Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1890-04-27
THE DEATH MACHINE.
The Instrument to Shock Kemmler Out
of Life.


AUBURN. n. Y. April 27.-Within a
week the first legal execetion by elec-
tricity in this or any other country will
occur. Kemmler, the brutal wife mur-
derer, will pay the penalty of his crime.
The condemned man has become re-
signed to his fate. and is cOolly watch
ing the preparations for execution. A
reporter was admitted to examine him
to-day.
The present quarters of Kemmler and
the room where he is to die are side by
side i'm the main front of the prison, and
from his cell door TO the fatal chair is a
distance of about Is feet. The death
chamber is about II feet wide by % feet
long. and is dimly lighted by two small
iron-grated windows about four feet
above the floor and from which view
of the main entrance OF the prison can
be obtained. Between the windows, on
the east wall, is long board about ten
feet i'm length and 81 or feet high.
On this board are arranged mechanical
appliances for testing, measuring and
governing the death-dealing current.
At the left is a common electric push
button. which communicates with the
DYNAMO room, and is used for signaling.
Next on the right is a Cardrew'S vol
meter, long, narrow black walnut box,
containing coiled wire and Surmounted
by gauge, which registers the cleo
trical force in volts.
WIRES AND SWITCHES.
Another boy. long and narrow, is on
the right and contains Il reducing coil
to diminish the force of electricity be-
fore il enters the voltmetre of the lamp
box on the right. Between the rcducer
and voltmeter is small switch TO turn
the current off and on the meter. The
lamp-boX contains - l6-candle power
incandeScent lamps, and shows when
the current is on and running steadily.
Then come two switcheS-One for short
circulating the current, and the other
the fatal switch. which carries the
current to the wires connecting
with the body of the con-
demned. Two wires at the top connect
with dynamo 1000 feet away in the
north window of the prison. One OF the
wires will be connected with the metal
cap worn on the head and the other will
be adjusted TO the base of kemmler'S
spine. At present these two wires re-
main dangling from the ceiling. They
will be attached to a board three feet
square attached to the ceiling, which is
already in position, and which is direct
~ over the spot where the chair Is TO be
placed. There was no sign of a chair
about the building, but there is no doubt
that it is all ready to be placed in posi-
tion at moments notice.
TIE DAY NOT KNOWN.
Yesterday. while the warden and the
reporter were in the fatal chamber, the
low murmur of voices could be heard
through the closed door which connects
with the prisoners cell. 1t was Keeper
Naughton and Kemmler in conversation.
There was also heard the steady tramp
of the death watch as he paced slowly
up and down i'm the corridor in front OF
the cell.
The warden is allowed TO invite
2l persons to be present. consisting OF
- reputable citizens, not TO exceed seven
assistants. and not TO exceed two phySi-
clans. The law further prcscribes the
following persons may also be admitted:
Judge of the court i'm which kcmmler
was convicted, the district attorney and
sheriff Of Erie county. KemmleriS also
allowed to invite two clergymen. The
number of persons. therefore, who are
allowed by the law to witness the exc
cuiiOn iS21.