Telegram-herald., 1890-08-07
TIE DEATH CHAIR.

turned on and kept on four and one-half
minutes. The first shock continued
fifteen seconds The current was
kept on the second time until
the rfesh actually smoked and filed
the room with sickening odors. DR..
SpitZka, the eminent expert, says the
experiment is failure and will settle
electrical executions The doctors all
agree tnat Kemmler was entirely un-
conscious and felt no pain.
NEW YORK, Aug. 6.-The Evening
Worlds Auburn special says: William
Kemmler died, so far as the best obtain
able evidence goes, not in the instant
and painless manner in which it had
been intended to execute him, but under
tearing tortures. Itwas nota single. par
alyzing shock which took his life away.
IL was succession Of awful, rend-
ing throbs as If his nerves were being
torn piece by piece from their conters
The current was turned into tho body
three times. On the first occasion the
electric throhs were continued for
eighteen seconds. Then the switch was
turned back and careful examination
OF the body was made. Two
minutes later, Gas o'clock, signs Of res
piration were observed. and the cur
rent was hastily switched into the poor
wretch's body for the second time.
This time the awful work was thought
to be done for sure. Scarcely had
the current been removed for toe sec
ond time, however, when there again
appeared signs Of continued life. The
mans chest heayed and froth gathered
at his mouth. II was spectacle no
tongue nor pen could describe.
Hastily word was given to the
concealed executioner IN tho next
room to turn the switch again. This
time the dynamo was allowed four full
minutes TO pour its destroying tide into
the poor, strapped-down piece Of
humanity. Then there appeared signs
known 10 those familiar with cases
of death on wires in New York.
Smoke came from the mouth. The
odor of burning flesh filed stiGingly
the hot room. Kemmler was dead at
last BY this time even the coolest
headed OF the party was terribly i'm
pressed by tho awfulness of the event
What the matter was nobody can tell
at this time.
1t was nervous, unstrung party
which left the prison after the event
was over. More than one Of them viii
see for long davs in his minds eye a
pain-distorted face. with half-opened
eyes. revealed when the face Of the dead
William Kemmler was finally uncov-
cred.
With the rising Of tho sun William
Kemmler passed into history % the first
man executed By electricity. The pris-
onor was awakened at O'Clock b. the
death watch, McNaugh ton. lie ap-
pcared cool and dressed himself care
fully. At o'clock he ate light
breakfast Of eggs. beefsteak. potatoes,
and coffee A. G.i5 Warden Durston
appeared and read the death warrant
T1D 70 6.35 o'clock kemmler was alone
with his spiritual advisers. Then the
warden raped a. tie cell door and
Kemmler, preceded by d.. Houghion,
his religious adviser. passed the ex-
ecution room.
Twentv-sevoa Witnesses were present
twelve j8r7men. seven assistants.
three PHYSICIANS. two clergynen, snd
three officials r. the county
where the murder occurred. kemm-
Ter was dressed in = light suit
of new clothes. and looked calmly ~
the witnesses standing by the chair
The wa-ien asked bin If hs wished -
say anv tainc. and Kemmlef repl Cd.