Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-08-08
A SHOCKING AFFAIR.
Kemmler Suffers the Death Penalty
at Auburn Prison.

AUBURN, N. Y, Aug. 6.-Murderer
Kemmler was executed here at 6 AS
o'clock this morning, killed by the
electric process. While the convict
apparently suffered no bodily pain, his
death was not instantaneous and the
shock was applied second time.
Here the experiment is not regarded
as wholly successful. DR.. Spitzke. the
celebrated expert, says: "The cxper-
iment was failure, and this will set
tie electrocution. There will never be
another Kemmler awOke ut 6 IS
and got up. He dressed and then
walked up and Gown his cell. Chap
lain Yates and Rev. Mr.. Houghton
entered the cell few minutes later
and prayers were said. Kemmler gave
no sign of emotion. At the close of
the prayers DR.. Houghton took the
hands of the doomed man in his and,
in gentle way, drew from him some
disjointed words: 81 WAS bad, wicked.
l am sorry did an awful deed. /
should be punished for it. I am ready
to take my punishment. l ought to
die. l will die game" A few minutes
later Kemmler was called from his
cell. He walked into the presence of
death chair with carriage erect, his
step firm, his eyes clear. He wore a
new suit of dark clothing, and his
hair and beard carefully brushed.
NO TIME TO TALK.
On being seated in the chair, his
arms were bound to the arms of the
chair and bis legs to the rest. The
mask, an oval piece OF leather with an
opening over the mouth large enough
to permit free breathing, was placed
over his face and buckled behind the
head rest, holding his head firmly in
place. Then Warden Durston adj
dressed the assembled witnesses, who
had been disposed about the little
room. He said that while he NAV
have made himself unpopular with
those who sought to whct their NOR
bid curiosity, he felt that Kemmler
had profitted by it, and would die far
a better man than he had ever been in
his life. Kemnrler, at this juncture,
wiggled little in his chair uneasily,
and CALCULATED: Hurry upl" The
warden asked him whether he had
anything to say and Kemmler replied: :
" Nothing. Only goodbye, goodbye
boys" and similar expressions.
Kemmler's nerve was something Won
derful. He never FILTERED. s-Hc lli-
rected the adjustment of himself in
the chair and, eotinselcd the warden
to act with moderation in order to Sc.
cure perfect safety to himself. The
shock was given at 6 :43a and was con-
tinued about eighteen seconds. Two
minutes:after the current was shut off
there was evidence of respiration. AS
soon as possible the current was re-
turned and then cut off. Again res
piration was evident and after a few
seconds saliva came from the con.
demned mans mouth.
HIS CHEST HEAvED
And there was a Wheeling in his
throat. The shock was again put to
the prisoner, who, the doctors re-
marked, was unconscious from the
first shock. After a short time smoke
appeared at the base of the brain.
The flesh was burning. The spectacle
was most trying. The man, the doc
tors say, suffered no pain, however.
The warden says that the voltage at
the first shock was 1900 volts, which
ran down to point not named. After
a third contact of four minutes the
man was declared dead. When the
mask was taken off Reminders face his
eyes were found halt open and his ex.
preston, while not normal or placid
was not horrifying to see. The war
den's certificate OF death was signed
by all present, and the party broke up
at Z 40, to meet at Sis, when the
body would be ready for the autopsy
The doctors completed the autopsy
this afternoon. Nothing was made
public except that the heart, liver and
lungs were in normal condition. The
brain was paralyzed by the shock.
The body was buried tonight in the
prison cemetery and covered with
quick lime as required by law.