The record-union., 1899-04-24

and in short time reached the McEl-
roy home. The negro was marched in
the gate and Mrs. McElroy called to
the front door, She at once identified
Hose and her verdict was agreed to by
her daughter.
ITO the stake was again the cry.
Several men wanted to burn him in
Mrs McEAroy's yard. To this she OBJ
jected and the mob, complying with her
wishes, started for Palmetto.
Just as they were leaving Newman
word was brought that the 1 O'clock
train from Atlanta was bringing LOCO
people to Palmetto This was thought
to be a regiment of militia and the
mob at once decided to burn the pris-
oner at the first favorable place rather
than be compelled to shoot him when
the militia put in an appearance.
The mob, which now numbered nearly
1,5OO people, hurried along the road
way A line of buggies and vehicles
of all kinds, their drivers fighting for
position in line, followed the process
sion, at the head of which, closely
guarded, marched the negro.
One and a half miles out of Newman
a halt was made. A little to the side
of the road was a strong pine tree and
up to this the negro was marched, his
back placed to the tree and his face to
the crowd which jostled closely about
him. Here for the first time he was
allowed to talk. He said:
Il am Sam Hose. I killed Alfred
Crawford, but 1 was paid to do it. Lige
Strickland, the negro preacher at Pal
metto. gave me $12 to kill him.
At this roar went up from the mob.
The intelligence impaired by Hose was
spread among them.
Let him go on; tell all you know
about it, came from the mob
The negro, shivering like a leaf, con-
tinued his recital
II did not outrage Mrs. Crawford
Somebody else did that. 1 can identify
them Give me time for that
The mob would hear no more. The
clothes were torn from the wretch in an
instant. A heavy chain was produced.
wound around the naked body of the
terrified negro and clasped by lock
at his neck. He said not word at this
proceeding, but a moment later, at the
sight of half dozen knives flashing in
the hands of members of the mob, he
sent up a bloodcurdling yell. In an
other moment a hand grasping a knife
shot out and one of the negros ears
dropped into another's hand ready to re-
ceive it. Hose pleaded pitifully for
mercy and begged his tormentors to kill
him quickly. His cries were unheeded.
His other ear was cut Off Then his fin
gers, one by one, were severed from his
hands and passed among the members
+6a I,,oI yi,,er
negro was quickly relieved of other por-
tions of his anatomy. Come on with
the OIL" now cried someone, and almost
Immediately a huge can of kerosene oil
was placed at the foot of the tree where
the negro, his body covered with blood
from head to foot, was striving and tug
ging at his chains. The can was lifted
over the negro's head by three or four
men and it's contents poured over him.
BY this time a good supply of brush,
pieces of firewood, etc, had been placed
about the negro's feet. This pyre was
thoroughly saturated and a match ap-
piled.
A flame shot up and spread quickly
over the pile of wood. AS it licked the
negro's legs he shrieked once more 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 terrific
plunge 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 escap-
ing the flames, which roared and
cracked about his feet. One of the men
nearest the burning negro quickly ran
up, pushing him back, saying, Get
back into the fire." quickly coupled the
disjointed links of the chain.
The road for a distance of half
mile on each side of the burning negro
was black with people. The crowd sur
rounded the stake on all sides, but none
of those nearer than 100 feet of the
center were able to- see what was going
on. Yell after yell went up. The torch
was applied about 2:30 o'clock and at 3
o'clock the body of Sam Hose was limp
and Ifeless. his head hanging to one
side. The body was cut to pieces. The
crowd fought for places about the
smoldering tree and with knives secured
such pieces of his carcass as did not
fall to pieces. The chain was severed
by hammers, the tree was chopped
down and such pieces of the firewood as
had not burned, were carried away as
souvenirs.