The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-10

Little Rock, Ark, Jan. 9.-Charred
and burned beyond all semblance OF
human beings. the remains of Marcus
AfcGeisey ard Palmer Simpson, the
two Seminole Indians who, a few days
ago, murdered Mrs. James Simmons,
are still resting in chains against the
{ Iblackened trunk of an oak tree in the
eSeminole nation, where, on Friday
night, they met their death in the most
horrible manner conceivable, at the
hands of an Oklahoma mob. The flesh
is burned from the bones and lies in
greasy and iIl-smelling particles in the
ashes on the ground. The fingers ana
hands are burned from the frames,
and the CHASTITY Skeletons bereft of
feet and ankles, stand on blackened
bones in the ashes on the ground.
Every Vestige of hair and flesh are
burned from the heads, and the
clinched teeth of the dead men show
the great determination TO endure their
awful punishment in silence, in which
condition the red men died. The scene
is a fascinating one for the curious,
and has been visited by many people
since yesterday morning.
Additional details of the horrible
work of the mob near Maud postofflce,
in the Seminole nation, last Friday
oording to this information, the mobs
work is not yet finished and will only
be completed when four more Indians
have been dealt with in the same man
ner as AIcGeisey and Simpson.
The citizens posse was securing the
country for the four men when the
messenger left Maud, and it is probable
that at least part of the quartette have
by this time paid the penalty decreed
by the nladdened pOpulace.
THE CRIME.
The crime which led to the burning
of the two men, was committed last
Thursday Marcus McGeisey was the
owner of some property. On his land
lived a white family named Simmons.
During the absence Of the husband on
Thursday, McGeisey went to the Sim
mons cabin and asked for a drink Of
water. Mrs. Simmons was at home
with her four small children. The In
dian was given the water, and he then
asked for z saddle. On being refused
the saddle, AIcGeisey grabbed the wOm-
an, who had her baby in her arms, and
dragged her out OF the house. When
the woman attempted to run away, the
Indian seized a Winchester and dealt
her a deadly blow on the head. crush
ing her skull. The woman died in
stantly. The murdered woman's hus-
band did not return Thursday evening,
and the children We're unable to re-
move the body into the house. from
where it had fallen in the yard. The
little ones stayed up and watched
their dead mothers body until the bit
ter cold compelled them to relax their
vigilance and seek shelter from the
weather in the cabin.
During the night the body was almost
devoured by hogs. The news spread
rapidly Friday morning and the whole
populace for - miles around was
aroused.
About 20 Indians were arrested. The
Oldest child told the crowd that Nc
Geisey was the guilty man, and a posse
of 20 determined men went to arrest
him.
Simpson was at AIcGeisey's home
when the posse arrived, and both were
taken into custody.
BOTH CONFESSED.
A rope was procured and the pris.
oners were strung up by the necf-a. on |
being let down and given an opp0r- /
tunity TO talk, both confessed to the /
crime and named four others who. they
declared, were equally guilty. 1t de-
velOped that the Indians decided to
get rid of .ers2in white settlers and /
that NcGeisey had been hired to do the
numerous work.
Posses were at once sent in search !
OF the ether four Indians and it was
decided 10 have i wholesale lynching /
as soon as they could be captured. As 4
night came or, however, and the other
four We're not captured, the citizens
changed their plans and determined to /
dispose of McGeisey ard Simpson with I
OUT further delay. The feeling was so
bitter against them that the crowd
would not be satisfied with the ordi-
nary method Of lynching and il was
voted to rurn them at the stake. The +
victims were accordingly chained to
post oak tree. Fence rails and dry
wood was then piled high about them, I
and in q few minutes the Indians were |
wrapped in roaring flames, while the /
timbers cracked beneath their feet.
LIKE STOICs.
Never a word did the Indians utter /
while being roasted alive. They ap- !
parently saw that they were powerIess /
to resist and endured their lots like (
stoics. The crowd was composed of /
net over sc men and the work was
done in a quiet but thorough and de- I
termined manner.
Posses continued the search for the |
other Indians and it is very probable I
that il captured hey will be dealt with +
lin like manner The gentleman
bringing this information states that I
there are grave fears of an outbreak I
among the Indians and he believes /
bloOdshed is certain TO follow
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