The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-23
CREMATED ALIVE.
The Fate that Overlook Two
Brothers While i'm Jail.
An Arkansas Crowd Burn Them in
Their Cells.

Dispatches from Washington, Ark, state
that great excitement prevailed at Murfrees
boro over the burning of the Polk boys by q
mob in the Pike county Jail at tho latter
place on Sunday night. The mob, consist
ing of about seventy-fvo men, broke into
the Jail, and, as on previous OCCASION
tried to shoot the Polk brothers, who
are charged with murder, to death. Finding
that the location of their cell was such that
the two prisoners could keep out of the range
Of the bullets, the mob hauled lot Of wood
to the Jail, piled it around the iron cell, satu-
rated tho wood with coal oil and literally
roasted both the prisoners alive
The Polk brothers, Sylvester and Henry,
were in Jail for killing peddler named Will
liams, and three previous attempts had been
male to lynch them, tho most notable of
which was on Wednesday, the 18th OF AL
gust, when q mob from the surrounding coun-
try visited Murfreesboro They first fired few
shots into the cell occupied by the brothers.
They then broke two holes through the WALL
one on the west and the other on the south
sde through which six men were seen to en-
ter. Theso got on top of the cells and poured
coal oil down into them and set fire to it, but
they only succeeded in making it burn in one
cell, all the bedding, clothing, etc., being
consumed
They then began to uss dynamite, and there
were three or four terrible explosions inside
OF the Jail So severe were the shocks that it
caused the ceiling Of the jail to fall with a
great crash The window glass, which was
large and heavy, ell shattered to pieces except
two or three panes OH tho east side. The num-
ber of shots fired, the fearful reports of the
dynamite, together with the fire and smoke
to bo seen in the Jail and the perfect silence
of the prisoners inside led all who were near
enough to see and hear to believe that the
Polk brothers were certainly killed. Upon
examination, after the party left, however,
they were found unhurt, but We're somewhat
Jared by the explosions, the heaviest Of
which occurred under the corner Of the cell
in which they were confined.
After gaining an entrance to the cell in
which the prisoners vera confined the mob
was held at bay and finally driven from the
Jail by the younger Polk, who had been pro-
viied with pistol by the jailer. When the
mob visited the Jail o committee Of two
with shotguns was appointed to visit
Sheriff Pagan and demand the keys.
Mr.. Pagan out. He first turned as if he were
going to get them, which threw the commit
tie of their guard He then drew his pistol
and told them they could not get the keys
unless they were better men than he was
After little parleying they concluded to do
without the keys and took their leaTa
a friend Of Mr.. Fagan was with him ut
the time, and. although the sheriff knew
what would follow his refusal to deliver up
the keys Of the Jail, it is said he believed the
Jail sufficiently strong to resist any attempt
Of mob to enter it
The failure seems to have exasperated the
mob to greater fiendishness, and after warn
ing had been sent to the officers that another
attempt would be made, the gang made their
appearance again on Sunday night with the
horrible result above stated.