Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-08-08
The Exact Time When Kpmmler
Will Receive the Fatal Cur.
rent Not Known.
Swarms of Reporters in Auburn 10
Pick Up What Information
May Be Obtained.
Twonty-FOur British Sailors Desert,
and All But Three are Re-
capturtd-In General.
Kelnmler Weakens,

AUBURN, N. Y, Aug. 1.-Recent devel-
opments have more than confirmed the
truth of the statement that Kemmler, the
condemned murderer, is weakening dali
ly.. The utter abandonment of all hope
and consequent realization of his utterly
lost condition has never come to him
with such terrible force as it did last
night. All night long the vision of his
impending fate rose before his sleepless
eyes and he tossed and tumbled on his
narrow cot; he cried aloud, in his des-
pair, II wish it we're over; he moaned
time and again and his utter lack of
power to control his fears was pitiable to
be heard. The cause of this sudden and
uncomfortable despair was the noise of
preparation in the adjacent room of exe-
~cution, which the prisoner could not
help hearing through the doorway which
connects his cell with the chamber of
death. In the latter room they we're
making a test of the death-deallng ap-
paratus before touching the fatal current
through the body of Kemmler. In the
next room were Warden Durston and
Electrician Barnes of Rochester and a
few others who had been allowed
to witness the test. g. F. Barnes,
who has been employed to
take charge of the electrical appara~
tus and who will probably pull the fatal
switch, arrived on the 3:O5 train yester-
day and returned to Rochester in the
evening. His stay in town was made as
secret as possible and there was evident
fear at the prison that his visit would be
found out by reporters. During his
brief time in the city he did a great deal
of work.
WAITING FOR KEMMLER'S DEATH.
AUBURN, N, Y. August 4.-This after
noon the postmaster, on his rounds of
delivery, carried into prison a registered
letter addressed to William Kemmler.
The post mark was Philadelphia, and
upon the face Of the envelope was writ
ten the words: "From your brother
Henry Kemmler." Doubtless this CON-
munication was thought by the writer
to be, and probably would be, the last to
pass between the two brothers. The law
provides that the body of the electricized
criminal shall be buried in the prison
cemetery unless claimed by relatives.
Aside from this brother, it is not posi-
lively known that Kemmler has another
living relative. He himself is under the
impression that he has an uncle or an
aunt living somewhere in tie west. It
seems improbable that Reminders body
will be claimed by relatives, and
THE FOR HIS BURIAL.
is we'll nigh settled. This after
noon an associated press represent
tative asked Warden Duston if it
would be safe for a correspondent to alb
sent himself from the vicinity of
the prison for two or three hours.
"Why certainly" was the response"
"and L will say to you frankly
that there will be nothing of Importance
in the next twenty-four hours" This
was said at 4 o'clock this afternoon,
hence the warden is authority for the
statement that the death bolt will not be
loosened until 4 o'clock tomorrow.
Bearing upon this point is a private dis
patch received in this city from Buffalo
stating that the invited witnesses to the
execution had been asked to be present
in Auburn at 7 o'clock tomorrow even
ing. Reasoning from this point, the peo-
pie are divided in opinion as to whether
kemmler will die tomorrow evening
after work in the shops has stopped or on
Wednesday morning before work in the
shops had begun. Doubtless more peo-
pie here are of the belief that Wednes-
day morning will be the time of excel
ton. The Osburne house, the chief hotel
OF the city, has been thronged with news
payer correspondents and every nook is
occupied, though none of the invited wit
nesses, SO far as known, have yet been
registered there.
THE METHODS
which the various newspapers will use to
secure and transmit the first news of
Kemmler's death, ifprinted, would posi-
bly, interest the public as
much as the details of the
event which all are here to report. The
Western Union in the present emergency
has come forward to meet it. Local
Manager Horton has established a sub
office in the freight depot directly oppo-
site the prison. From it fourteen New
York wires are available. The main line
is also thoroughly equipped and any
embarrassment Of wire facilities is hap
PLY not n of the features of this office.
All day long yesterday and to-day curl
GUS faces have been pressed between the
heavy upright iron bars on either side of
the big prison gate. Women and child
ren have been "' 49,
WATCHING THE WINDOWS
behind which Kemmler is, and where at
rare intervals his face is seen at the win
dows. There has been recently much
printed and said about the possibility of
an inquiry being instituted by Governor
Hill, at the warden's suggestion, as to
the sanity of the wretch Kemmler. The
Associated Press correspondent, in view
Of his information, is unable to accord
the slightest credence to such reports.
If Kemmler is insane he is not we'll, and
the warden is authority for a pointed
aud positive statement that the con-
demned man is we'll; that all statements
to the contrary are not only untrue, but
foolish; that the prisoner has maintained
himself as we'll, and better, than a ma
jority of men under such circumstances.
II the warden is mistaken, the RESPONSE
bility is his.
Tonight warden Durston has made
known nineteen of the twenty-six persons
who besides himself may witness the ex-
~ecution OF Kemmler.