New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-06

the roofs of the Sing Sing lime works, near by.
Guards armed with rifles will be stationed on the
hills and on the roofs Of the lime works to keep
tGLIst inquisiuively inclined away during the
execution Even if this were not done, all that
those who gained the heights could see would be
a long and low wooden building in which are
eight narrow windows The glass is painted
white on the inside, giving the appearance Of
white curtains tightly drawn.
The execution building Is divided into two parts,
being the execution room proper, the other
being the place in which the doctors VIII perform
the autopsies upon the bodies of the men. Tho
chair TO be used is similar in many respects to
that in which Kemmer was executed. 1t Is
made from heavy oak, and rests upon rubber
mat The chair faces the east The back reclines
at an easy nngle, allowing the prisoner to sit in
natural manner One of the additions 10 this
chair is a hollow rubber rest into which the head
will fall when the straps over the forehead nave
been adjusted Above the back of the chair is
a bit of woodwork which resembles figure four
trap. From il descends the elcctTode which Will
he placed at the base of the brain Of each man,
and through which the deadly current will go
rushing into the spinal column. Another cleo
trode is fastened at the back Of the scat, just
where the foot of the spine will press against it
Each eectrode is concealed in a rubber cup, and
is surrounded with sponge soaked with prepara-
tion that will prevent the current from burning
the flesh
At the execution of Kemmler the switchboard
was in another room from that in which the eX-
ecution took place. This made it impossible for
the experts and physicians who were witnessing
this execution TO see how strong the current was
or what quantity of electricity was forced through
his body. The warden merely gave a signal by
rapping on door, and to this day no one knows
whether 500 or 800 volts generated. In
this case the switchboard is in the room with the
death.chair. 1t is fastened TO the side of the
little box which will conceal the man who turns
the switch. Here the experts can tell what the
force and quantity of the current are before II is
applied to the body. Then when the experts see
that a sufficient voltage has been reached the
signal will be given and the deadly current
will flash through the body, Above the door
leading into the room where the current
will be turned on are twenty incandeScent lights
Each one of these requires 100 volts to set II
burning. When a current strong enough TO do
this has been obtained the experts will know
that the dynamo is producing current OF ?,oDO
volts. The warden has sent out twenty-seven In
vitations to men who are to witness the eXecu-
ton They were forwarded last week by messen-
gers 1t is not known to whom they have gone,
outside of those legally provided for. IL is known
however that DR.. Carlos F. Macdonald, the Com
missioner in Lunacy, Will represent the State.
Then T.. L. Davis, who has had charge OF the con-
struction of the plant will Of course be present
Drs. Daniels Southwick and Taylor, of Buffalo;
who attended the former execution, are expected
to be present, with possibly Dr. George T. Shrady
and Deputy Coroner Jenkins of this city.