Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-07

own hands, and il was he who gave tn.
order TO have the current stopped.
thought it was too short q period. we al
thought so except DR.. Spitzka. The
CURRENT WAS SHUT OFF
at his order, and the body relaxed. DR.
Spitzka's face wore a satisfied expression.
He was sure Kemmler was killed, ano
turned to congratulate the Warden. linen
followed the horrible spectacle of Kemm'
ler's nhokes and gasps and struggles. TEere
might have been couple of minutes delay
before the current was turned on again, dur
ing which time all gathered around the
chair. DR.. Spitzka ordered the head elec-
trode fstrapped on again, and the current
| turned on. This time the circuit was left
open 4 minutes and a half kemmIer :
shoulders were drawn up and his back and
abdomen were lifted involuntarily-thati In
voluntary action that men always make
when under a tremendous nervous pressure.
The movement raised the base of his spine
from the lower electrode, an arc light was
formed between the electrode and his person
and the result was horrible odor OF roast
ing flesh and the room was filled with fumes.
1t was dreadful experience for the wit
nesses I assure you."
"Dou you think" asked the reporter,
''that the first shock killed him, and these
contortions of the body were the result of
reflect nervous action. or was he still living
when the current was turned on the second
time?"
IT DID NOT KILL HIM.
1.-THE first shock did not kill him." said
DR.. Daniels, gravely and decidedly. II
am fully satisfied that he was still alive
when the current was turned on for the sec
ond time
"Was he uuconscious?"'
Eyes, am satisfied that be lost con-
seriousness with the first shock, and that he
did not suffer in the slightest degree from
that or the succeeding shock, notwithstand-
ing the frightful convulsions of his body"
"You do not, then, think the execution
was a success 2"
well" said DR.. Daniels, ''this parti-
cular electrical execution was not, fcourse,
for Kemmler was not killed instantaneouslY.
The fact does not brand electrical execu-
tions as failure however, for this execu-
tion has been attended by very unfortunate
circumstances Its result much fear will
be to prejudice the public against electrical
execution. The public will not thoroughly
understand the reasons why this experiment
resulted as it did, and will be apt to un-
reasonably and unjustly denounce execu-
tlon py electricity generally.
THE VOLTAGE TOO SMALL.
"But tell me why this is not a sample
case of what can be expected in electricity
as an executioner?" said the reporter
WELL" said DR.. Daniels, latter the
execution we found that the highest tension
that the volt meter had registered was less
than ], 800 volts. Nobody knew that at the
time but DR.. Spitzka, and he is responsible
for risking the killing with so small volt
age. Everyone expected that there would
be no attempt made to kill the man with less
than !, 500 volts. That voltage, believe,
would have accomplished the purpose, and
would have brought about far different issue
than the present, and established electricity
high in public favor as an executioner.
Then, again, every one was astonished when
DIR. Spitzka give the order to shut off the
current after only IL seconds. 1t was sup
posed that he would have left it on twice
that length of time. Indeed L am convinced
that even with only 1900 volts Kemmler
would have been killed to-day without any
of the frightful scenes we witnessed had DR..
Spitzka only left the current on for 30 Sec
onds. hold that DR.. Spitzka, and he alone,
is responsible for the outcome of the affair"
WARDEN DURsToN's OPINION.
After all the invited guests had lett the
prison, the doctors were still lowering over
the corpse with scientific. though uncanny
interest, waiting for the warmth that still
fingered in his body to depart in order that
their knives could be set to work. Warden
Durston was asked if the execution was in
his mind a success. He replied earnestly |
hat 1t was, and that it was in every respect |
Ind detail perfectly satisfactory
II have never seen a hanging" he said, |
but from what hear OF that method OF |
Killing murderers it is far interior to this |
lew method" |
The Warden was asked If he did not think |
hat blunder had been committed by some |
,ody. He wanted to know why such a |
question was ASKED, and he was told it was |
by the evident failure of the ap-
,aratus to produce death in the first trial, |
md that Kemmler was killed after the cur |
ent had been turned on the second time,
Yhen it was so worked as to produce number
f violent shocks.
He said as he was not an electrician he
vas unable to give any opinion as 10 the kill
ng power of electricity. As to whether he
hought any serious blunder had been made,
e said that he guessed his opinion that
he execution was great success answered
his question. The Warden grew angry
7hen he was asked when the slaughtered
han would be buried, and just where in
he prison graveyard it would be consigned
D lime and earth. He refused violently to
nswer the question.
SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY,
The execution room in the prison was
nown as the school room before to-day. 1t
7ill probably be known hereafter as the
oom where Kemmler was killed. 1t has
ecome famous in and around Auburn, and
o doubt for years to come visitors at the
rison will ask to see among other sights
he room where the horrible tragedy of to-
ay was enacted.
The dynamo was nearly 200 feet away in
he extreme northwest corner of the north
ring OF the front building. 1t was worked
v a steam engine in cellar room directly
Glow it. The electrical apparatus and the
,echanical appliances generally, as exam
Esd last night after the final preparations.
,Gdc a display suggestive of the scene
-hich actually did follow today. There
Tas something uncanny. almost horrible. in |
he machinery and its suggestion of mys-
arious power in connection with the execu-
ion of human being.
The burning of Kemmler's flesh the
ecoud time the current was turned on was
by electricians to his having
svered the connection in his struggles be-
Teen his person and electrode which
'uched the base Of his spinal column. 1t
ill be remembered that The DISPATCH a
w DAYS ago foreshadowed this possibility.
be electricians had attached a strong
oring to the head electrode to keep it in
lace in spite of possible struggles.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
There was no such spring to the other
ectrode and in view of the fact that the
atural impulse of a man under intense
ervous excitement is to hoist up his shoul- ..