The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-08-13

and the party Who was TO witness tn'
execution decended the iron stairway
to the stone fioored hall; where the IA
tai apparatus and the first subject were
waiting, which lay through low door
way in the massive basement wall into
room dimly lighted as yet by the
early sunshine. In semi-gloom the
massive chair of death seemed to loom
out of the shadow. A little distance
from the entrance. as each guest pass
ed it, he might have noted that every
strap and band, every buckle to bind
the victim. was carefully placed to
avoid all possible delay.
The electrode for the head hung in
its place like a sprinkler disc for a
shower bath. Chairs and benches stood
about the room in a semi-circle. In
the uncertain light of the fateful room
they formed horse shoe, in whose
opening stood a heavy chair with its
dangling straps and buckles. Down
over one window toward the East a
heavy shade was drawn. while through
the bars in the other window the morn
ing air came cool and fresh through
Virginia creepers that swept the iron
with soft rustling touch. Suddenly
the room was lighted from within. The
warden had turned up the low burning
fame of one OF the blackened gas burn
ers, or ancient chandelier.
In his final arrangements the warden
had placed all the electrical apparatus
in an ante-room, the wires being run
over the easement to the death cham
ber. This ante-room the warden kept
carefully shut, save when he or some
helper hastily passed in or out. In
charge there were three men whom the
warden refused to name. The purpose
of the late change of the electrical volt
meter and switches to any other room
became apparent. Those who should
see kemmler die were never to know
who had pushed the switch to send the
death bolt to Kemmler's vitals. While
the final adjustments were being made.
Drs. Shrady and jenkins entered and
the witnesses were ali within the room.
In the meantime Kemmler, in his cell
was being prepared for the ending of
his life. He had gone peacefully to
sleep early in the night and had slept
Soundly and was snoring until 5 o'clock
when he was awakened by one of his
guards, Daniel McWaughton. Pastor
Houghton, who has attended kemmler,
as also Prison Chaplain Yates. were
with him. They read to him from the
Bible and he prayed with them. He
dressed himself without aid in suit of
gray mixed goods. About his neck he
buttoned turn down collar with
checked tie of lawn stuff. He brushed
and combed his hair with great care.
Hss shoes were well polished, and while
: he made himself finally tidy, the war
den and tall stranger, who is Depu-
ty Sheriff of Buffalo. entered.
Tie stranger held by his side pair
OF Clippers. The warden explained to
Kemmler that he must have the top Of
his head shaved. The prisoner demur-
red. He had taken great pains in
dressing his hair, and besides, explain
ed to the warden that he did not want
to be dis6gured. He wanted the people
to see and know that he was not a man
of repulsive appearance as has been
stated. Kemmler's hair is dark brown
and wavy with hyperion curl that fell
on his forehead, and of this he was
proud. In the shadow of death his
vanity asserted itself. His hair, how
ever, was cut but the curl was saved,
and as the sequel proved with good re-
suit. The shaVen spot was two and a
quarter by one and a quarter inches in
size, and was not shaven but cropped
fairly close.
While this was proceeding the wit
nesses examined the chair Of death.
The bell was rung upon the dynamo,
away down in the South wing of the
prison, and the incandescent stamps
In the ante-chaIGDer glowed family.
The current was on and a strange pow
er was courSing the circuit. "The evil
dence was there, but how feebly they
burned" thus exclaimed DR.. Mcdonald
who was the only one who got into the
ante-roon, and that while ignorant of
the warden's' desire to keep its secret
inviolate. In response to DR.. McDon-
AIDS comment. Electrician Davis re-
marked that there was something
wrong about the machinery down
there, referring to the dynamo end of
the circuit. This remark took place
before the electroiZlng 1t to Kemmler,
and was undoubtedly as true few
minutes later, when the bolt was ap-
piled to Kemmler.
The condemned man, after having
his hair cut on the top of his head, lis
tened to the reading of the death war
rant by the warden. None of the State
witnesses were pyesent-only the prison
er, the preachers and the warden. The
man was cool, unruffied. almost apa-
thetic. The last named condition,
however, was diScredited by the blanch-
ed hue of the mans face.
Come, Bill" commanded the warden
when all bad been done in the cell, and
the little party Of four-the warden,
the prisoner and clergymen-paSSed
through the ante-room past the electrl-
cal appliance, and the warden led the
way finally into the death chamber.
Close behind him trod the man he
soon would kill. His hands swung at
his side easily and when, as though in
some embarrassment. he Stroked his
brown, full beard and mustache as he
confronted the white expeetant faces
of the twenty-five men, who, besides
the warden. should soon see him die.
Warden Durston placed the plain
wooden bottomed chair directly in
front of the other and different chair
and bade Kemmler to sit upon it. lie
obeyed readily. There was no uneasi-
ness about his movements. He seated
himself leisnrely. There was no nerv-
Gus tension apparent; indeed, not near
lyso much as among the men about
him. He was apparently the most calm
person in the room.
The prisoner glanced over his shoul-
der as he ceased speaking, and Warden
Durston came to his side. Take off
your coat, Bill, said he. kemmler
readily did as he was told. The war
den then cut the cuffs off from his shirt
so as to adjust the electrode to his max
ed wrist. kemrler was more compos-
ed than the attendants who were ad
justing the apparatus and fastening
him to the chai:. Once or twice he
told them to take their time and take