Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-07-09
The pny < Known onIs M lhe warden.

The Day Known Only Ny the warden
SING SING, n. y, July 6, The week
set for the clechocution OF the murder
err, Shibaya jugieo, Harris a. Smiley,
lares u Slccum and Joseph Wood, be-
& II at 2 o, ocx last night, Under the
-,u.euce OF taa court the executions
could Jake place at any time during the
weeg.
At .. m. to-day carriages were ar
, rivtng az the prison. but the reporters
ana are not allowed to even speak 10
anyone inside the dead line II was
then believed tnat these carriages con-
tanned those invited 10 be present at the
execution by Warden Brown, and thai
their arrival indicated that the end OF
the murderers was not far on.
Last night passed away quietly Ia the
neighbarhood Of the state prison. At
intervals hacks droye up and e'are
away again, bearing loads OF newspaper
mon. The prison officials did every
thing they could to make the time pass
pleasantly. A generous supply OF coffee
which had been made for the guards
was put in general circulation. Moth
ing was seen OF the warden or any OF
the witnesses during the night. The
warden's son advised the watchers to go
away and get four or five hours sleep,
but they would not take his advice, ana
50 he sat up TO keep them company
Everyone about the prison prolessed
ignorance Of the wardens whereabouts,
IL was generally believed that he was
of somewhere getting together his wit
nesses, and the river front was patrolled
until late hour for the possible land
ing OF special boat with the execution
party on board. As the grey dawn crept
up in the east the weary watchers gave
up the idea OF n special boat or Especial
train aud most OF them went away to
catch few hours sleep.
THE CHAIR or DEATH.
The chair on which the condemned
man will suffer the death penalty is a
substantial as we'll as a comfortable
looking piece OF wood workers mechan-
ism, and with the connections with the
dynamo, was designed by Captain Hill
bert. the prison machinist, under whose
supervision IL was built. 1t is CON
struoted in a workmanlike manner, and
differs very materially from the chair |
used in the killing of kemmler in the |
Auburn prison.
The chair is located in room just |
south Of that occupied by the cells OF the |
men. The room is entered /
by door opening from the passage |
which runs in front of their cells. The /
room is fifty feet long by twenty-eight /
wide and is perfectly bare except for /
the muslin curtained windows through /
which light enters in abundance.
The addition in which the death /
cham ber is located is the last one built, I
and is a one-story frame structure. As /
the visitor enters the room he faces the /
chair, which is placed at the opposite |
end. The seat is broad, and the back, I
on which a heavy head rest is con /
structed, has slight curve. Above |
the rest and fastened TO the back by /
long strip is figure "a which is intend I
ID to rest on tno head OF the occupant II /
IS through the wire in this that the I
current passes. Besides this, there are /
a number OF straps to secure the pris- /
)ner in position after he has taken his /
seat in the chair.
The chair faces the cast aud directly |
behind it is a low cabinet for the use OF /
.he man who turns on the current, who |
is thus out OF sight OF everybody. It's
sides, however, do not reach the cell
ng, so that the operator can have
plenty OF ventilation.
Directly back OF the cat bine and
against which the cabinet stands is q
loor leading directly to the dynamo
'oom. On the side of the cabinet is a
sliding door, which on being opened re-
ieals the switchboards by which the
iignals are given to the OPERATOR who
,tands in the cabinet and turns on the
atal current
The first object that meets the eye is
card of painted directions, which are
ramed and read as follows: