The Gas Chamber

By Crusader1307

Perhaps the most terrifying method of Execution – The ‘’Gas Chamber’’ is a method of inhalation poisoning, used my many Nations and Countries that support execution for a Capital Crime (eg Murder). Although there are many variations, The Chamber’s ‘’origins’’ can actually be traced to the early 19^th Century and French occupation of The Caribbean Island Nation of Haiti. During The Slave Revolutions, captured prisoners were said to be placed into specially fitted Ships. The Hulls were ‘’sealed’’, and copious amounted of smoke from burning wood and other items, were pumped (bellowed) inside. It was one of the first examples of a ‘’Gas Chamber’’.

While other Countries implemented similar methods, Death by Asphyxiation would become the ‘’norm’’ for executions in The United States in then 1920s. However, early methods involved the often dangerous practice of simply pumping gases into a sealed room. Most early cases had leakage, which caused problems for the Executioners. The first ‘’sealed chamber’’ (airtight) was implemented in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Another example, was The Germany Nazi methods of executing masses via Gas Chambers. Using various formulations of gases, hundreds to thousands were executed in this manner (using sealed rooms which were disguised as ‘’Showers’’).

It it’s current form, The Gas Chamber is a sealed metal enclosure with a door (similar to a ships compartment entrance which can be made airtight when closed and locked). A Convicted person is strapped into a chair (or chairs for multiple executions) in the middle of the room. Underneath is a container drop device filed with acid. Thru mechanical means, a tablet of cyanide is them released. Within seconds, a chemical reaction occurs between the two compounds – which creates a poisonous and quite lethal gas. When breathed in, a Victim passes out (normally) and asphyxiation occurs. Unfortunately, the body often convulses and releases it’s waste matter, followed by vomiting. All in all, NOT a pleasant way to die. Another method experimented with, was the process of using The Chamber to draw out all oxygen – causing the Victim to choke to death by lack of air. This method was experimented with but no working models were ‘’used. In The United States, only (6) States still have The Gas Chamber on ‘’the books’’, but most prefer to use Lethal Injection as Their methods. In these States, a Prisoner can still ‘’request’ such an ‘’ending’’, they wish!