The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-10-15

A'r"iif confirms tho Accounts Given by
the United Pres. Scvlc,-I
Instautaneous and Death Speedy.
ALBANY, N. Y, Oct. 1.-Dr. Carlos +.
Macdonald, who superintendent the
electrocutions at Sing Sing, to-day made
the following statement which in each
particular Verrifies the report of the
United Press sent out on the day of the
electrocutlon. In this supplementary
report OF the details OF the executions
which took place at Sing Sing prison
last July 1t Is stated that in all these
| to cover the forehead and TEMPLES and
| the other-a large one-the calf of the
| right leg, except in the case Of Joseph
| WOOD, IN which 1t was applied to the
| leit leg, IN consequence Of the existence
| or an ulcer on the right one. The cleo
trodeS were thoroughly wet with a
solution of salt and water before the
| current was turned on and were mois-
| tened at intervals when the current
was interrupted, with the same solution
thrown on them with a syringe. Slocum
entered the execution room at :33 "a. m.
| ana passed at once to the chair. The
| restraining straps and electrodes were
adjusted eXpeditiously and without re-
sistance, and the electric circuit was
completed for the first time at 4:35.
Inc first contact lasted twenty seven
seconds at the end OF which time it was
| broken but the pulse was still found to
be beating strongly, and between one.
ana twelve minutes later a noisy re.
Splratlon became established with con
siderable regularity. The current was
lmmedl ttely reapplied and continued
Tor 20 9 seconds. Respiration had then
ceased entirely and permanently and
the heart beats had also ceased. After
SlOcum'S body had been removed con
sultatlon among the medical gentlemen
present seemed to point to the unani-
nous feeling that it was quite possible
lhat the long continuance of the current
was not so significant factor in pro-
duclng rapid cessation of the heart
beat, as the sudden impact of making
and breaking the contact and for that
reason the next execution was conduct
ed little differently.
Harris A. Smiler entered the room at
ON Il. m. The first contact was made
at . OS a. n., and continued ten seconds:
was then interrupted to allow of wet
tlng spongeS; was again made for ten
seconds and again the spOnges were
wet, and third contact was made for
ten seconds. Three contacts of ten sec
onds each were thus made, at the end
OF which time there was no effort at
1 respiration, Dut the pulse was beating
, SO irmly and regularly that it was
= deemed eXpedient to again close the
circuit for nineteen seconds, at tho end
I, or which time the heart had perman-
: emily ceased beating
f 1T Will be noticed that in the first
case the pressure was applied for fifty.
three seconds in all. at the end of that
tlme respiration and the heart beats
ilad ceased permanently. In the sec.
~ Il &c 81
ten seconds each the heart beat was
still strong and at the end of the fourth
applcatlon OF nineteen seconds that
had entirely ceased. 1t will appear
from This that the duration of the cur
rent was quite rs important an item ss
thc making and breaking Of a contact.
IL was therefore determined to make
the contact in the next case a little
lonetr, interruptions being necessary to
permit of moisteDing the sponges.
Joseph Wood entered at 5.32 and the
electric current was completed at 5.34.
lhree contacts OF twenty seconds each
| were made at the end of which time
respiration had ceased permanently: no
pulse could be felt at the wrist and no
heart peat was heard on examination.
JuglrO entered the room at 6 a. m.
~ 6o2 a. m. the current was closed for
the first time, and three contacts of ff-
| WA oNSViibo ftClI lOllOSCU, WIFI UWO In
termlsSlons OF twenty seconds each.
When The current was finally broken a
very slight iluttering was Ielt at the
Wis. In this case extreme heat was
noticed in the region of the knee above
the point where the lower electrOde had
been applied and a thermometer held
against the skin for only fifteen Sec
onds ran up ll5 degrees, the highest
point it registered. At 6.17 the chest
was barred and cessation of the heart
was confirmed.
From the experience had in these
cases, the report says we are inclined to
the Dellef that, while unconsclousness
was instantaneous and continuous from
the lirst moment of contact in each
case, yet in order to insure that death
Supervene as rapidly as possible it was
necessary to continue the voltage en-
ployed in these cases for from fifty to
sixty seconds. In each case the tenn
peraturc of the water near to and at
he edges of The electrodes was raised
nea1ly,if not quite, to the boiling point,
SO as to blister the skin more or less ex-
ttnsivcly. There was absolutely no.
where any smoking, charring or burn
ing.
| Sensation at Vienna.