New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-14

of light in bands OF velvet. but the glow
from the east had already touched the
top of the Palisades. They rose above
/ edge. exquisitely fresh, primeval, un-
/ touched by our modern world, as they
might have seemed TO some explorer
sailing up the river for the first time.
/ only when a New York Central freight
\ train came laundering up track below
/ the hill was this unreality broken. and
| then a moment later in front or us
rose the long gray walls Of the prison'
The little crowd of spectators waited
7 in front of the warden's office talking
nervously until the starlight had faded
/ into day. There were some seventy
/ five of them-doctors, reporters ana
those who came but to see-and these
were divided into four squads, all but
a few Of the members Of which, whose
business required il, were to see only
one of the executions. Even when TINS
was arranged there was some doubt
as to just who should get in, and When
the word was given TO pass across the
wardens veranda they crowded up as
if they were buying tickets at a thea
ire. then suddenly bethought them
selves. stopped it shamefacedly. then
decided 10 crowd in again.
They were led through a gate in the
high prison wall and into a narrow court
beside vaultlike building Of rcd
brick, in which the execution was TO
take place. 1t was~a dismal place and
cold. The spectators kept talking to
one another, nervously saying: who
goes first? What's the order? is it
'Gyp'?" YES, 'Gyp'-no. no. Not
'Gyp,' Dago Frank" And this differ
ence of seconds, which can make no
difference to any one now, seemed i'm
portant then.
Then the warden's assistant called of
the names of those who were to see
the first execution and consulting his
list scratched off each name as its
owner stepped forward. The warden
led the way into the death chamber.
1t is room perhaps thirty feet by
fifteen, and rather like a country
schoolhouse, with several rows OF
benches extending about half way
down from the back of the room. The
windows. to the left, are Of ground
glass. 4 trifie beyond the middle OF
the wall on the right is the door
oh ha Hpn m
were to be led, and just beyond it
and near enough so that some may see
them enter are the cells of the other
prisoners awaiting death.
The benches face an open space. in
the centre Of which, facing them,
stands the execution chair. 1t suggests
at first glance. rather high sort OF
Morris chair without its cushions, and
projecting over it from the wooden
screen behind is curved metal arm
like the handle of canopy from
which the canopy has been taken.
/ There were various straps fastened to
this chair, and on the floor to the right,
beside a pail of water, was the cleo
trode- which was to be fastened to the
condemned mans right leg and cap
shaped somewhat like those worn by
football players.
A wooden screen rose behind the
chair, concealing the switchboard, and
standing behind this screen. peering
now at his electrical apparatus, now at
/ the chair, was a studious looking ell
derby man with spectacles. He was the
executioner, although he might we'll
have been some rather near-sighted
preoccupied librarian. He turned a
switch, testing the current, and lamps
glowed brilliantly above and beneath
| the chair Then two of the assistants
/ dipped the cap and the electrodes in
/ the pail Of water and in the dragging
silence broken only by the spectators
heartbeats, the door Of the dearh
house opened and there came to the
ear at once the dull droning of re-
peated prayers.
Death March On.
The warden, pale himself now,
turned TO the men sitting ON the
benches. This man may make a
statement" he said. IF he does you
are to say nothing and ask him no
questions"
The steady murmur Of prayers and
the shuttle OF feet on stone came near
or. Two tall broad shouldered keepers
in blue and brass buttons, marching
side by side, with a rather quaint air
of doing what they could TO lend the
dignity of a procession, came through
the door. Then, with his confessor,
came "Dago Frank" ashy pale, scarce
" seeming to see either the spectators
or the chair toward which he tottered
He reached ii and sank into it, still
muttering his prayers, as if he could
not say enough Of them. His head
rolled weakly from side TO side as his
hands were strapped TO the arms of the
chair, the belt strapped round his
; middle and the cap and the straps
across eyes and chin. In each hand
as it lay strapped to the chair arm, nc
clutched crucifX. He was sitting
thus. murmuring In a dazed fashion
his confessor, standing a little TO the
side in front Of him, repeating the
words before him, when the old gentle