Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-02
Rnrnt atthe Stake.

a dispatch lrolu IaiiS, ieAi9' soy
"a mob of angry men and women,
numbering thousands, wreaked the
most frightful vengeance of lynch law
yesterday upon Henry Smith, burly
colored man, who assaulted and cruelty
murdered little four-year-old Myrtle
Vance on Thursday They took the
prisoner from the guards, dragged him
by rope about his neck to the scene
of his crime, subjected him to every
conceivable torture, and burned the
pitiable wretch at the stake.
All the morning trains had brought
people by the hundreds to the city,
white and colored alike, to await the
arrival of the guards who were bring
ing the prisoner back from Texarkana,
where he had been captured. The
country for miles around had become
wildly excited over the atrocious crime
and the hunt for the murderer.
When the news came Tuesday night
that he had been caught and identified
by members of the Paris searching par
ty the people seemed crazy with JOY
and thirsted for his life. BY trains and
wagons, on horse and afoot, people
poured into the city. The mayor OF
dered the liquor stores closed, unruly
mobs dispersed and schools dismissed.
Plans for the lynching bee were sys-
tematic and business-like.
Smith had on Thursday picked up
the little girl near her fathers police
man Henry vance, house, and quoting
her with candy, carried her through
the central portion of the city to Glib
bon's pastures. Several people ques-
toned him, but to each he said he was
carrying her to a doctor. At the pas
ture, after assaulting the poor child,
he took one little leg in each hand and
literally tore her in twain.
Then covering the body with leaves
and brush, he lay down and slept calm
" beside his victim throughout the
night. He went home, got breakfast
and disappeared That day a mass
meeting was called at the court house,
and search parties were sent out to find
the child. Her mangled body was
found, and the whole town Joined in
pursuit Of the one who had murdered
her.
He was caught on Tuesday at Glow,
on the Arkansas and Texarkana Rail
road, twenty miles north of Hope. He
denied the crime, but blood stains were
on his clothing and later he confessed.
Next morning he was brought to Texar-
kama, where 5000 people had gathered
eager to get at him. The Paris search
ing party begged that he be not mo-
Tested. The news travelled fast. Every
where along the line as the train bore
the wretch to Paris morbid crowds
gathered to gaze upon him.
At the depot at Paris were 10000 people.
The deputy sherifls put up show OF pistols,
but were brushed aside and q rush made for
the car. A rope was thrown about Smiths
neck and he was drrgged from the car. He
was taken to rude float and borne through
the city streets. that the people might saze on
him.
At the open prairie, 800 yards from the
Texas and Pacific depot, the scatiold waited
him. 1t was six feet square and ten feet high
and we'll within the sight of all. There fol
fifty minutes the naddened mob tortured
him with diabolical cunning that slvage'
only are supposed to show. Red-hot iron
were thrust from every side into his body
His shrieks added vigor to his prosecutors.
First the hot irons branded his feet and
inch by inch they crcpt up to his face. The
man was unconscious when at last kerosene
was poured over him and cottonsced hulls
placed beneath him. A torch set the pyre Of
fire and all was quickly consumed. Curiosity
seekers have carried away all that was left
even to the ashes.
Smith, some say, committed the crime to re-
yenge himself on Vance, who had arrested
him once when drunk and dubbed him
Vance is Frustrated with grief and his wife i:
dangerously i'll with the SHOCK.