Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1893-02-24
BURNED AT TIE STAKE
Terrible Punishment Melted
Out by a Texas Mob.
Fate of a Fiend Who Assaulted
and Killed a Baby.

saulted and murdered Myrtle Vance, the
three-vear-old daughter OF Henry Vance Of
Paris Texas, was burned TO death at the
stake in that city, just FIVE days after the
commission Of his crime, in the presence OF
IS. 600 persons.
When the telegram reached there from
County Attorney Sturgeon telling Of the ar
rest OF Smith at OZon, Ark. and asking for
protection, committee OF twenty-five clt-
liens left on q special for Texarkana to meet
Mr. Sturgeon. These citizens took charge
of Smith st $3.50 o'clock in the morning. A
special CIR was placed at their disposal.
All along the route there were great
crowds. At Texarkana a mob Of 1000 per-
sons had gathered around the railway sta
ton when the train arrived. The guards
surrounded Smith, and with cooked revolt
vers forced passage through the crowd to
a train in waiting to convey them to Paris.
The mob swarmed about the coach, on the
platforms and upon the roof of the coach,
and wanted to lynch Smith Immediately.
District Attorney Birmingham then
mounted the platform Of the coach and
made an imprisoned appeal to the mob. ask
ing them to respect the law and leave the
authorizes at Paris to deal with the man.
Smith seemed Indifferent to his fate at
first and could not be brought to understand
that fearful vengeacce would come upon
him. When he was told that his death was in
evitable. and would come by the most cruel
manner human ingenuity could devise. he
weakened and begged the officers to save
him.
He first asked to be spared, and then
sought any other death than burning. He
was told that this was impossible. for the
people at a mass meeting had determined
on his fate. He said he wanted to be shot.
When the train pulled up at the Texas
Pacific station at Paris, Texas, Is, 900 persons
were there to receive him. Hundreds OF
people had poured into the city from the ad.
So;~ 0&rw he N~A had honr1 Voacc
from lip to lip that death by fire was to be
the penalty. Whisky shops were closed, I'M
rulv mobs were dispersed, and schools were
dismissed by a proclamation from the
Mavor.
When the train stopped Hon. 81. B. Birm-
He said:
''Fellow Citizens: There is not an officer
now on this train who has any control over
the prisoner, Henry Smith. Twenty-Five Of
your County Attorney to meet him and see
that the prisoner was protected
and delivered here without in
jury. We have done that thing;
we have not deceived or nisled you; we are
not officers, but merely citizens; we have no
authority to hold this prisoner against you
or anyone and shall make no effort to do so.
AS citizens we merely wish to surrender the
prisoner. We believe you will do what Is
right. Whatever may be done, let it be done
as the people of Lamar County have done
everything. in law-abiding, peaceable and
patriotic way. We cannot. # we would, re-
sist the thousands assembled here. The
prisoner has admitted his guilt in the pres
ence of dozen good and true men. This is
all we can say"
ruockery OF a king upon his throne, and,
followed by the immense crowd, was es-
corted through the city SO that all might
see the monster. He was firmly dashed to
the seat.
The line of march was up Main street to
the square, around the square, down Clarks-
vile street to Church street, thence to the
open prairie about three hundred yards
from the Texas and Pacific station.
Here q scaffold ten feat high had been
erected. Around this was surging throug
for $50 yards in each direction. A cold,
drjzzlng rain was falling, that frozs as it
fell.
Smith was forced up the steps, where he
was pinned to stake. His coat and shirt
was torn off him, piece by piece. When
stripped to the waist Henry Vance, the
father of Smiths victim, Vance's son and
two uncles of the child gathered around him
and began to thrust red hot irons under bis
feet. Every contortion of his body and every
groan that escaped his lips brought forth
shouts of approval.
Vainly he begged for mercy; vainly he
protested that he did not know that it was
Vance's child he killed. The red-hot irons
burned into his flesh deeper and deeper. He
uttered terrible cries. Finally the irons
were rolled up and down the abdomen and
on the back and arms. The crowd kept
shouting its approval to the torturers.
The climax was reached when the irons
were thrust into Smiths eyes, burning them
out. Then the irons were thrust down his
threat. The Vances then declared their ven
geaIcs satisfied.
Then combusCible material was placed un-
der the scaffold, oil was poured over Smith
and the platform, and match applied. For
q time he was enveloDed in smoke. AS this
disappeared and the flames shot up Smith
was seen to sway back and forth.
To the surprise of all, with a desperate
struggle he pulled himself up by the railing
OF the scaffold, stood up, passed his hand
over his face, and then jumped from the
On the ground thrust him into the burning |
mass again, and life became extinct.
Then he became still, and all thought he |
was dead. The fire burned the ropes that |
bound him, and he fell upoH the burning |
platform He then began to roll about the |
platform. It seemed impossible that any |
thing could live IN that furnace.
Hundreds had turned away in horror |
from the spectacle, but thousands shouted |
with satisfaction and with demonstrations |
OF delight. People were present from every |
part Of that section. They came from Dal-
las, Fort Worth, Sherman. Danison, Bon |
ham, Texarkana, Fort Smith, Arkadelphia. |
Smith was captured. Every train that |
came in was loaded to its utmost capacity. |
There were demands at many points for |
special trains At every country town |
anvils and bells were sounded. People |
poured in there in constant stream all |
execution the throng dispersed quietly.
The story Of Smiths crime il az follows.