The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-20

homo IN Pur7is. The train aga,n
started aud there was enacted . scene
too horrible to describe and one
which the famed tortures of the
Spanish Inquisition only rivaled, but
did not excel. The stove in the cabooss
was heated, and to compel Parker
to confsss his crime they seated him Oh
this. He yelled for mercy, but none
was accorded him; but confess he would
not. Then, it is said, poker was heat
ed to red heat, and with this, his cap.
tors sought by inflicting the tortures OF
the damned to open his lips, but with
out avail. They thrust the glowing
iron into bis side, they drew il aero $
his shrivelled hand, the skin burned tc
2 crisp, while the flesh; sized and
crept, puss only screams Of agony fol-
lowed, and few words issued from
the thin, dry parched lips, but they
were protestations of innoceHce
or prayers for the mercy which
he himself had not known or shown.
The comrades and friends of Turner
had the sight Of his burned and aisfg-
ured cofpsc ever before their eyes, and
they needed not their Victims pleadings,
nor yet his denials.
Ten and q half miles south of Poplar
villeis located sand pit, from which the
builders of the Northeastern Railroad
obtained their supplies of ballast. 1t
is situated in hollow, and on either
side is rather steep grade 80 that trains
running over the road either north or
south usually acquire great speed, as
much by reason of the momentum gain
ed In running down grade as by extra
steam applied, .susing trains to run at
greater speed, in order that the ascent
beyond the hollow may he moi'e easily
accomplished. The sand pit has long
been in disuse, but the side track or
spur leading from the maifi tack short
distance to the left of and parallel to it
and into gravel and sand hill yet re-
mains. An interlocking switch had
been placed here, and several times this
switch had been tampered with, evil
dently with view to ditching train,
but fortunately the fact was each time
discovered before any accident oc-
Cured. The spot has always been q
dreaded one to the engineers on the
road. and when passing this point they
usually keep bright lookout ahead.
and their hands on the throttle.valv
and air-btake.
This place, isolated from any dwell.
ing, was selected for the execution Of
the train -wrecker. Here the crime Of
which he was accused could be expiat-
ed. and his CORY corpse prove terrible
warning to any one who should seek in
the future to follow his example. 1t
was now near daybreak, and the party
built fire and proceeded to tie Parker
to pine tree, which grew on the south
slope of the hill and within fifty feet Of
the track aid critch, and In plain view
of the trains passing. Parker was
made fast to the tree, and rope having
been passed around the tree, also en-
circling his neck; another turn was TAX
en- around his body, under the arms and
another around his legs. Afy.leaf was
torn from a receipt book, and on this
was written in lead pencil the words
"This is the train.wrecker who wreck
ed the train on December %. Tried by
Judge Lynch and sentenced to death.
This should be q caution to all other train
wreckers." This was pinned to the
doomed mans breast, and, those brcpa-
.ations being completed, Parker was in
formed that he had but two minutes to
live, and that lie had better make good
use oi them. The old man glanced at
the crowd, but his lips refused TO utter
3 PRAYER. One of The crowd ordered
him to pray, but he glanced defiantly
OF them, and while his eyes were still
fixed upon them the two minutes ex-
pired. Suddenly vollcy va. heard,
which reechoed through the woods, and
then thirty five shotguns and revolvers
were emptied into the body of Parker.
The old man quivered, his head fell to
the left side, his knees bent under him.
and oil was over, death having followed
almost instantly upon the firing. The
party continued to fire into the corpse,
putting over hundred bullets, buck
shot and small shot into the lifeless
body, and the sentence of the inexor-
able Judge, whose officers they were,
had been carried out. The body was
left tied to the tree, and the party sep
arated:
Parker was almost sixty. five years of
age, and was the last of four brothers,
all OF whom died with their boots on.