The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-07-11

the Hateful procession. Slowly the
heavy doors swung back and with solemn
tread and mien the little procession
walked into the room where the silence
of death prevailed. They had but a few
steps to take. The chair was directly in
their front. AS the leaders parted the
chair stood out in all a%wfulness before
the man about to sit in it and die. So
cum halted at the warden's command
just on the edge of the rubber mat which
was to protect those who wsre watching
his life go out. The doomed mans gaze
was riveted on the chair. Then it wan
dered to the dangling wire and closet
from which it was suspended. Back to
the chair it came like a needle to the
magnet, and he started as though he
had received a shock from the wire when
the warden began reading the death
! warrant while the reverend men engaged
in silent prayer.
The witnesses were grouped to the
left of the chair. The scientists stood in
front of the switchboard, watching the
current which they read like a book as
it flashed in the lamps and through the
recording instruments. The executioner
was heard to rise from his chair in the
closet and place himself ready to do his
! duty. With an attempt at a smile Slo-
cum 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 re-
manned on his face and as Fathers Cree
den and Lynch took up a position in
front of him he again directed his gaze
to the cross while Connaughton began
fastening the straps. Slocum's eyes were
clear and he appeared to be in perfect
physical condition. He took his eyes
from the cross long enough to aid Deputy
Warden Connaughton in his task, and
then until the shield was placed on his
face his lips moved in prayer and he
looked tixedly at the cross. Straps
crossed and recrossed his body and his
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 chair in one position and the
cloth which covered his eyes were put in
place. Now Drs. Mcdonald and Rock
well and Prof. Landy approached to at
tach the electrodes. a positive electrode
was placed on Slocum's head. the same
as in the kemmler e~lectrocution. a mega
tive electrode was attached to the right
leg, his trousers having been
rolled up for this purpose before Slocum
was bound in the chair.
When the electrodes had been satisfac-
torily adjusted and the wires attached
the three scientists glanced at the switch
board and said hat the current was
steady and registered l,G0O volts. Drs.
Mcdonald and Rockwell stood on either
side of the chair. Other physicians
among the witnesses also drew neal
while laymen stood back as though not
sure of their nerves. Drs. Daniels, South
wick and Ward took special interest in
these preliminaries and with watch in
hand waited the signal.
Prof. Landy's hand grasped the handle
of the switch which turned the current
into the wires in the electrocutiOner's
closet. Warden Brown raised his hand
and Prof. Landy turned the switch.
Then the warden tapped on the closet.
The unknown inside gave a quick pull
to his rubber covered lever. The electric
fluid was released and before the sound
of the tap reached Slocum's ears
and like lightning's flash it sped through
his body. There was not a tremor of the
body as the physician counted the sec
! onds and when Prof. Landy turned off
the current Slocum sat rigid and ~lifeless
, in the chair. When the electrodes were
removed it was discovered that the skull
and flesh of the leg had been slightly
; burned but there was no smell of roast
ing flesh such az made the Kemmler
clcctrocution so horrible. The straps
! were Embossed and the body carried back
! into the real room.
Smilcr did not hesitate when told 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 he would certainly have col
lapsed. Warden Brown quickly read the
death warrant and Smiler was hastily
! seated in the chair. His face took on a
ghastly hue and ~Connaughton got no
assistance from his victim in arranging
the straps. Smiler was bound and the
electrodes applied in a much briefer
time than with SlOcum and in a few sec
onds Smiler was dead. The same slight
burning under the electrodes was noticed
as in Slocum's case.
Wood had been prepared by Fathers
Creeden and Lynch while Smiler was
going to his death and he was all ready.
! ne ulltItu uo NDTu WHtD Ills tlllt CdIlc,
, He walked to death supported by priests.
Wood betrayed no emotion when he
gazed on the chair, but kept his eyes
fixed on the crucifix. He sat down in
the chair directly and his binding was
accomplished SO quickly that it was only
"a minutes after Smiler died until death
came to him.
1t was becoming easy to kill men,
! Witnesses displayed no emotion. There
was nothing to cause nausea, and death
came to its victim so quickly that it was
all over before they realized it. JugirC
at first refused to leave his cell, but
when Connaughton said "come on Joe
be a brave man." the Jap walked out
quietly. Two additional keepers marched
one on each side Of the Jap while the
chaplains followed behind the warden
and his deputy. The Jap did not seem
to comprehend the purpose OF the chair
and seated himself without protest.
A keeper assisted Connaughton in bind
ing the Jap and the last act was quickly
accomplished. The current was allowed
to remain in the Jap's body about three
seconds longer than contact with the
others, accordingly his skull and leg
were strongly marked by the electrodes