The Delta independent., 1890-08-12
EXECUTED BY ELECTRICITY.
Death Of the Murderer, kemmIer, at
Auburn Penitentiary.

Death Of the Murderer. kemmler, at
Auburn Penitentiary.
The first man to be executed under
the new law Of New York State, which
provides for the use Of electricity in exc
cutting capital sentences, was William
Kemmler. A number Of invited guests,
mostly doctors, were present at the hour
for the execution-six O'Clock.
Tho stated hour had arrived and fifteen
minutes more before DIR. Spitzka arrived
with . case Of instruments in hand. Drs
6hrady and Jenkins, of New York, were
yet missing. They were yet at the hotel
table. At Z o'clock the 200 convicts would
be marched out from the mess-room to
the shops, and then the betting TO operate
tho dynamo way down in the loft OF the
marble shop could not be run on without
the prisoners knowledge that Remmler
was TO die. No one could tell what spirit
might be developed by the men In striped
clothes II such knowledge was forced upon
them. The agent and warden therefore
grew momentarily more impatient
Gentlemen, i will not wait any longer
for those who are not here" he exclaimed
ut length, after peering q last time down
TO the iron gate. This affair cannot be
made subject TO personal convenience, and
think 1t unfair TO me that should have
been kept waiting until this hour.
The party proceeded at once TO the exc
cution room where chairs were placed for
the visitors. In the meantime kemmler
In his cell was being prepared for death.
1t was explained to him that he must have
the top of his head shaved. The prisoner
demurred. He had taken great pains
dressing his hair, and, besides, as he ex-
planned 70 the warden, he did not want TO
disfgured. He wanted the people TO
see and know that he was not man OF
repulsive appearance, As had been stated
Nevertheless his head was shaved and
then the death warrant was read 70 him.
Having been taken to the death chamber
be was asked II he had anything 70 say be-
fore he died. His answer was: "Well,
wish every body good luck in the world"
he said in easy, steady tones, "and III 20
to . good place; and the papers have been
saying lots Of stun about me that Amt So"
The mask C, v, cd his eyes, grasped his
chin and firmly +, >sed his forehead. at
WAS not well fitted" Kemmlcr said, and
he spoke to direct It's proper adjustment
do everything right, Mr.. Dunston."
said he, land push down that more on top
Of my bead"
He referred TO the electrode which was
being fitted TO the top OF his head. 1t was
done, seeming TO push his head down be
tween the shoulders while tho mask was
buckied back so tightly that the edge was
buried in the skin of the nose and fore-
head. Once more he spoke, and they were
his last words.
well, want to do the best can Il can't
do any better than that" he said.
"God bless you, kcmmlcr, you havs done
wcll," spoke DR.. Spizka, In his quick,
nervous way, and there were plying tears
In many eyes, and husky voices muttered:
"You have, Kemmlcr, you have" Every
strap hsd been tightened, each slectrode
had been pressed to the scat Of life; the
wardcn's deputy stopped back.
There was hush. The warden inquired
Of Drs. Mcdonald and SpitxkA how long
the current should bc maintained In
Kcmmler's body. The frat response was
twenty seconds, which was almost instant
ly changed TO ten seconds.
"very well, gentlemen" responded the
warden, and he moved toward the door Of
his secret room. And at that moment DR..
Fell Of Buffalo. who made the death chair,
was dropping water from . bulb syrings
through long rubber tube into the cleo
trode sponges. Tho warden rcappeared
from the ante-room.
"wcll, everything Il resdy," he said,
while he faced the death chair, six feet
away. Tho bound man In the chair had
heard every word. His hands were
clinched and rigid. He awaited the shock.
Tho hour was Q o'clock and +s,1 minutes.
The warden turned and nodded his head
TO some one who stood in the secret room
II the fatal switch. There was convul-
sivo start Of tn, bound figure in the char,
. little squcaking sound Of straining
straps, brcathless watchers with every
sense bent upon tho movclcss wretch
bound head and foot, and no sound save
bird songs In the bright sunshine outside
tho windows. Drs. Spitzka and DIR. Shrady
drawn by deep interest almost uucon-
sciously from their places, moved on tip
too 70 placcs by the chair. But all was
still and no ono spoke. Every faculty was
contributing TO that Of vision. Such
scene there never was on earth before.
No man had over before died thus BY the
deliberate purpose of his fellow man.
After the convulslvc start that marked
the. stroke Of lightning upon Kemmler,
there was no NOV emcnt Of muscle or
twitch Of nerve. Tho features from bridge
Of nose 70 chin seem 70 have been pursed
up - one facing sleety storm or Of one
breathing powerful dust wind.
But was Il deatht
Who should sayi The law demanded
that the current OF electricity should be
maintained against the v,tals until death
should come. But what should toll whom
death had comet The men Of scienco be-
licvcd that tho ncrvo ccnters worc beinR
beaten ~ with heavy hammer at the ratc
" $50 times each second. They thought
the blood was becoming by mechanical
change, fuidlsed and useless 70 sustain
life. And % they watched and itstsned in
the silent room-fivc. ten, dfteen, seven
tcen seconds.
"Therc, that's enough, take on the our
rant " said the Wnrdeu,s chosen uhvaicinn