Connecticut western news., 1894-03-15
BURNED AT A STAKE.
RARBARouS TREATMENT OF A SOY
 BY HIS COMRADES

They Were Playing Indian and Young Bar
 ney Was the Victim of a Game That Was
 Too Realistic-Reacued by a Negro. but Perhaps Too Late.
 CAMDEN, N. J., March l3-Fifteen or % boys, whose ages range from l2 to IS, were playing Indian in South Camden, and as a result of their play one lad is in the hos pital maimed for life, even should his life not pay the penalty of the too realistic per formances of his comrades.
 The vicinity in which the lads were at play is a lonely one, made up of open fields and woods. Among the boys was Charley Barney, csed IS, who lives with his parents at HIS Broadway. The boys divided into parties, and an Indian war was soon in progress. Two captives were taken, a council of war was held, and it was decid- cd to follow the true Indian custom and torture and burn the captives at the stake.
 Tied to the Stake.
 Frank Eldrfdge, aged IS, was first tied to the stake. Beneath his feet was a pile of fagots gathered from the woods and swamps, and, minus the fire and the cop per skins of those taking part, the scene was realistic. Eldridge, however, instead of going calmly to the torture and submit ting to the mock death with due cheerful ness, fought. The boys had formed a ring about the captive and began to dance when he loosened the rope which bound him and rushed away. Having escaped, he was free, and when his fellow captive, Charles Barney, was led to the stake Eldridge was among those who assisted in tying the lad. By some act Barney angered Eldridge, and the lat ter in a frenzy of rage set fire to the fagots on which the boy stood. Barney cried out in fear and agony, and the others laughed at his frantic efforts to get away. The fire burned slowly at first. but being fed by some pine cones they suddenly fisred | up, and in moment the lad at the stake | was wrapped in their fiery embrace. Be | fore the others realized his peril Barney's | clothing had caught fire from the wood. Left to His Fate.
 The terrible sight of the helpless lad burning to death before their eyes seemed to paralyze the lads, and they stood watch ing him, utterly powerless to move. The thick smoke partly hid him from view, but no one made move to free him. His cries | attracted the attention of colored man at work several fields away from where the boys were. He dropped his work and raced across the fields.
 When he came in sight of the group and realized what was happening, he shouted. | This seemed to bring a realization of the terrible consequences home to the boys and seeing the darky running toward them all turned and ran. The negro spranp over the fence and cut the rope. He ther lifted the lad from his place on the burn ing pile, and slipping off his own coat h, wrapped 1t about the lad and smothered \ the flames
 It was too late, however, as the clothing had been burned to the skin and the hesl was parboiled.
 | Rescued by Negro.
 The negro bore the unconscious boy to , house, and from there the lad was hurried to his own home, while a messenger wen for a physician.
 When the clothing WAS removed, som, of the skin adhered to it. The doctors wh' are attending the boy think he will los both hands, even should his life be saved.
 The police were notified of the affair anS set to work to capture those taking part iI it They could find no trace of any on who could give any information. Finall, they were successful in catching Thoma Brown. aged 12 (colorcdl, and John Dee gan, aged IA, hiding in the swamp mil from where the burning took place The, told the story of the mornings doings ans gave list of those who were present.
 Eidridge was captured later. He wa too excited to obtain much information from, but the police see no reason to doub the stories told by the other two prisoners