The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-08-07
YHE EXECUTION,


| .-.. IHu bAGCulluA.
Fhe Preparations Mudo-KemniIer III,
| ;- cooiest Man In tho rarty.
AtG:Ss o'clock the door at the right o
the execution chair leading toward the
execution room opened and Warden
Duraton's figure appeared in the door
way. Behind him walked a spruce look
Ing, broad shouldered little man, full
bearded, with carefully arranged hui,
clustering around bis forehead. III
was dressed in suit OF new clothing. a
sack coat Of dark gray material, trousers
ola mixed yellow pattern, a white shirt,
whose polished ffoat was exposed III.
rectly below a little bow OF lawn of a
black and white check pattern. This
was William kemmler, the tnaa who
was about to undergo the sentence OF
death. Behind him walked Dr., ". +
HouRhton and Chaplain Yates. Kemm.
Ter was by far tho coolest man in the
party. he hesttated as the door wns
closed behind him, carefully locked by
an attendant on the other eide, as
though he did not know exactly what to
DO. "Give me chair will you 2" said
the Warden. Some one quickly handed
wooden chair, which he placed in
front and little to the right Of the exc.
cution chair, facing the little circle Of
men. kemmler sat down composedly.
looking about him and then up and
down without any evidence olfcar or OF
especial interest in the event. His face
was not stolid; 1t was not Indifferent
He looked ifanything as though he was
rather pleased at being the centre Of
interest. Warden Durston stood at the
left OF the chair with his hand at the
back Of it, and almost the moment
KEN nler took his seat he began speak
ing in short, quick periods. "Now,
gentlemen" he said, this is William
A. kemnler. I have warned him that
he has got to die, and il he has anything
to say he will say it."
WISHES EVERYBODY GOOD LUCK.
Aa the Warden finished Kemmler
looked up and said in high keyed
voice without any hesitation aud as
though he had prepared himself with
the speech: "Well, I wish every one
good luck in this world and think am
going to good place. The papers have
been saying lot Of stuff that is not 80.
That's all | have to aay."
With the conclusion OF the speech he
turned bis back on the jury, took of his
coat and handed it to the Warden. This
disclosed the fact that hole had been
cut from the band Of the trousers down,
30 as to expose the base Of the spine.
When his coat was OF, kemmler turn
ed in the direction of the door through
which be had come into the room, and
began to unbutton his vest. At the
same time the Warden was drawing the
interfering drapery Of his shirt through
the hole in the trousers aud cutting it
of, 80 as to leave the little surface OF
flesh against which one Of the electrodes
was to press, absolutely bald. Warden
Durston called attention to the fact that
it WAS not necessary to remove his vest,
and kemmler calmly buttoned it again,
and carefully arranged his tie. "Dou't
hurry about this matter" said the
Warden. "Be perfectly COOL" He was
perfectly cool. He was, by all odds, the
coolest man in the roon.
When his tie was arranged he sat down
in the electric chair rs quietly as though
he WAS sitting down to dinner. Warden
Durston stood on the right and George
Vieling, OF Albany, on the left. They
began Immediately to adjust straps
around kemmler's body, the condemned
man holding up his arms so rs to give
them every assistance. When the straps
had been adjusted about the body the
arms were fastened down, and then the
Warden leaned over and parted kemm.
let's feet 80 as to bring his legi near the
legs OF the chair. While the straps were
being arranged kemmler said to the
Warden and his assistant: Take your
time. Don't be in a hurry. Be sure
TIM, everything is all right" Two orihree
times he repeated these phrases. When
the straps had been Adjusted to the body
and limbs, the Warden placed his hand
on Kemnler's head and held it agains,
the rubber cushion which ran down the
back ofthe chair. Kemmler's eyes were
turned toward the opposite side Of the
room.
WANTED IT DONE RIunT.
Before they had followed the Warden
in his movements about. Then the con
demned man made one or two remarks
in n perfectly clear, composed tone oil
voice. "Well, I wish everybody good
luck" was owe of them, and "Durston
SEQ that things are all right" wat
another. Deputy Vieliug uniastened
the thumb screws which held the figure
at the back Of the chair in place, and
began TO lower II 30 that the rubber
which held the saturated sponge pressed
against the top Of kemmler's head. The
Warden insisted in the preparations by
holding kemmler's head. When the
cap had been adjusted aud clamped IL
, place, Kemmler said, "0h. you'd bettel
press that down further guess. Prest
that down." So the head.piecs was un
olamped and pressed further down
While it was being done kemmler said
"Well, want to do the best ! can. J
can't do any better than that"
Warden Dulston took III his hand the
leather harness which was to be id
justed to Reminders head. 1t was ,
muzzle Of broad leather straps WHICH
a went across the forehead and chin o
the man in the chair. The top stray
pressed down Gsainst the nose Of kemm
ler until it qattened down slightly oye
8 his face. As the harness vas put II
1 place, Dr.. Spitzka, who was standip,
t near the chair, said softly, "God bles
!. you, kemmler,p and the condemned
i, man answered gently, "Thank YOU
1 Softly the door leading 10 the room
where tho SWITCHES were arranged wa
t partly opened. a man stood in tn
j. doorway. beyond him there were tw
/, other men. Which OF them vas l.
;. touch the lever aud make conpectio,
5 with the chair was not known. TIL
4 dynamo In the machine Rhop waG run
h ming at good speed and the volt metr
/. on the wall registered little more thai
o 1000 volts. Warden Durston turned t
i. the assembled doctors, and those iu
Q mediate!y Ground tho execution chail
8 and said: "Do the DOCTORS sa
;, It is NIL right" Hardly minute ha
J. elapsed since the adjustment Of tn
n straps. There was no time for kemmle
Q TO hsyo weakened bis marvellous cou
uge, hsd It not been equal to the test {
further delay. But there Is no fear thi
( he would have lost courage. He was {