Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-08-15


When the straps had been adjusted
about the body the arms were
fastened down and then the warden
leaned over aud parted KemmleTs
feet so as to bring his legs near the
legs of the chair.
While the straps we're beng ar
RANGED Kemmler said to the
warden aud his assistant: "Take
Nour time. Don't be IN a hurry.
Be sure that everything is all
right" Two or three times he re-
peated these phrases. Warden
DurstOn reassured him with the
remark that it would not hurt him.
and that he (Durston) would Ue
with him all through. But it was
not fear that Kemmler felt. 1t
was rather a certain pride in the
exactness OF the of the
experiment. He seemed to haye
a greater interest in it's success
than those who had made the
preparations for 1t and who were
watching Its progress to its final
conclusion.
When the straps had been ad'
justed to the body aud limbs the
warden placed his hand on Kemm
lefs head and held 1t against the
rubber cushion which ran down
the back of the chair. Kemmler's
eyes were turned toward the op-
posite side of the room. Before
they had followed the warden In
his movements about. Then the
condemned man made one or two
remarks in perfectly clear, COM
posed tone OF the voice. "Well, l
wish everybody good luck" was
one of them, and "Durston, see
that things are all right" was
another.
Deputy Vieling untastened the
thumb screws which held the
figure "4n st the back of the chair
IN place, and began to lower it so
that the rubber cup which held
the saturated sponge pressed
against the top of Kemmler's head.
The warden assisted in the prepa.
ration by holding Kemmler's head.
When the cup had been adjusted
and clamped in place, Kemmler
said "Oh, you'd better press
that down further, guess
Press thar down." So the head
piece was unclamped and pressed
further down. Kemmler said:
"Well, l want to do the best 1 can;
| can't do any better than that"
Warden Durston took in his hand
the leather harness which was to
be adjusted to Kemmler's. head
1t was muzzle OF broad leather
straps which went across the tOre'
head and the chin OF the man in
the char. The top strap pressed
down against the nose o t Kenmler
until 1t hattened it down slightly
over his face, as the h arness was
put In place. DR.. Spi tzka, who
was standing near the :hair, said
softly God bless you, Kemmler,
and the condemned man answered {:
"Thank YOU"
Softly, the door leading into the
room where the switches were ar.
ranged was partly open ed. Aman
stood in the doorway. Beyond
him there we're two other men,
Which of them was 10 touch the
lever and make the connection
with the chair was not known.
Warden Durston says it never
will be known. The dynamo in the
machine shop was running st good
speed, and the volt metre or the
wall registered a little more ia an
1000 volts. Warden burst III
turned to the assembled DEBTORS
those Immediately arouBd TN g
execution chair and said; '+DO th,
doctors LAY 1t ls all right Z"
Hardly a minute bad elapsed
since the adjustment of the straps
There was no time for Kemmler to
have weakened even if his marvel
lous courage had not been equal to
the test of further delay. But
there was no fear that he would
have lost courage. lie was as
calm 10 the CHAIR as he had been
before he entered the room and
during the process Of his con fine.
ment by the straps which held him
close.
At the warden'S question DR..
Fell stepped forward with a 10 og
syrir ge in his hand and Quickl y,
hut deftly, wetted the two spone es
which were at the electrOdes-On @
on top of the head and the 9TH r
at the base of the spine. Th g
water which he put on them Wa
ImpIegnsted with salt. DR.. Spitzks
answered the warden's question