St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-26
Murderer Kemmler Betrays
No Uneasiness Concerning
His EleetrocutiOn.
He Is to Be Shocked Into
Eternity Some Day Next
Week.
ALI the Machinery Of Death
Is in Place and Ad-
juSted.
Inside Facts Of the Recent
Bank Wrecking in Gotham
to Be Divulged.

AUBURN. n. Y, April 25.-kemmler,
the man who is condemned to die by
electrocution next week, shows no signs
of weakening; in truth he seems to
note all proceedings and final arrange
ments with an air of abandon that shows
him to BE man of almost iron nerve.
He does not allow himself to contem-
plate his fate, but busies himself in
whistling, singing, writing his auto
graph, and listening to his keeper read
from the Bible or some popular period
ical. He takes part in religious services
daily and manifests fervor that is sur
prislng to others who participate.
The arrangements for the final act in
the tragedy are substantially completed
and the Associated Press representative
has been granted the privilege of enter
ing the death chamber aud examining
the electrical appliances. The present
quarters of Kemmler and the room
where he is to die are side by side in the
main front Of the prison, and from his
cell door to the fatal chair is distance
of about eighteen feet. The death
chamber is about seventeen feet wide
by twenty-five feet long, and is dimly
lighted by two small iron-grated win
dows about four feet above the floor.
and from which view of the main en-
trance OF the prison can be obtained.
Between the windows. on the east wall,
is long board about ten feet in length
and three-and-a-half or four feet high.
On this board are arranged mechanical
appliances for testing, measuring and
governing the
Death-DeaIing Current.
At the left is common electric push
button. which communicates with the
dynamo room, and is used for signaling.
Next on the right is a Cardrews volt
meter, long, narrow, black walnut
box, containing coiled wire, and sur
mounted by guage, which registers
the electrical force in volts. Another
box, long and narrow, is on the right
and contains a reducing coil to diminish
the force of electricity before it enters
the voltmeter or the lamp box on the
right. Between the reducer and volt
meter is small switch to turn the cur
rent off and on the meter. The lamp
box contains tWenty-fOur sixteen candle
power incandescent lamps. and shows
when the current is On and running
steadily. Then come two swltches-on
for short circuiting the current. and
the other fatal switch, which car
ries the current to the wires connect
ing with the body of the condemned.
Two wires at the top connect with a
dynamo 1000 feet away in the north
wing of the prison. One of the wires at
the bottom will be connected with the
metal cap to be worn on the head. and
the other will be adjusted to the base
of Kemmler's spine. At present these
two wires remain dangling from
the ceiling. They will be attached to
board three feet square, attached to the
ceiling. which is already in position,
and which is directly over the spot
where the chair is TO be placed. There
was no sign of chair about the build
ing, but there is no doubt that it is all
ready to be placed in position at mo-
ment's notice. To-day while the war
den and the reporter were in the fatal
chamber, the low murmur OF voices
could be heard through the closed room
which connects with the prisoners cell.
1t was Keeper McNaughton and Kemm-
Ter in conversation. There was also
heard the steady tramp of
The Death Watch
as he paced slowly up and down in the
corridor In front of the cell. Warden
Durston has not divulged the day of the
execution to living soul. but good
guessers name the middle of the week
as the time. He has invited the follow
ing gentlemen to be present. and will
notify them in time to get here: Drs.
Carlos f. Mcdonald, Rockwell. and j.
G. Spitzka. The commissioners that
recommended the use of electricity in
executions are also invited. Their names
are Elbridge T. Gerry. Matthew Hale.
of New York city, and DR.. Southwick,
of Buffalo. The warden is allowed to
invite twenty-one persons to be pres
ent, consisting of twelve reputable citi-
zens. not to exceed seven assistants, and
not to exceed two physicians. The law
further prescribes that the following
persons may be also admitted: Judge Of
court in which Kemmler was convicted,
the district attorney and sheriff of Erie
county. Kemmler is also allowed to in-
vite two clergymen. The entire num-
of persons, therefore, who are allowed
by the law to witness the execution is
fr