Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1890-08-07
A GHASTLEY EXECUTION
William Kemmler Judicially
Electrocuted Yesterday
at Auburn
A Horrible Sight is Witnessed
BY Those Present in
the Room
The Body Becomes Rigid and
Revives After the First
Shock

Auburn, n. V. Aug 6--At 6:3s this
morning the door at the right of the exe-
cution chair leading toward the eXecu-
tionFoom opened and Warden Durston's
figure appeared in the doorway. Behind
him walked William Kemmler. the man
about to be sentenced TO death. Behind
him walked Dr. W. f. Houghton and
Chaplain Yates. Kemmler was by far
the coolest man in the party. He hesi-
tated as the door closed behind him and
was carefully locked by an attendant at
the other side. as If he did not know ex-
actly what to do. "Give me a chair. will
you?" said the warden. Some one quick
Is handed him, the warden. a chair
which he placed in front of the execution
chair. Kemmler sat down composedly
looked about. up and down without any
evidence of fear or special interest in the
event Warden Durston stood at the left
Of the chair with his left hand on the
back and almost the instant kemmler
took seat he began to speak in short.
quick period. "Now gentlemen. " ne said.
"this is William kemmler have
warned him that he must die and if he
has anything to say he will say it," As
the warden finished Kemmler looked up
and said in high keyed voice. without
any hesitation and as though he had pre-
pared himself with a speech well.
wish every one good luck in this world
and think | am going to good place.
The papers have been saying a lot of
stuff that is not so, that l. all | have 10
say" At the conclusion of this speech
he took off his coat and began unbutton-
ing his vest. Warden DurstOn called at
tentiOn to the fact that IL was not neces-
sary TO remove his vest and kemmler
calmly, buttoned il again. carefully ar
ranging his tie. Don't hurry about this
matter" said the warden. be perfects
cool" lie was perfectly cool: he was by
all odds the coolest man in the room.
When the tie was arranged he sat down
in the electric chair as quickly as though
he was sitting down to dinner. Warden
Durston and Geo. Nieling began immedi-
atey to adjust the straps The condemned
man holding up his arms So "a To give
every assistance. When the strap had
been adjusted about his body his arms
were fastened down and the warden
leaned over and parted kemmler's feet to
bring his legs near the legs Of the chair.
While the straps were being arranged
kemmler said. Take your time. don't be
in hurry. BE sure everything is all
right" Two or three times he repeated
these phrases. lie seemed to have greater
interest in the success than those who
had made Preparations for 10 and were
watching the progress to final the con-
clusiUn. The doomed man made a few
remarks In a perfectly clear composed
tone of voice. well. / wish everybody
good luck was one of them. and "Durs-
ton see that things are all right" was
uat hap lu fnf fs,f
the room where the switches were ar
ranged was partly opened \ man stood
in the doorway. Beyond him were two
other men; which one Of them was Ia
touch the lever aud make the connection
with the chair was not known. The
warden turned Ia the assembled doctors.
those Immediately around the execution
chair. and said, DO doctors see IL j. all
right?" kemmler was aS firm in the
chair "a before he entered the room.
AT warden's question Dr. Fell stepped
forward with a syringe and deity wetted
two SpOnges which were at the electrodes.
one ON top of the head aud the other at
the base of the spine. Dr. Spitzka
answered the warden's question with
shout. "All right" Ready" said Durs-
ton again. He stepped to the door and
through the opening said to some one in
the next room. Everything is ready. -
Immediately al 6:i3L the electric cur-1
rent was turned on. There was a sudden
conyusion Of the frame of the chair and
spasm went over kemmler from head
to foot. The twitching that the muscles
OF the face underwent gave for moment
an expression OF pain but no cry escaped
from his lips which were free to move at
Will No sound came to suggest con-
seriousness which lasted mere lntinitesi-
mai fraction of a second. The body re-
manned In rigid position for seventeen
seconds. The Jury and witnesses came
hurrledly forward and surrounded the
chalr. There was no movement OF the
body beyond the first commissions. DIR.
Spitzka; as the tenth second expired, cried
stop; The electric current was switched
on. There was a relaxation Of the body
IN the chair. "IIe's dead" said DR..
SDitzka calmly. DIR. Batch was bending
over the body looking at the exposed
skin, when suddenly he called out sharp
IN moment DIR. SpitZka and Mcdonald
mad bent over and were looking where
Dr. Batch was pointing at little red
spot on the hand that rested on the right
arm Of the chair. The index finger of the
right hand was curved backward as the
muscles contracted and scraped a small
mole IN at the bone Of the thumb. Turn
ihe current on instantly the man is not
uead, cried DIR. Spitzka. Faces grew
white and forms fell back from the chair.
me warden sprang to the doorway aud
cried; Turn on the current" but the
current could not be- turned on. When
me signal TO stop had come the operator
nad pressed little button which gave a
ST,ghal To the engineer to stop the dynamo.
Inc dynamo was almost at standstll.
ana the volt meter registered an almost
uhpefceptble current. An operator
Spfang To the button and gave sharp.
Iuck signal. There was a raDid response,
uut lJ was not quick enough and there
We're signs of reviving consciousness. As
lne group of hOrror-stricken witnesses
sioQd helplossly by all eyes fixed on the
Snalr. kemmlcr began to drip spittle and
~ moment more his chest moved and
luui ms mouth came a heavy. .stentOriuus