The slightly built man
touched the copper wire ut the same
time wiped his forehead with his hand
kerchief as he glanced toward ii glazed
door with asmall transparent patch Of
clear glass.
"IIc is dcadr' said he as he quickly
moved away and lett the room.
| The bundage was removed, the metal
cap liltod the strange shoes taken oil
and the man carried from the chair
The matter had been settled, science
had been proven and the new method oi
execution was success, or SO mt least
was the verdict of the medical gentle-
men who had the case in charge.
There was one less life prisoner to lie
down upon his cot that night.
Strange!
No Judge had ever sentenced him to
death. His had been the sentence OF
imprisonment for life at hard labor
True, ne killed fellow man long ago;
however, there were some facts brought
forward at the trial which saved his neck
from the rope.
Ten years of his life he had passed be,
:. hind prison bars and now-now he died
for the sake of science
He Offered himself as a subject fol
experiment. If electricity must be used
what power was necessary to killP Ami.
mails had been killed, but II man! Well
IA scientific man offered to operate upor
u human subject ii one could be found
One was foundl
Science was satisfied and the new
method of sending II human being be.
fore his Maker was successful.
The gentlemen rubbed their hand,
and congratulated one another, while
the inanimate .subjectk.was conveyed
away from the prison.
In small, hut-lilke structure situated
in dense forest some few miles from
the prison stood u man.
1t was the slight built man of the
and he knawed his lono red mustache as
he nervously clinched his hands.
"Why do they delay? Delay is dan
| gcrous now" came from his lips, "Ahl
thank Godl They are comingm he add
cd, as the sound of rapidly approaching
wheels fell upon his ears. The vehicle
stopped and the coffin was taken down
and carried into the hut.
quick! out witn him! Here, place
him in this trenchp' cried the little
man, now almost frenzied with excite
mcnt
The body was placed in the shallow
trench dug in the carthen floor. While
the Others stood around spellbound the
: little man packed the damp dirt about
: the neck and naked feet of his subject.
, "My God if it should fail. mol Noll
, he comes he comes! The lips quiver.
Quick the brandyv snatch!ng the bot
tie he pressed it to the lips, crushing them
against the white teeth and shouting
aloud: Hes savedp' as drop oil
: blood rolled down the chin.
, A shiver passed over the form lying in
, the trench, and then groan of pain fol,
lowed as the broad breast heaved con-
vulsively.
5 After that the subject was carefully
lifted from trench and laid upon meta.
cot whose copper legs stood upon the
earthen floor. He must have suffered
the pangs Of the damned, for he bit hit
lips through and through while the
( powerful current was gradually drawn
from his body. Deep wrinkles formed
about his mouth and his cheeks and
temples grew soaped there before the
| eyes of his watchers as he slowly cam,
: back from the brink of the land ofdeath.
D His muscles grew hard us steel, then
, weak and soft as child's as he CAM
| through the valley of poignant pain
4 Like victim placed upon the wlee
| and spikes of the lnquisition, he writhe,
and tossed and-theen he slept;
$ "Brotherp
\ 'Here, Harry, ever here! l saved
I. you
+ "rhank Godl No more prison!"
u alt was pretty experiment. | have
not studied electricity for nothing, eh?'
g GLOW did you do it?" slowly asked
/. the man, now seated in an easy chair in
/ the hut.
9 ''Humph A wire running up my
i sleeve, down my back and out of tn,
Y bottom of my trouser leg. When Tia,
o current struck you you got about half o
IT it. The rest went down the wire j had
o concealed underneath my clothing and
!, out of my trouser leg into, ha, ha! u
/ handy steam pipe"
ls 'And you?
i ~ got a slight thrill, that's ALI my
d wire was covered with rubber. Feel well
J. enough to start for---by George! Where
: will you go?"