Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-14


When tho 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
further down. While IL was being
done Kemmler said; swell, / want to
do the best | can, can't do any better
than that"
Warden Durston took in his hand tho
leather harness which was to bo dust
ed 10 Kemmler's head. 1t was a muzzle
OF broad leather straps, which went
across the forehead and the chin OF tho
man in the chair. The top strap pressed
down against the nose Of Kemmlor un.
Til it fattened IL down slightly over his
face.
While the straps were being arranged,
Kemmler said to the warden and his as
sistant: Take your time Don't be in
hurry BE sure that every thing is all
right
The door leading into the room where
the switches were arranged was partly
open. A man stood in the doorway.
Beyond him we're two other men.
Which Of them was TO touch tho lever
and make the connection with the chair
was not known. Warden Durston says
~ will never be known
The dynamo in the machine shop was
running at good speed and the volt
meter on tho wall registered little
more than |, 900 volts Warden Durston
turned TO the assembled doctors those
Immediately around the execution chair
and asked: DO the doctors say it's
all right?"
Hardly minute had elapsed since
tho adjustment OF tho straps There
was no time for Kemmler TO have weak
ened even il his marvellous courage had
not been equal TO the test OF further de-
lay But there is no fear that he would
have lost courage. He was as calm in
the chair as he had been before he en-
tered tho room and during the progress
OF his confinement by the straps, which
him close
At the warden's question, DIR. Foil
stepped forward with a long syringe in
his hand, and quickly, but deftly, wet
ted 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 inn
pregnated with salt
DR. Spitzka then answered the war
den's question with sharp "All right"
which was heard by others about him.
Ready" said Durston again, and then
goodbye -
IIo stepped to the door and at the
opening said to some one in the next
room, hut to whom will-sprobably never
be known with certainty: Every thing
is ready"
In almost immediate response and
as the stop watches In the hands Of
some Of the witnesses registered 6;43A,
the electric current was turned on.
There was a sudden convulsion OF tho
frame in the chair, A spasm went over
IT from head 10 foot confined by the
straps and springs that held It firmly so
that no limb or other part of the body |
stirred more than a small fraction Of an
inch from It's resting place.
DIR. Mcdonald held a stop watch in
his hand and as tho seconds flow hy he /
noted their passage. DIR. Spitzka, too,
looked at the stop watch and as the
seventeenth second expired he cried
OUT "Stop" Stop" cried the other
voices about
The warden turned to the doorway
and called out stop to the man at the
lever A quick movement OF the arm
and the electric current was switched
on There was rolaxtion OF the body
in the chair--a slight relaxation-bu
the straps held it so firmly that there
was not a quarter Of an inch variation in
the position Of any part OF the frame
The attending experts pronounced the
man dead, but a closer examination
showed signs OF life and DR. Spitzks
cried out: Turn the current on in
stantly. This man is not dead
The operator sprang TO the button and
gave a sharp, quick signal There was
4 rapid response, but quick as it was, it
was not quick enough TO anticipate the
signs OF what may or may not have been
reyiving consciousness
AS the group Of horror-striclSen wit
lesses stood helplessly by, all eyes fixed
IN the chair, Kemmler's lips began TO
Trip spittle and in a moment more his
'hest moved and from his mouth came
! heavy sound, quickening and increas-
ng with every respration-if respira-
ion il was.
There was 90 be no mistake this time
lbout the killing. The dynamo was
'un up 70 its highest speed and again
ind again the fun current OF ., 900 volts
vas sent through the body in the chair.
low long 10 was kept in action no one
inows To the excited group OF men
bout the chair il seemed an intermin-
lblo life.
The current was applied until there
vas no possible chance that Kemmler
till lived. IL was turned of thirteen
minutes after the first shock was APP
lied.
kemmler was dead.
TuE AUTOPSY.
AUBURN, \. Y, Aug THE results
4 the autopsy on the body Of Kemmler
eld three hours after death, were made
ablic last night and is volumin0us and
cchnical
The body was well nourished and the ,
kin had but few marks Tho abrasion
n the finger was caused by a clinching !
{ the nails when the shock came. But
ew drops of blood escaped. There was a
superficial burn on the head whero 4
he cup rested. A portion Of the
kin over the spine about three
aches wide was badly burned. d
IN making an incision of the skin d
othing remarkable was noticed The {
angs were full Of air and the air cell
elaNed- The diaphragm was normal. but
be kidneys were congested. Several