Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-03-03
NEGRO ROASTED ALIVE.
sHorrible Punishment Melted Out to An
Arkansas Criminal.


Five thousand people stood on the
public street this afternoon, says dis
patch from Texarkana, Ark, and with
sullen faces, unnioved by anything saw
oring Of pity, watched while Ed Coy, q
negro, was burned to death for crimiN-
ally assaulting Mrs. Henry Jewell last
Saturday! Mrs. Jewell is the young
wife of respectable farmer living two
miles south of town, and since his crime
Coy succeeded in eluding the officers
until this morning, when he was discov-
cred at the home of Ed Gaines, coiOred,
four miles north Of here. He had a mis-
tress at the home of Gaines, and il was
she who disclosed his hiding place, fear
for the safety of herself and family act
ing as the incentive. The posses in
search OF Coy suspected that he was be-
ing harbored by Gaines, and two or
three times this week a rope was put
around the latter's neck to make him
give information. He was also assured
that death would certainly be his por-
tion should he fail to notify the posse
upon the first appearance OF the hunted
man.
This morning early the mistress of
Coy went to the house of A. B. Scott,
a white neighbor, living near by, and
told him that Coy was at the 10 lse of
Gaines. Scott at once sent message
with the news post haste to town, and a
posse Immediately went out to arrest
the negro. Meantime, however, Coy
had left Gaines house, but was appre-
hended and taken in charge by Mr. Scott
and two sons, who held him until the
arrival of the men from town. The
latter Immediately brought their prls-
oner in, and, placing him in a carriage,
conveyed him to the Jewell farm,
where Mrs. Jewell, without hesita-
| tion, identified him beyond all doubt as
| the man who assaulted her. The trem-
! bling wretch was then returned to town.
where the leaders, after a consultation,
decided to hang the negro to q telegraph
| pole on Broad street, at the State line,
the most public place in the city. Coy
was accordingly marched to this point
with view to carry out this programme,
but when the crowd saw the rope and
OWNED that hanging had been decided
upon there were thunders of protests.
Away with the rope! Hanging is too
good for him! Burn him, burn himT'
was the shout that went up from 5000
throats.
Coy was strapped to the body of a tree
with iron fastening and coal oil was
poured over his entire person in liberal
quantities. There was a moment of
silence and then another shout went up:
Let Mrs. Jewell, apply the matchl
Let Mrs. Jewell set him off,"
Walking slowly, very pale but col
| lected, the woman emerged from the
crowd. Her appearance before them set
the crowd wild and a mighty cheer went
up that almost shook the ground on
which they were standing. The crowd
fell back at her approach, making a
pathway for the brutal negro's victim,
who, leaning on the arm of male rela-
tive on either side, walked unhesitating-
| ly forwarded to where the negro stood
pinioned. struok a parlor match. and
with the utmost deliberation fired the
negro's clothes in two places. In q sec
ond the poor wretch was one mass of
flames, but even then his wonderful
nerve, exhibited ever since hio arrest,
never forsook him, and while suffering
the tortures of fire he actually called
to the men of the assembly and in a
clear voice requested of tdem: Move
| back so that the ladies can see." He re-
ferred to the negro women, large num-
! ber of whom Witnessed the execution.
| Death came in twenty minutes.
| The excitement over the horrible
affair having largely subsidized, the peo-
pie are coming to their sober senses,
and general regret is expressed. That
Coy should have been hanged or shot is
generally admitted by everybody, but
burning the poor wretch at the stake,
was o shock to civilization. The mob
was mostly composed of young railroad
men who lost their reason in their thirst
for revenge. There is strong talk
among influential citizens of calling
mass meeting to denounce the burning
of Coy as barbarous. The citizens feel
that unless some such step is taken the
affair will result in the permanent injury
OF the town.