The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-28

the honor of the state with a crime
such as you are about to perform"
Judge A. D. Freeman, also Of New
man, spoke in a similar strain ard inn
plored the mob to return the prisoner
to the custody of the sheriff and go
home. The assemblage heard the words
of the two speakers in silence but the
instant their voices had died away,
shouts of ION to Palmetto" Burn
him" Think of his crime arose, and
the march was resumed.
IDENTIFIED.
Mrs. Cranford's mother and sister
are residents of Newman, The mob was
headed in the direction of their house
and in a short time caches the Nc
Elroy home. The negro was marched
in the gate and Mrs. NcElroy called
to the front door. She identified the
African, and her verdict was agreed TO
by her daughter, who had often seen
Hose around the Crawford place. ITO
the stake" was again the cry, and sew
eral men wanted to burn him in Mrs.
McElroy's yard. To this she objected
strenuously, n the mob, complying
with her wish, started for Palmetto.
Just as they were leaving Newman
word was brought that the 1 O'Clock
train from Atlanta was bringing 1000
people 10 fdlIlCItO. his was lHOuSHS
to be a regiment of militia, and the
mob decided to burn the prisoner at
the first favorable place rather than
be compelled to shoot him when the
militia put into sight.
Leaving the little town whose Sum-
day a been so rudely disturbed, the
mob, which now numbered nearly 1000
people, started On the road to Pal
metto in a line of buggies and We
hio1nc ~ oil binds +hni- Ir;xynrc foht-
ing for position in line, following he
procession at the head Of which, closely
guarded, marched the negro.
CONFESSED THE CRIME.
One and a half miles out Of Newman
a place believed to be favorable for the
burning was reached. A little to the
side of the road stood a strong pine
tree. Up to this the negro was marched,
his back placed to the tree and his
about him. Here for the first time he
was allowed to talk. He said: Il am
Sam Hose. l killed Alfred Crawford,
but 1 was paid to do it. Lige Strick-
land, h negro preacher at Palmetto,
gave me $12 ITO kill him"
At this q rOar went up from the
crowd as the Intelligence impaired by
the wretch was spread among them.
Let him go on; tell all you know
about it," came from the crowd The
negro, shivering like a leaf, continued
his recital. Il did not outrage Mrs.
Crawford. Somebody else did that I
can identify them. Give me time for
that"
THE HORROR BEGINS.
The mob would hear no more. The
clothes were torn from the wretch in
an instant. A heavy chain was pro-
duced and wound around the body Of
the terrified wretch, clasped by a new
lock, which dangled at Hoses neck.
He said not a word at this proceeding,
but at the sight Of three or fou knives
flashing in the hands of several men,
bers of the crowd about him, which
seemed to forecast the terrible ordeal
he was about to be put to-, he sent up a
yell which could be heard for a mile.
ANTE-MORTEM MUTILATION.
Instantly a hand grasping a knife
shot out, and one of the negroes ear
dropped into a hand ready to receive
it. Hose pleaded pitifully for mercy,
and begged. his tormenterS to let him
die. His cries were u~nheeded. The sec
ond ear went the way of the other.
! Hardly had he been deprived of his
organs of haring before his fingers,
one by one, were k from his hand
and passed among the members of the
yelling and now thoroughly maddened
crowd. The shrieking wretch was
quickly deprived Of other portions Of
his anatomy, and the words,
COME ON WITH THE OIL"
brought a huge can of kerosene to the
foot Of the tree. The negro, his body
covered with blood from head to foot,
was striving and tugging at his chains.
The can was lifted over the negro's
! head by three or four men n its con-
tents poured over him. By this time a
: good supply of brush, pieces of fence
rails and frewood had been placed
| about the negroes feet. This pyre vas
thoroughly saturated and a match APP
piled.
THE BURNING.
] A flame shot upward and spread
| quickly over the pile Of wood. AS it
! licked the negro's legs he shrieked
! loudly and began Juggling at his chains.
| AS the flames crept higher and the
smoke entered his eyes and mouth,
Hose put the stumps Of his hands to
the tree back of him and with a terrific
: plunge forward of his body severed the
upper portion of the chain which bound
him to the tree. His body, held to the
tree only as far as the thighs, lunged
forward, thus escaping the flames
which roared and cracked about his
feet. One of the men nearest the burn
ing negro quickly ran up and pushing
him back, said:
GET BACK INTO THE FIRE,
IHERE!"
and quickly coupled the disjointed links
of the chain.
The road for a distance Of half a mile
on each side of the burning negro was
black with cOnveyanceS and was SIM
ply impossible. The crowd surrounded
the stake on all sides, but none Of those
nearer than 100 feet Of the centre
were able to see what was going on
Yell after yell went up n the pro
gress of the flames were communicated
! to those in the rear by shouts from the
eye witnesses.
HORRIBLE SOUVENIRS.
The torch was applied abou hall
past 2 and at 3 o'clock the body Of
Sam Hose was limp and l~ifeless, his
head hanging to one side. The body
was not cut down. / was cut to pieces
The crowd fought for places about the
smouldering tree and with knives Sc.
cured such pieces Of his carcass as die
not fall to pieces. The chain was sew.
cred by hammers, the tree was chopped
down, and, with such pieces of flrewoot