The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-08-09
KEMMLER REsoLuTE.


Kemmler's nerve was something won
derful. He never faltered. He directed
the adjustment Of himself in the chair
and counseled the warden to moderation
to securespertsct safety The shock was
given u Sxa1 O'Clock and was continued
about 1S seconds. Two minutes after the
current was cut of there was eNdenceFof
respiration. As soon as possible the cur
rent was returned, then cut of and again
respiration was evident after few
moments. Saliva came from the mouth,
the chest heaved and there was wheez-
ing In the throat. The shock was again
pu. to the prisoner, whom the doctors re-
marked was unconscious from the mo-
ment of the first shock. After a short
time smoke appeared at the base. The
flesh was burning, The spectacle was
most trying. The man, the doctors said.
suffered no pain, however.
The warden says voltage at the frst
shock was at 1900 volts, which ran down
to puint not named. After the third
contact Of four minutes, the man was de-
clared dead. The warden's certificate of
death was signed by all present and the
party broke up at 7:30 to meet at s:15,
when the body would be ready for an
autopsy.
When the mask was. taken of Kemm-
ler's face, his eyes were found half open
and his expression, while not normal or
placid, was not horrifying to see. 1mme-
diately after the execution, DR.. shrady,
an eminent physician, said to reporter
"As far as Kemmler was concerned, the
scene was most horrifylng. mean by
that, that his conduct was so admirable
He displayed such gentle dignity through
| it all that it went straight to the heart Of
everyone present. When the electric
current was applied, he stiffened out I'm
der the shock. think that conscious
ness was at once lost, but that life wai
not extinct. After the current had beer
applied, number of seconds, think
1 nyself said dead Then DR.. Fell rush
ed in and began to loosen the hsat
piece. There were c0nvulsive move
ments OF the chest and there was de
mand that the current be applied again
This was. done. The instant contact wa
made, there was capillary congestion o
the face and hands which is regarded q
post mortem appearance as though yo'
applied a current to dead body. I'm
llonqer the current was kept on after tn
period 4, .iich we call the death period
this line OF congestion gradually sank
showing that the blood was no longe
propelled to vessels, but had settled dow
to dependent parts as In dead SUP
iects."
AS to the result, so tar as 1t touche
upon question Of the practicabiiity al
adyisability of inLicting the death per
atty, Dr. spitzka gave reporter permi'
sion to say this as coming from him:
l,recard this as by far more dignified e.
4 ecution BY law than any hanging eve
witnessed, but its scientific uncertain'
, after-so much expense and time, leads n
10 believe that this method will not
adopted in other states, and this will
~ first and last elsctricfexecution.'
a INCIDENTS OF THE EXECUTION
After having his hair cut on the top
his head, Kemmler listened to the rsa
M inp II fthe death warrant by the warce
~ "a Una then escorted to the death chan
Der. Warden Durston placed a pla
woSden bottomed chair before hemmi
ana bade him bit uron it. Tie ooey'
readily. There was no uneaslness aoo
his, movements. He was apparently !.
most calm person in the room !