Friday, September 11, 2009

Execution by Electric Chair - PhotoHunt

PhotoHunt theme : Electric



The Electric Chair

I love to bring my students to Singapore Science Centre because of its interactive exhibits. One exhibit that provides the children the most fun and unforgetable experience is this Electric Chair.

But it is neither fun nor interesting for the criminals who were sent to the electric chair. :(

Harold Brown invented the electric chair. On 6th August 1890, the electric execution of the first man was William Kemmler of Buffalo, New York. He was guilty of butchering his mistress with an axe.

As a group of doctors and reporters watched this historic occasion, Kemmler was jolted for 17 seconds. It failed to kill him. He was unconscious but still breathing.

Embarrassed prison officials electrocuted him again for 70 seconds. As the electrodes seared his head and arms,Kemmler thrashed and convulsed. The room was filled with the smell of burning flesh. Some witnesses fainted, while others fled the room. The killing took 8 minutes.

Yikes. That's a painful way to die. :(







38 comments:

  1. eastcoastlife,

    Reading that description how Kemmler served his death sentence TWICE and the way a human dies from such a sentence, is revolting.

    Almost felt electrocuted reading that passage.

    Now it will be because of your Post that I may suffer nightmares tonight.

    hahahahahaha

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  2. It's horrible to be fried on that chair!

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  3. this post reminded me of The Green Mile when one of the prisoners also were electrocuted horribly... sigh..

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  4. electric chair executions are torturous and cruel.

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  5. i don't think any human deserves to die so horrifically in such a manner regardless of what crime the person does.

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  6. It's just inhuman ! Should be forbidden in a so said civilized country !

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  7. Let's hope that capital punishment will be abolished in due course.

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  8. This is a terrible apparatus! But a very interesting post.

    I hope I never ever even see one!! But, it is something we should all be aware of.

    Very interesting choice ECL!! Happy weekend!
    Jackie

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  9. hahaha, never anticipated someone would show an electric chair. now that is a great find.

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  10. Oh, my, how horrible! Buffalo, New York is near me! Hm, wonder if I could get an electric chair that works? lol

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  11. oh! my, what horrible way to die!

    i thought with the first jolt of electic power failed, they should have just lower the sentence to a lifetime of incarceration, don't you think! he did served his sentence in the first try, why do it again and again...uuuhhh!

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  12. I didn't think of that. It's a horrible way to be killed. Happy weekend

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  13. 8 minutes to die? That is really a painful way to die. Isn't it a little cruel. LOL :D

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  14. Wow that is a cheery take this week East Coast Life.

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  15. Never thought of this. Not a nice thing at all, horrendous actually. But suits the theme

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  16. Oh dear. Was he a really naughty boy to deserve that punishment? :)

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  17. I was enjoying a bite on my banana snack when I read through the alst part....good thing I didn't throw up. I'm quite easily grossed. =(

    It's sure a painful way to die. Well he was the first so things can be expected not to go so smooth. Anyway he butchered somebody else mercilessly...that's painful too!

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  18. Advance apologies if my comments sound morbid but... it's so funny how sometimes, it can be so difficult to die. And yet, at other times, people -- who don't want or deserve to die at that particular point in time -- get killed so easily in such as accidents or man-made horrors like that whose 8th anniversary just passed. :S

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  19. It's a great educational tour to learn about the electric chair, origins and how painful it is to die via this method.

    Hope it deters and keeps the people from turning bad!

    JH
    http://www.photojournalist-tgh.tv

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  20. wow. that's really one 'shocking' history lesson for today...

    i hope that the death penalty will be erased from the face of the earth. it never truly solves the problem of criminality, doesn't address the deeper underlying issues on why crimes happen...

    thanks for sharing this tidbit-

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  21. OMG! The way Kemmler died makes me feel like throwing out!

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  22. I bet that chair would be a very shocking experience ECL hahahaha

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  23. Hi eastcoastlife,

    A very personal Award for you. :)

    http://dfoolonthehill.com/double-diamond-bloggers/the-double-diamond-blogger-awards-for-my-kind-of-distinctive-bloggers

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  24. It's horrible to die in that way! I still think hanging is the best way for those undergoing death sentence. No torture and instant death.

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  25. Thanks for sharing some history about the electric chair! : )

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  26. OMG! I certainly didn't think along those lines, but it's an excellent post, so interesting and thought provoking.

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  27. Electrocuted is no fun way to die. Its cruel way of punishment.

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  28. It's a good thing no one put the plug in while he was sitting there.

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  29. ECL, good post for the theme! You always have some interesting field trips with your students!

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  30. Strange inventions... meant to make life easy or... ?
    Great post.

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  31. Great entry. Horrible way to die especially if it took so long! Hope you are enjoying your week :-)

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  32. Ah, Singapore Science centre, my kids love the place!

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