Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-08-14

:. THURSDAY, AUG
cutting II OF 90 as to leave the little
surface Of flesh against which one ofthe
electrodes was to press absolutely bare.
Warden Durston called attention 10
the fact that IL was not necessary TO re-
move his vest and Kemmler calmly
buttoned IL again and carefully arrang-
ed his tie. "Dont hurry about this
matter" said the warden. "Be per-
fectly eool.n He was perfectly cool.
He was by all odds the coolest man In
the room.
When his tie was arranged he sat
down In the electric chair as quietly as
though he was sitting down to dinner.
Warden Durston stood on the right
and George Viening, Of Albany, on the
left. They began Immediately to ad-
Just the straps around Kemmler's body,
the condemned man holding up his
arms so as to give them every assis-
tance. When the straps had been ad-
justed about the body, the arms were
fastened down and then the warden
leaned over and parted Kemmler's feet
so as to bring his legs near the legs oi
the chair.
While the straps were being ar
ranged Kemmler said to the warden
and his assistant: "Take your time,
Don't be in a hurry. Be sure that
everything is all right" Two or three
times he repeated these phrases. War
den Durston reassured him With the
remark that 1t would not hurt him and
that he (Durston) would be with him
all through. But ii was not fear that
Kemmler felt. 1t was rather certain
pride in the exactness of the expert
ment. He seemed to have a greater
interest in its success than those who
had made the preparations for 1t and
who were watching its progress to its
final fatal conclusion.
THE LAST ARRANGEMENTS.
When the straps had been adjusted to
the body and limbs the warden placed
his hand on Kemmler's head and held
it against the rubber cushion which ran
down the back of the chair. Kemm-
ler's eyes were turned to the opposite
side of the room. Before they had fol-
lowed the warden in his movements
about. Then the condemned man
made one or two remarks In perfect
ly clear, cool, composed tone of voice.
"Well, wish everything good luck, +"
was one of them, and "Durston, see
that things are all right" was another.
Deputy Vieling unfastened the thumb
screws which held the figure 90" at 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 preparation
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 that down." So the head
piece was unclamped and pressed fur
ther down. While it was being done
Kemmler said: "Well, 1 want to do the
best / can. l can't do any better than
that"
Warden Durston took in his hand
the leather harness which was to be ad-
justed to Kemmler's head. 1t was a
of broad leather straps which
went across the forehead and chin of
the man in the chair. The top strap
pressed down against the nose OF
Kemmler until it flattened it down
slightly over his face. AS the harness
was put in place, DR.. Spitzka who was
near the chair said softly:
"God bless you, Kemmler," and the
man answered "Thank
you,n softly.
The door leading into the room where
the switches were arranged was partly
open. A man stood in the doorway.
Behind him there were two other men.
Which of them was to touch the lever
and make the connection was not
known. Warden Durston says it never
will be known. The dynamo in the
machine shop was running at good
speed and the volt meter on the wall
registered little more than 1000 volts.
Warden Durston turned to the as
sembled doctors-those Immediately
around the execution chair, and said:
"Do the doctors say it is all right?"
Hardly had a minute elapsed since the
of the straps. There was
no time for Kemmler to have weaken
ed even If his marvellous courage had
not been equal to the test of further de.
lay. But there was no fear that he
would lose courage. He was as calm in
the chair as he had been before he en-
tered the room and during the process
of his confinement by the straps which
held him close.
At the warden's question, DR.. Fell
stepped forward with long syringe in
his hand and quickly but deftly wetted
the two sponges which were at the
electrodes-one on top of the head and
the other at the base of the spine. The
water which he put on them was i'm
pregnated with salt. DIR. Spitzka an
swered the warden's question with q
sharp "All right" which was echoed
by others about him. Ready" said
Durston again, and then "good BY"
He stepped to the door and through the
opening said to some one in the next
room-but to whom will probably
never be known with certainty, "Every
thing is ready"
EVERYTHING is READY" = WORDS
THAT USHER IN THE LAST AWFUL
SCENES.
In almost immediate response and al
the stop watches in the hands of some
of the witnesses registered 6.434, the
electric current was turned on. There
was sudden convulsion of the frame
of the chair. A spasm went over il
from head to foot, confined by the
straps and springs that held it firmly
so that no limb or any other parts o
the body stirred more than small
fraction of an inch from its resting