The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1893-02-09
TORTURED AT THE STAKE.

TORTURED AT THE STAKE.
Thousands Tlocked to See q Negro Burned
to Death. js9.
PARIS, Tex, Feb. Henry Smith, the
negro who assaulted and murdered Myrtle
Vance, the three-year-old daughter Of
Henry Vance of this city, ON Inst Thars-
day night, was burned to death 1.-THE
stake in this city to-day in the presence
of $4,000 persons.
When the telegram reached here yes
tcrday from County Attorney Sturgeon
telling of the arrest of Smith at 0zon,
Ark, and asking for protection,a COM
mittee of twenty-five citizens left on a
special for Texarkana to meet Mr.. Stur-
geom and escort the negro here. These
citizens took charge of Smith at o:3''
o'clock this morning. A special car was
placed at their disposal. ~ 3g,.
All along the route there were great
crowds. At Texarkana mob of 1000
persons had gathered around the railway
station when the train arrived. The
guards surrounded Smith, and with cock
ed revolvers forced passage through the
crowd to the train in waiting 10 convey
them to Paris. The mob swarncd about
the coach, on the platforms, sand upon the
roof Of the coach. They demanded that
the Sheriff compel Smitl. to appear at one
of the windows. - sa,j
In order to satisfy the curiosity of the
crowd and with the belief that his appear
ance might appeasc them, Deputy Sheriff
Shanklin ordered the negro to show him
self Mt the window. The negro iobeyed,
and his head had hardly protrudcd through
the open window before a l,ystander made
a savage lungc at him with big knife.
The negro quickly withdrew his head and
sank back into a corner Of the. seat. The
deputy sheriffs and guards then drew their
revolvers aud sworc they would kill the
first person who made q violent demon
stration. .,..
Tile mob withdrew short distance
from the train and asked for another view
of the negro. Deputy Sheriff Shanklin
again ordered the negro to show himself.
This he did, remaining in full yiewiof the
crowd for about three minutes. District
Attorney Birmingham then mounted the
platform of the coach and made an i'm
FASHIONED appeal to the mob, asking them
to respect the law and leave the authori-
ties at Paris to deal with the man.
He was followed by Deputy Sheriff
Shanklin, who also asked the mob ITO allow
them to take their prisoner to the scene
of the crime. The leaders Of the mob
after short consultation, greed TO lei
the train proceed. They gave three cheers
for the deputies who had captured Smith
and few minutes later the train started
for Paris. ~
Smith seemed Indifferent to his fate .!
FIRST, and could not be brought founder.
stand that fearful vengeance would come
upon him. When he was told that his
death was inevitable, and would come by
the most cruel manner human ingenuit.
could devise, he weakened and begged ths
officers to save him.
He first asked to be spared, aud thei
sought any other death than Burning. FL
was told that this was impossible, for TIL
people last night at q mass meeting bat
determined on his fate. He said he want
ed to he shot. When asked il he va
willing to have Mr.. Vance shoot him, HI
said he was not, and asked that Marsha
IShanklin do thatswork.
He was told Dir. Shanklin could not mn
would not kill him. His next choice1p
Ibis executioner was Mayor Cate, II
finally asked that Col. g. Dc: Ragland b
tallowed to shoot him, bntsthe citizens in
sisted that be must die at the stake.
When the train pulled up at the Texa
4 Pacific station 1900 persons sher
Ito receive him. Hundreds of people he
4 poured into the city from Tie adioinin
country The word had been passed ffroi
Hip to lip thatSdcath bys FIRE waa he 7
penalty. IS.
Curioas and syrnpath HIKING alike cam
j. on trains ind wagons, on horses and 9
foot, To- see the sight liis&e ahol
werc closed, unrul niobs we're dispense
] and schools we're dismissed lsya ssocl'
masion from, the ayor.
Wien Tie train stopped Hon n