The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-08

eWltcn-DOarQ Wdtc1lnR Une current, WnlC1
they read like a book as it flashed IN the
lamps and through the recording instru-
ments.
THE EXECUTIoNER MOVES.
"The executioner was heard toI rise from
his chair in the closet and place himself
ready to do his duty. With an attempt at
smile Slocum seated himself in the chair
and leaned his head back against
the rubber rest as though he was
simply preparing to be shaved. The
forced smile remained on his face, and as
Fathers Creedon and Lynch took up posi-
ton in front Of him he again directed his
gazs at tie cross, while Deputy Warden
Connaughton began fastening the straps
Slocums eyes were clear, and he appeared
to be in perfect physical condition. He
took his eyes from the cross long enough to
aid Deputy Connaughton in his task, and
then until the shield was placed on his face,
his lips moved in prayer as he looked fix
eddy at the cross.
STRAPPED TO THE CHAIR.
"The straps crossed and re-crossed his body
and bis legs were tightly bound to the foot
rest. Then his arms were fastened and
Slocum could no longer move a muscle.
Finally an oddly arranged set of straps that
bound his chin in one position and Gov
cred nis eyes was put in place. Now
Laudey approached to attach the electrodes.
The positive electrode was placed on SlO-
GUMS head, the same as in the Kemmler
electrocution. The negative electrode was
attached to the right leg the trousers hav-
ing been folded up for that purpose before
Slocum was bound in the chair.
READY FOR THE CURRENT.
"When the electrodes had been satisfac>
torily adjusted, and the wires attached,
the three scientists glanced at the switch
board and said that the current was steady
aud registered 1000 VOLTS Drs. Mao
Donald and Rockwell then stood
on either side of the chair. The
other physicians among the witnesses
drew near, while the laymen stood back
as though not sure of their nerves. Drs
Daniels, SouthwIck and Ward took especial
interest in these preliminaries, and with
watch in hand waited the signal. Warden
Durston of Auburn prison stood alongs de
Warden Brown and offered Suggestions
All this had taken less time than it has to
tell it. Prof. Laudeys hand graspsd the
handle Of the switch which turned the cur
rent into the wires in the electrocutioner's
closet.
GIVEN THE FATAL SHOCK.
warden Brown raised, his hand and
Prof. Laudey turned the switch. Then the
warden tapped on the closet. The un-
known inside gave a quick pull to his
rubber covered lever. The electric fluid
was released before the sound of the tap
reached Slocum's ears and like light
ning's flash it sped through his body. There
was not tremor of the body as the physi-
clan counted the seconds, and when Prof.
Laudey turned off the current
Slocum sat rigid and lifeless in the chair
When the electrodes were removed it was
discovered that Slocum's skull and the flesh
of the leg had been slightly burned ;but there
was no smell of roasting flesh such as made
the Kemmler electrocution so horrible. The
straps were unloosened and the body was
carried back into the rear room.
sMILER's AWFUL START.
"Smiler did not hesitate when told that
his hour had come, but when the death
chair appeared before him he almost fell to
the floor. His knees knocked together, and
but for the support of his spiritual advisers
be would certainly have collapsed Warden
Brown quickly read the death warrant
and Smiler was hastily seated
in the chair. His face took on a CHASTITY
hue, and Deputy Connaughton got no as
sistance from this victim in arranging the
straps. Smller was bound and the cleo
trodes applied in much briefer time than
for Slocum, and in few seconds Smiler also
was dead. The same slight burning under
the electrodes was noticed as in Slocum's
case.
DEATH OF THE NEGRO.
"Wood had been prepared by Fathers
Creedon and Lynch, while Smiler was go-
ing to his death and he was all ready. He
uttered no word when his time came He
walked to the death supported by priests.
Wood betrayed no emotion when he gazed
on the chair, but kept his eyes
fixed on the crucihx. He sat down
in the chair dlfIidently, and his
binding was accomplished so quickly
that it was only twenty-four minutes from
Smiler's end until death came to Wood 1t
was becoming easy to kill men. The wit
nesses displayed no emotion. There was
nothing to cause nausea, aud death came to
its victims so quickly that it was all over
before they realized it.
JUGIRO's HESITATION.
"Jugiro at first refused to leave his cell
but when Deputy Connaughton said: Come
on, Joe be brave man." the Jap walked
ont quickly. Two additional keepers
marched, one on each side of the Jap, while
the chaplains followed behind the warden
and his deputies. The Jap did not seem to
comprehend the purpose of the chair, and
seated himself without protest. A
keeper assisted Deputy Connaughton in
binding the Jap, and the last act
was quickly accomplished. 1le current
was allowed to remain in the Jap's BODY
about three seconds longer than the contact
with the three others; accordingly his skull
and leg were strongly marked by the
electrodes. Jugiro's body was taken away.
Six bells were struck as the signal to the
electrician IN the dynamo room that all was
over and the witnesses returned to the
warden's room"
TINE OF THE EXECUTION.
The approximate time Of the turning on
Of the current in each case was: Slocum
4 40 O'Clock; Smiler $40; Wood $50: Jugiro
6:O5 The prisoners had received some in
timation beforehand that the ex>
e'utions were to have taken place
this morning and they were pre-
pared for them. They went to the
execution chair bravely and met their fate
without a struggle. They offered no re-
sistance, but rather assisted the keepers
when they were bound down in the chair
The electrodes were not applied as in the
Kemmler case, to the top of the skull and base
Of the spine, but were bound to the FORE
heads of the condemned men and the calves
Of their legs. The current was turned on In
each case for twenty seconds. The voltage
was about / 500 and 1000.
EVIDENCES OF REVIVAL.
In each case there were apparent evil
dences of revival, as in the Kemmler case,
and in each of these four cases the current
was turned on the second time. In spite of
the fact that the sponges were kept con-
stantly wet, all Of the executed men were
burned by the current, and especially
about the calves of their legs.
The medical men present agree that