Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-02-08

Hot Irons Pushed Into the Eyes and
Throat OF n Negro,

Hot Irons Pushed Into the Eyes and
Throat OF Negro.
PARIS, Tex, Feb. Henry Smith,
the negro who assaulted 4-year-old
Myrtle Vance, has been burned at the
stake. Ever since the preparation of
his awful crime this city and the entire
surrounding country has been in a wild
frenzy of excitement. When the news
came last night that be had been cap
tured at Hope, Ark, and that be had
been identified bv many of the Paris
searching party, the city was wild with
JOY over the apprehension of the
brute. Hundreds OF people poured
in from the adjoining country, and
the word passed from lip to
lip that the punishment should tit the
crime-that death by fire was the pen
atty Smith should pay. Curious and
sympathizing alike came on train, in
wagons, on horse and on foot. Whisky
shops were closed, unruly mobs were
dispersed. schools were dismissed by a
proclamation from the mayor and
everything was done in O business-like
manner. Officers saw the futility of
any effort to enforce the law, SO law was
laid aside and the citizens took into
their own hands the 1nhuman wretch
and burned him at the stake.
AS soon as it was learned upon re-
covery of the body that the crime was
so atrociouS the whole town turned out in
the chase. The railroads put up bulle-
tins offering free transportation to all
who would JOIN in the search. Posses
went in ali directions. Smith was
tracked to Detroit on foot, whore he
jnmned on q freight train and left for
his old home IN Hampstead County,
VIZ no !
and yesterday captured at Glow, flag
station on the Arkansas x Louisiana
Railway, about twenty miles north
Hope. Upon being questioned he
denied everything, but his gar
ments were seen to be spattered
with blood and torn. He was kept
under heavy guard at Hope last night
and later on confessed the crime. This
morning he was brought through Texar-
kama, where 5000 people awaited the
train anxious to see man who should
receive the fate of Ed Coy. At that
place speeches were made by prominent
Paris citizens who asked that the pris-
oner be not molested by Texarkana
people, but that the guard be allowed
to deliver him up to the outraged and
indignant citizens of Paris. Along the
road gathered strength from the various
platforms and tops of coaches anxious
to see the lynching and the negro who
was soon to be delivered to an in
furiated mob.
Arriving here at II o'clock the train
was met by surging mass of humanity,
10000 strong. The negro was placed
upon a carnival float, in mockery Of q
king upon his throne, and, followed by
the immense crowd, was escorted
through the city. The line of march
was up Main Street to the square,
around the square and down Clarks-
vile to Church Street, thence to the
open prairie about 800 yards from the
Texas & Pacific depot. Here
Smith was placed upon a scafoId
six feet square and ten feet high,
securely bound, within the view
of all beholders. Here the victim was
tortured for fifty minutes by red-hot
iron brands thust against his CULVER
ing body. Commencing at the feet the
brands were placed against him inch by
inch until they were thrust against the
face. Then, being apparently dead,
kerosene was poured upon him, cotton
seed hulls placed beneath him and set
afre. In less time than it takes to re-
late it the tortured man was burned to
a crisp.
Curiosity sellers have carried away all
that was left, even to pieces of charcoal.
The cause ofthe crime was that Henry
Vance, when deputy policeman, in
the course of his duty, was called to ar.
rest Henry Smith for being drunk and
disorderly. The negro was unruly, and
Vance was forced to use his club, The
negro swore vengeance, and several
times assaulted Vance. In his greed
for revenge he last Thursday grabbed
up the little girl and committed the
crime. The father IS Frustrated with
grief and the mother now lies at deaths
door, but she has lived to see the slayer
Of her innocent babe suffer the most
horrible death that could be conceived.