Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-08-07

| = s4nt Wofu leit III WnlDn TO take
hemmler's life before the convicts should
~ reieased 10 work. Acqui6s, ing aud
silently, those awaiting In the cool brsazs
hail. gathered ABOUT the warden. who nj
the way to the rear ball where a guard
with great ksy stood to opsn and cl.,ss
the door to ths basement region OF the
prison.
WITH THE INSTRUMENT OF DEATH,
Tbs huge lrna-bolted barrier swung
paek, the warden lad the way, and The
silent party desasnded the iron stair say
10 tine stone-fooFsd hall, where the fatal
apparatus and its FIRST subjsct were wal
ing Tbs way lay through low Door
way IN the massive basement wall into
room dimly lighted as yet by the early
sunshine. In the semi-gloom the
massive chair of death seemed
loom ont of the shadows
o little distance from the entrance. Az
each guest passed it he might have oted
That every strap and every buckle TO bind
the victim was carefully placsd to avoid
All possible delay. The electrode for the
head hung in its place like the sprinkler
disc for shower bath.
THE FATAL CHAIR.
And such shower ks this modest an.
pliancs should pour upon the yitals OF
human being was suggested mayhap to
some as they entered and scanned the
cumberous shamble of human death,
Onairs and benches stood around the
room IN semi-oirole. In the uncertain
light OF the fateful room they formed a
horseshoe in Whose opening stood the |
heavy chair with its dangling straps and |
buckles. In the grim spot might have
some TO the mind away out from child |
nood days o memory OF the Sunday |
Bible class n stiff array with the
good preacher sitting ia the midst
TO teach. Even the sarcasm OF the mir
cumstances could not check a grim smile
Down over one window toward the east a
heavy shade was drawn while through
the bars in the other window the morn.
ing air came cool and fresh throuob the
virginia crepers that swept the iron with
SOFT rustling touch. Some one whispered
TO his neighbor that it was too bright n
day on which to die and the neighbor re-
sponded that death could not be attended
Dy pao IN oh sunshine; and both peered
tortl TO where the dogs frolioked on the
smooth lawn and the grape vines moved
IN the shadow Of the PRISONS high wall.
BIRDS song drifted through the bars on
the dew-cooled air.
WHO BENT TEE DEADLY VOLT?
Suddenly the room was lighted from,
within. The warden had turned IN the
low burning flame at one of the blsckened
gas burners on an ancient chandelier. In
MS hnal arrangements the warden had
placed all the electric apparatus in an [
ante room, the wires being run over the
basement TO the death chamber. This
ante room the warden kept carefully shut
ave when ho OF some helper passed
hastily IN or out. In charge there
we're three men whom tue warden
refused to name. The purpose of the
ate change of the electrical volt metre a
ND the switches to another room be. d
anne apparent. Those who should see Q
Aeminler were never to know who had ]
'usned the switch TO send the death bolt Q
o Kemmler's vitals. b
while hnal adjustments were being
made Doctors Shrady and jenkins on
ered and the Witnesses were all within G
he room.
KRMMLER's NIGHT WAS RRsTFuI, ~
meantime hemmier in his celi was being a
repaired for the ending OF his life. He J'
ad gone peacefully to sleep early in the y,
light and had slept soundiy, and was !. Y
noring until O'Clock, when he was y
WAAeAoh W Olp VI MS guards. "
HIS LAST PRAYER. =
Pastor Haughton, who has attended :,
emmler, ss also Prison Chaplain Yates, ~
as with him. They read to him from ~ i"
le Bible and he prayed with them. He A.
fessed himself without aid in a suit of -, T..
ray mixed goods. About his neck he -,
nttonec q rundown collar with a a.
iecked tie OF lawn stuff. His hair he IS
'moed and brushed with great care. His
'oes were well polished, and while he
ade himself finally tidy, the warden, IT,
Id tall STRANGER, who ia
putty sheriff ia Buffalo entered the cell
ne stranger held by his sids pair Of no
lppcrs. Hl
VAIN IN THE FACE OF DEATH. Pa
The warden explained to Kemmlay that on
must have the top of his head ahayen, thu
10 prisoner demurred. He had taken ala
sat pains dress ng his hair and besides. sb,
ne explained to the warden, he did not de,
mt to be dishgured. He wanted the fri
ople to see and know that
was not man of repulsive appearance tea
has been stated. Reminders hair is Fo
fk brown and wRyy with Q hyperion am
RI that fell upon his forehead. Or this pul
was proud. In the shadow of death or
vanity asserted itself. His hair how in
u was cut, but the curl was saved, and clio
the sequel proved with no good re-. tito,
I. The shaysn spot was 81 by II XII
hes in size and was not shaysn but of /
pped fairly elise. an
TESTING THE DEADLY DYNAMO. $IG
While this was proceeding and the
nesseB examined the chair of death
belt was run upon the dynamo away A
w In the south wing of the prison and ats
incandescent test lamps in the In I
chamber glowed family. The tina
rent was on. The strange power was at 3
rising the circuit. They burned yery tint
oily. Thus exclaimed DR.. Macdonald, hea'
was the only one who got into the foo
. room and the while ignorant of the clea
denis desire to keep its secrets cred
Iolste. And in response to DR.. Mac the
lald's comment Electrician Davis re- eide
ked that 'there was something of
ng with the machinery down there" bloc
rring to the dynamo. This remark 80 9,
I place tefore tine electrocizine, it is last
TO remember, and was undoubtedly scout
rue few minutes later when the volt rain
applied to KemmIer.
COOL AND uSRUFPLED.
he condemned man after having his III
cut on the top of his head listened to ored
reading OF this death warrant by the the
len. None of the state witnesses was
} preaent-only the prisoner. the it FIR
CHEERS and the warden, The man DOES
cool, uprufisd, almost apathetic. supe
last named condition, however, by |
diseredited by the blauehed orea
of the mans face. "Come BilI.n and
handed the warden, when all mad FAINT
done in the cell and the little party were