Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-07
A DOCTOR TO BLAME.
Continued from First PaOs.

over surely before z O'Clock, at which timt
work begins in prison, and all the prisoners
OF course, would have a chance to know
whether the electrical dynamo was in US,
or not
The guests as they came did not pass il
the Warden's Office, but were Immediately
escorted down stairs into the schoolroom Of
the prison, which was recently chosen as the
execution room. The location and sur
roundings of this room and one detailed de-
scrlption Of the death apparatus with which
1t was fitted will be found in The DIS
PATCH extra OF this morning.
When the half-frightened spectators crept
down into this room they found it q great
and gloomy apartment 30 feet long, in the
basement, right under the central portion Of
the prison. 1t was dimlv lighted by only
two windows, which looked out into the
prison yard, each on one side of the front
entrance.
THE CHAIR OF DEATH.
Near the eastern end of the room was
placed the oaken death chair, with grim
looking buckles and leather straps hanging
to its big arms, while wires like the cutacles
OF a sea monster hung down and around it.
Around the chair in q semi-circle were q
number of plain chairs. Silently the guests
took their seats in these chairs many Of
tuelT lACeS hcIc dlTedul pdlc.
The nervousness of the people present was
apparent, and none were more restless than
the medical attendants themselves. Every
one felt that terrible experiment was about
to be tried.
Many of the guests at once noticed the alb
seuce from the walls of the room of the
levers, volt meter, switch box and the other
apparatus by which the fatal current was to
be regulated. The guests in Warden Ours
tons confidence told their brother witnesses
that the change in the death chamber was
because Warden Durston did not want the
man who pulled the fatal switch at the last
moment to be seen.
KEMMLER's LAST WALK.
It was Just Cos O'Clock when the people
in the chairs around the big death chair
heard door open at the south side of the
Ioom. Warden Durston came out of this
door, and behind him walked briskly a
short and rather thick-set man with broad
shoulders. The man had a full brown
beard and curly hair. He had his coat of,
and wore brown vest and trousers. He had
on a white shirt and black-and-white tie.
The man was Kemmler. He was not
bound in any way, and he looked merely
like one of the guests, who had taken off
his coat and was following Warden Durston
to ask him question. Behind him came
Ministers Houghton and Yates.
A man shut the door behind them and
locked it. The Warden walked uneasily
across the floor. Kenimler followed with
somewhat wondering air. "Give me a
chair, some one, +" said the W arden, sharply.
Half dozen chairs were offered him.
The Warden had kemmler set down in one
chair that was placed near the death chair.
Gentlemen" said the Warden, "tiis is
lar L. -;.t.
half dignifed air.
THE FINAL WORDS.
"Kemmler," continued the Warden, "I
have made you familiar with the contents of
the death warrant" Kemmler bowed an
assent, smiling, and the Warden went on:
''The time has now come for me to execute
the judgment of the Court upon you. Have
you anything to say?"
"Well, gentlemen" said Kemmler, stI
wish you all good luck in this world and in
the next believe l am going to better
place. ! only want to say that the news
rapers have lied good deal about me-
That's all. l am ready to die"
Kemmler was about to sit down in his
chair again when Warden Durston stepped
forward. Kemmler at once rose and moved
toward the death chair, thinking evidently
that the Warden intended him to take his |
llace for execution.
No. said the Warden, 81 want to fix
your Clothes"
Kemmier arranged his clothing in shape,
and Warden Durston pulled cut his knife
and cut away the lower portion of his shirt
This, of course, was for the purpose of allow
ing the lower electrode of the death chair TO
press closely against Kemmler's spine.
While the Warden was doing this Kemmler
buttoned up his vest again and tied his
necktie anew.
BINDING HIM IN THE CHAIR.
Then he sat down in the death chair and
Warden Durston and his assistants began
to bind him there. There was a stir among
the guests at this point caused by the sud-
den exit of District Attorney Quimby, of
Buffalo. Mr.. Quimby could stand the
scene no longer. He was in a iainting con-
dition and had to be helped from the room.
Warden Durston was assisted at the
death chair by George Welch, of Auburn,
and Deputy Sheriff Wiling They firmly
buckle0 the straps on Kemmler's arms and
legs and put the three wide straps around
his body. Mr. Wiling was nervous and
wanted to hurry up the operation.
"NOw take your time, don't hurry and
keep cool. We've got lots of time" said
Kemmler.
The straps we're finally adjusted. Then
/
head back against the rubber cushion on the
back Of the chair. while Mr. Wiling began
to lower the thumb screw arrangement by
which the upper eleet;ode of the death chair
was to be pressed on Kemmler's head
Kemmler said in ioS but clegr voice
while this was going on, swell, do wish
everybody good luck" Everybody in the
room heard him. He said again, 'sYilirg.
you haven't got that sponge down clcSe
enough on my head"
HE DIRECTED THE WORK.
This proved to be a fact, and the sponge
in which the upper electric wire ter
minated was readjusted according 10
Kemmler's suggestion. Finally Warden
Durston took the broad leather
strap attached to the back of the chair, and
With this tied down Kemmler's head. The
strap stretching across the doomed mans
face. Kemmler held his head firmly and in |
low tone told the Warden how TO ad lust
he strap. The strap was pressed down over
Hemmler's face so that his nose was almost
moothed and fiat.
''God bless you, Kemmler," said DR..
;pitzka.
"Thank you," said Kemmler.
Warden Durston moved away to the door
# the original execution room on the SOUTH
I'm side OF the room.
"Are you all ready, William" said the
" arden.
Perfectly" answered Kemmler.
''Then good by," cried the Warden.
The words had not left his lips when,
lespite the great fastenings with which he
we're bound, the entire upper part of
Kemmler's body bent forward and upward. ,
No one saw the Warden give the signal, |
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