The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-01-12
Indians Burned at the Stake
for Murder of Mrs..
Simmons.

Little Rock. Ark, Jan. 9-Charred
and burned beyond all ali semblsnce Of
human beings the frames of Markus
McGeisey and Palmer Simpson, the
two Seminole Indians, who few days
ago murdered Mrs. James Simmons,
are still resting in chaios against the
blackened trunk Of an oak tree in the
Seminole cation, where 90 Friday
night they met their death in the most
awful manner conceivable at the hands
of mob. The flesh is burnt from the
bones. The fingers aud hands are
burned from the frames and the gbastly
skeletons, bereft of feet and ankles,
stand on blackened bones in the ashes
on the ground Every vestige Of hair
and flesh is burned from the heads and
the clincbed teeth of the men show
their determination to endure their aw-
fal punishment in silence with which
the Red men die. The place has been
visited by many people since yes sterday
morning.
Additioua! details of the horrible
work OF the mob were received here to-
day. According to this information.
the mob's work is not yet fniebed and
will only be completed wien four more
Indians have been dealtb With 10 the
same manner as were McGeisey and
Simpson The citizens posse was
scouting the country for the four men
when the messenger left Maad, and it
is probable that at least part Of the
quartette have by this time paid the
penalty deoreed BY the maddened popu-
lace.
The crime which led to the burpisg
of the two men was committed on last
Thursday. Ma,kus McGeisey vas the
owner of some property. On his land
lived white family named Simons.
During the absence of the husband on
Thursday. McGeisey vent to the Sim
mons cabin and asked for drink of
water. Mrs. Simons was at home
With her four children. The Indian
was given the water and he then asked
for a saddle. On being refused the
saddle McGeisey grabbed the woman.
who bad her baby io her arms.
and dragged her out of the
house. When the woman attempted
to run away the Indian seized VIM
chester and dealt her deadly blow on
the head, crushing the skull. The
woman died instantly. The murdered
.woman's husband did not return home
Thursday evening and the children
were unable to remove the body into
the house from where it had fallen in the
yard. The little ones stood up and
watched their mothers corpse until the
bitter cold compelled them to relax
their vigil and seek shelter from the
weather in the cabin. During the
night the body was almost devoured BY
hogs.
The news Of the murder spread rap
idly Friday night and the whole popu-
lace for 20 miles around was aroused.
About 20 Indians were arrested. The
oldest child told the crowd that Nc
Gcisey was the guilty man and posse
of 20 determined men went to arrest
him. Simpson was at McGeisey's home
when the posse arrived. aud both we're
taken into custody. A rope vas pro-
cured and the prisoners we're strung
up by the neck. Ou being let down
and given an opportunity to talk both
confessed to the crime and named four
others, who they declared we're equally
guilty 1t developed that the Indians
desired to get rid of certain white set.
tiers and that McGeiaey had been hired
to do the murder.
Posses were at once sent in search Of
the other four Indians and it was de-
cided to have Wholesale lyuchiug as
soon as they could be captured. As
night came on. however, and the other
four we're not captured, the citizens
changed their plan snd determined to
dispose of McGeisey and Simpson
without further delay. The feeling
against them was so bitter that the
crowd would not be satisfied With the
ordinary method Of lynchiug and it
was voted to burn them at the stake.
The victims we're accordingly chained
to a post tree. Fence rails and dry
wood. was then piled about them and
10 q few minutes the Indians were
wrapped in roaring flames while the
timbers cracked beneath their feet.
Never a word did the Indians utter
while being roasted alive They ap-
parently saw that they were powerless
to resist and endured their death like
stoics. The crowd was composed Of
rot over 80 men, and the work was
done 10 quiet but thoroughly deter
mined manner.
Posses continue the search for the
other four Indians, AID it is very pro-