New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-21

oIothinp IN which he arrived and is taken 10 Of
the condemned cells, and has a bed and other
comuodations far better than he had while on
trial. Prior 10 his coming every movable article
had been taken from the cell and new ones had been
placed there by trustworthy people. Having been
thoroughly searched before his induction into his
new abode the condemned man is looked upon as
safe against himself and I'm the grasp Of the
law The object Of the prison authorities from that
time is 70 make the mans existence comfortable.
and they usually succeed. In proof Of this. Colonel
Sage saws that Mayhem who will probably be exc
cuted next month. weighs thirty pounds more than
he did when he arrived the institution. The food
for the men in the condemned cells is not prepared
with the regular prison food by the hall cooks
II comes from the hospital kitchen and is in every
way superior.
THE men get practically what they want to eat"
said Colonel Sage. "and the end approaches we
make special efforts to find out just what they
would ike and we have IL for them II seems
strange but It is true that despite the terrible fate
that awaits them the men In the condemned cells
rarely decline to eat, and they are more cheerful
than the average prisoner. nave never seen one
who was not full Of hope until the last moment.
They read and when they wish 10 write paper and
mcneil are given TO them. Those who wish TO smoke
may have pipes and tobacco and even cigars are
furnished when preference for them is expressed.
But tho cigars among the luxuries which come
only with the bitter end.
II Il not at all certain that the cell TO which the
condemned man is taken on his arrival the prison
will be his home until the end. II is more certain
that II will not be- because. to avoid possible harm,
the men are changed from cell to another with
out notice II may be that a man has occupied the
same cell since his arrival. bur when 1t has finally
been determined that he shall die he Is transferred
and the process has been repeated for several days
DR. buchanan occupied some time during his
stay at the prison every cell in the condemned de-
partment.
In the course OF Colonel Sages administration six
men have been executed in the prison. They were
Charles Postalka l.. T. Hermann, Richard Leach
Feigenbaum Dr. Buchanan and David Hampton.
and each one had murdered woman. OF the three
awaiting execution two wife murderers.
THE stories that men go 10 their death without
emoton" said Colonel Sage. ARE rot true. All the
men who were executed here realized keenly the
horror Of II all Hermann was the least nervous
man OF all. He never rinchei when NJ was told
that there was no hope, and he was composed when
thu. day OF execution came But At the last moment
he begged that he might be taken out TO be killed
before Postalka His cell was nearer 10 the eXecu-
ton chamber and we granted hts request; the re
moral was made noselessly 80 stealthily. that |
II A regularity about Hermann was that when
he shook hands with his keepers his grasp was nrm
md MIA hand had an apparently normal temper
azure while the hands OF the others were not only
unsteady. but clammy-Dr Buchanen's was abso-
Manv people believe that alcoholic stmulants are
given TO the men before they are executed and re-
6orts have been circulated that one man
ab. TO walk to the place OF execution because he
had taken too much brandy. Colonel Sage says that
NOT one drop OF alcoholic stimulant has been given
10 any OF the men who have been executed since he
came to he prison. One man asked for a cup Of
extra strong beef tea short time before he was
killed and another wanted some strong black coffee
Poth requests were granted.
II is the object OF the prison authorities To allow
none of the other condemned men TO know when
the fatal hour for one OF them comes. and with
view to sparing them. many precautionary meas
ures are taken; but they usually know what Is tax
ing place, the prison authorities say. and while II
may disturb them q little for the time. 1t does not