State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-06-07
BURNING ALIVE.

We gave few days since u brief account
of the late horrible tragedy at st. Louis,
Mississippi. A correspondent of the Eeve.
ming Gazette gives the full particulars in
the following letter, dated St, Louis April
%:
i have Just returned from witnessing the
most horrid sight that ever fell to the lot of
man, viz: the execution of Lynch Law
upon yellow fellow, by the horrible means
Of a SioiO fire. The cause of this almost
Unprecedented execution, | will now briefly
relate. Deputy Sheriff Hammond while
endeavorng to arrest an offender, was, by
the above mentioned yellow fellow, defea-
ted i'll his intent. During the scufflc, the
prisoner escaped. Mr.. Hammond then ar
rested the yellow fellow for his interference
and took him before a Justice of the Peace,
by whom he was committed. While con-
Quoting him to jail. accompanied by our
constable, Mr. Null, the prisoner drew
knife and plunged it into the constabe's
side. Upon Witnessing this, Hammond
sprang at the prisoner, who now turned
upon him and inflicted u terrible and NOR
tai blow; the point Of the knife struck him
on the chin, passed through his throat, com
petely severing the jugular vein; he stag
BtTCu u lew )dCeS anu lcIl ucuu' uc pTlS-
oner then fled to yard or passage way,
but being brought to bay by his pursuers,
and still retaining his knife, he swore he
would kill the first man that attempted to
arrest him. His pursuers, perceiving his
threatening manner, backed out with the
exception of one, who seized rail, broke
it over his head, which slightly stunned
him, but soon recovering, he resumed his
menacng attitude, when powerful and
courageous man, but just arrived, seized
upon stone and hurled it with hercuean
force, striking him on the shoulder and dis
locating that limb. His arm dropped use
less at his side, his knife fell from his grasp,
and he was Immediately arrested, bound,
and carried to prison.
We must now return TO the dead and
wounded. During the time occupied in
the pursuit of the prisoner, the news of the
af1ray had spread over town, and the crowd
around Mr. Hammond's body was joined by
his son, IAN interesting lad about | | years
of age,) whose loud and heart-rending lam
entations infIrlated the already excited
spectators. They swore that the murderer
should not live another hour. This reso-
luton once formed, they proceeded to the
Jail where the prisoner was confined. Be-
ing too strong for the officers, who could
not, under existing circumstances, make
much resistance, after forcing three doors
they reached the cell that contained the
murderer, and led him forth amidst the
shouts of the multitude. Some few en-
deavored TO quell the tumult, but to no pur.
pose. The friends of Mr. Hammond land
they were many, for he was universally be-
loved and rspected,) were determined on
revenge--a revenge that may seem to you
unWarrantable, but take the case home to
yourself, conceive your own brother in the
situation of MIR Hammond, and you will
find some palliatng considerations 70 abate
the horrid character of this transaction.
The mob conducted the murderer to pas
ture back of the city with the intention of
hanging him, but some among them cried
out Burn himn The horrible suggestion was
immediately caught at the moon had now
risen bright and clear-the evening was
calm and beautiful-too fair night for the ,
appalling spectacle that was about to be /
witnessed by at least five hundred of our
most respectable citizens. They chained
the murderer TO a tree, and the cry arose !
Let the fire be slow' They piled shavings
and rails around him until they reached !
a height of about 2 l-2 feet-a match was !
applied TO the shavings-and the murderer
commenced singing hymn, which he con- |
tinued until the heat became intense, and
then these few halfsmothered words esca-
ped him! God take my liiep had passed |
forward until stood in front of the sufferer
i could not move-it seemed as though
some horrid fascination chained me to the
spot, and Witnessed all his agony. Never
martyr suffered more courageously. Not
one single scream escaped him his chest
heaved with the most intense agony, vet all
he said was God take my soul - God take
my life 7 in accents SO low that none except
those Immediately about him could catch
the sound. lie had been burning about
fifteen minutes, when some one said 'be
feels no pain, he is TOO far gone !; he imme- |
diately answered, Eyes do feel itp Never.
never can forget his looks, when with the
utmost difficulty he uttered those few
words. The fire was so low that his legs
and feet were burnt almost TO a cinder be-
fore his other parts were TO any degree eff
fected. The tree TO which he was chained
was in full blossom, and seemed 10 smile
upon the horrid deed. The horror of that
scene can never be oflaced from nv mem
DRY Imagine human being chained to
a tree a slow fire burning around him
the boiling bloodigushing ia torrents from
his mouth biE bgs burnt 10 crisp YET