The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-03
THE WHEN
DEATH In THE ELECTRIC CHAIR.
Murderer "Cal" Wood Felt the Shock with ,
Cry for Heavenly Blessing on His Lips.

DANNEMoRA, N. Y, Aug. At was ex-
actly 1880 o'clock this morning when. at
the word from Warden Thayer, murderer
Gal" Woods cell door was unlocked and
the prisoner stepped out into the exercisin g
opened. The death warrant was read to
the prisoner by the warden. Wood lis
tened to the warden's words with q pale
and slightly drawn face, but was other
wise calm and made no comment. When
Warden Thayer gave the word for the
prisoner to be brought out there were
grouped the reporters, physicians and
others invited to witness the execution.
Wood was neatly attired in black sult,
his shirt collar and cuffs were snow-white,
and a white tie encIrcled his neck. His
face was smoothly shayen, with the excep-
tion of the mustache. and with his calmly
courageous bearing. looked anything but
the desperate murderer. half human. half
brute, he has been painted in some or the
printed reports. Crossing the Threshold
of the room, the prisoner turned to the
right, and with two or three steps stood In
the chair the keepers stepped to one side,
and without hesitation the prisoner said:
II want to thank Warden Thayer for his
great kindness to me; also my keepers. My
time on earth Is not long enough to return
my thanks to Judge Whitman for his noble
efforts. He has been nearer than brother
to me. and hope he will live q long life
and die happy in the Lord"
The religious feeling of the doomed man
found expression in these words: II pray
that God will give mo the strength of two
men to 60 to meet Him, for l know | am
going there. God bless you all. May He
make you all happy" Here Woods voice
trembled little, the only indication of any
lesseninR of the wonderful nerve the man has
shown. and. as he sat down in the chnir, he
me-" He repeated this three times while
the straps were being adjusted. His last
words were; God. bless me-"
The fatal signal was given by Keeper
Wells, OF Auburn prison. As tho coa-
tact came, Woods body straiehtoned out
rieidly, and tho hands turned upward on
the arms of the chair. Twelve seconds was
the duration of the first contact. The sec
Ond contact was two seconds shOrter. and
as 1T reched full power. o curl of blue
and an odor of burned rubber filled the
room. This was repeated on the third
and fourth contacts of six seconds
each. Each time Woods body straight
ened out This was followed by re-.
taxation as the current was shut off.
Wood was in the chair Just one minute
and fourteen seconds An interval of
three seconds was given between each con-
tact. The smoke came from the burning
ends of the rubber tube down which the
salt water ran to the electrodes. There
was slight blistering of the flesh on the
forehead. The adjustment of the straps
and electrodes took but twelve seconds
DE-. Samson superintended tho four keepers
who performed the service. The physi-
clans in charge made an examination of
the body immediately after the fourth con-
tact. The voltage was 1.560 with amper-
age of seven. Tho witnesses were then al
lowed to make ar examination before the
prisoner was pronounced dead. Warden
Thayer announced that the post mortem
would be held immediately and the body
was taxed to the post mortem room on q
stretcher. The autopsy was conducted by
DIR. Abbott. the other physicians assisting.
The death certificate was next signed by
the witnesses and the first legal electrocn-
tion at Dannemora was over. The body
was delivered to w ood's wife.