The Washington critic., 1885-12-29
RO1STED ALIVE,
a Coiored Man Burned nt the stalk,
I'm A lnbamn.


in Alabama.
A special from Mobile, Ala, to the Bal
timoro Am0icdn gives the following details
Of the terrible work Of an Alabama mob
A mob of Infatuated citizens Of Gaines
town, Clark County, last night ryiyed an
ancient and inhuman style Of punishment
by burning q man at the stake. This was
tie most horrible penalty ever inflicted By
lynch law in this State The victim was
Alexander Reid, young coored man,
whose crime was a terrible one, and IL was
claimed by even some Of his own color,
deserved the tortures inflicted on him. Miss
Carrie Boyer, beautiful girl about nine
teen years Of age on Friday, December Is,
left her home in Jamestown TO pay visit
10 friend Il short distance out Of town.
Not returning when expected, her relatives
became alarmed. Search was made, aud In
Tie woods her dead body was found half
hidden under Il pile Of leaves She had
been murdered to conceal q worse crime
There were signs Of Il terrible struggle be.
tween the young lady and her assailaut Her
clothes were torn, and she lay in
a pool Of blood from the wound
she had received. She was q fayorite In the
town and surrounding country, and the
news Of her death aroused the Indignation
OF the citizens, and the men gathered IN Il
hall and swore that her death should be
avenged. IL was not n time to abide the
slow process of the law. Who was the muir
derCrY Alexander Reid, n oolored man of
unsavory reputation and well-known about
town, was suspected IL was learned that
lie had been seen in the vicinity Of the
woods In which her body was found the day
Of the murder. Other clues confirmed the
suspicion. Reid had disappeared. He was
caught day or two after the crime by regu-
lar officers Of the law, and locked up in the
town calabosse. Excitement over the muir
der increased. The young lady's funeral
was attended by hundreds of persons from
tho town and neghbOring country, and
every man In that throng Of mourners was
anxious to ayengc the crime.
Late yesterday q mob went to the lock-
up and succeeded In gaining admission. A
rope was tied around Rcd's neck aud he
was dragged out of the calaboose and hur-
| fiCd away to the woods. No further inter
| ference was offered to the desperate crowd.
| When the mob with the prisoner reached
| the woods night had fallen. A couple OF
| lanterns, carried by two of the leading
members of the lynching party, were
| lighted. Reid appeared paralyzed from
| fear. His knees shook and his body sank
| trembling to the ground. lie was hauled
| and pushed along rapidly to the very spot
| where he had murdered Miss Boyer. AT
| first 1t was the intention of the mob TO hang
| him, but when the leaders began to make
| hurried arrangements for the speedy execu-
| ton, several men in the crowd shouted:
"Burn the id brute. Hanging is too
| good for him.
The crowd took up the cry The poor
wretch, with the rope around his neck, fell
on his knees and begged for mercy. A
few moments were given him TO pray.
He prayed more to the men who were about
to kill him than to Providence. The rope
was loosened from his neck.
"What shall we do-hang or burn himY'
asked the ringleader.
"Burn himl" was the chorused reply.
Half dozen men seized and bound him
| hand and foot He was then dragged up
| close to the tree and chained to It lightly.
| His head was chained against the tree, as
were also his arms and legs A heap OF
| dried leaves and shrubbery were piled about
his feet. All the while the prisoner begged
| and pleaded for mercy. A match was ap-
| piled to the pile Of fagots. The leaves at
| first smouldered, and the dense volume OF
| smoke that enveloped the doomed man
nearly strangled him. Slowly the flames
embraced his lower limbs. lie cried pitt
fully; then screamed in his intense agony
Some Of the mob relented, aud wanted to
release the burning man, but the majority
were innoxible, though many turned away
in horror from the sickening sight aud left
the woods In few minutes after the fire
was started the mans clothes were burned
from his body. The flames shot up high
| above his head and illuminated the woods
Those who witnessed it describe 1t as most
horrible spectacle. The body burned into
shapeless black mass, and the smoking
remains were left lying at the foot of the
tree. Although the leaders of the lynchine
party are known, no arrests have beer
| made.