Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-08-06
THE GREAT TRAGEDY
Crowds Surround the Prison
at Auburn.
KEMMLER's LAST MOMENTS.
He Prayed With Pastor HOughtOn and
Displayed Little Nervousness

A DescrIpt10n OF the AutOpsy-Vls1ting
the Execution Room-chAngss Made IN
the Metre by EIectricISn DavIS-Dis-
pOAitiOn OF the Remains of the MUIR
ds1 0r-Tho Jury OF Doctors.
AUBURN, N. Y, Aug. Ga curious
crowd is gathered without the walls of
the prison. Young faces and old are
pressed against the heavy iron bars on
either side of the gateway. Little
groups of newspaper correspondents
are scattered about along the pavement.
But there 10 NO appearance of unusual
activity within the prison walls. Once
| or twice two or three of the witnesses
came out on the broad landing and sat
looking at the crowd outside, which
| seemed to afford them much amuse-
| mont.
A consultation was held in the war
denis Office about the arrangements for
the autopsy and the most appropriate
time for holding the execution. On the
| nrst point there were few differences of
opinion.
| Visiting the Execution Room.
When the conference was at an end,
the Warden asked the party to 60 with
him to the execution room. The cleo
tricians. under the direction of Mr..
Davis, were already there putting in
place the volt-meter which the Warden
| took to New York to be repaired last
Friday and which Mr.. Davis brought
| back with him. The dynamo was run
ming in the machinery room and when
the volt-meter had been adjusted the
| current was turned on and of several
times, and the dou BILE row of incandes-
| cent lamps ON the wall was thrown In
and out of circuit to demonstrate the
currents strength. Mr.. Davis said the
meter did not work as satisfactorily as
he could have wished and that he
| would h ave to make some changes in it.
How He spent Shs Night.
| Kemmier spent the night quietly. No
/ sign was given by him of his impend-
ing doom. His friend. the Rev. Dr..
Houghton, accompanied by the chaplain
| Of the prison, visited him and spent the
greater part of the night with him.
They were present at Kemmler's re-
/ quest.
KemmleF made his will again, leaving
his books and other little traps to Mrs.
Durston, Daniel MoNsughton and q few
others who have been kind to him. 4
lady in Buffalo sent him a Bible a short
time ago, and he wrote his name in it
and wanted it sent back to her.
He Dreams OF Death.
1t was Q O'Clock this morning when
Ksmmler first awoks, He sprang from
his couch with o cry.
"What's the matter ~ asked Keeper
McNaughton.
Been dreaming" replied sKemmler,
briefly. swell, suppose I have got to
die pretty quick, and | don't care. I
am going to sleep some more, any
way"
He laid down upon the couch again.
The first streaks of light were stealing
over the prison walls when he again
awoke. He had been tossing back and
'orth and grooming for an hour.
What time Is itF' he demanded.
"a little after 4, replied the keeper.
sis that Allf' said the doomed man.
"How slow time flies" Then he laughed
neY vously. He paced quickly up and
down the cell for few minutes. Twice
he went to the window and looked out.
He could see dim lancss of light which
family Aecked the prison wall. He
gratefully inhaled the cool air of the
morning. He then returned to his cell.
Crouching in one corner he buried his
face in his hands. He remained there,
so still and quiet, the keeper became
nervous, and went to see what he was
doing.
Prepared for the Autopsy.
DIR. Southwick, the author of tho new
method of execution told some interest
ing things about it. "1have come pre-
pared for the autopsy" he said, with
thermometers, ETC., with which to take
the temperature of the remains SO as to
be sure that death has interviewed be-
fore the surgeons knife Is used. The
law requires that the autopsy shall take
place i'm m ediately, but that will be in
terpretsd to mean within decent time.
So soon as the temp erature of the man
10 below the point whore life can con-
tinus to exist the operation will be
begun. So that explodes the idea that
some people have had that if the electric
shock did not kill him the surgeons
knives would"
The doctors in charge of the autopsy
will prepare q careful story for publi.
cation at the earliest possible moment.
Disposal "f the Body.
The body Of Kemmler will be covered
with earth in quick time unless it il
claimed by friends. There is q brother
In Philadelphia and there 10 q nephew
in Ohio, and there are rumors that both
of these. have communicated with the
warden regarding the disposal of the
body. It 10 not determined yet that
they will take 1t, and the chances are
even that It will be buried in the prison
yard in the manner the law directs.
Trying TO Buy the Body.
AUBURN N v AuO R-Wardar