The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-24

tody OF the sheriff and go home.
The assembiage heard the words OF the
two speakers i'm silence, but the instant
their voices had died away shouts OF
"On to Palmetto, burn him, think OF
his crime" arose, and the march was
resumed.
Mrs. Cranford's mother and sister are
residents OF Newman. The mob was
headed in the direction of their house.
and i'm a short time reached the McElroy
home. The negro was marched through
the gate. and Mrs. McElroy was called
10 the front door. She Immediately
identified the African, and her verdict
was agreed To by her daughter. who
had sften seen Hose about the Gran
ford place.
ITO the stake" was again the cry, and
several men wanted TO burn the negro
in Mrs. McElroys yard. To this she
objected strenuously. and the mob. COM
plying with her wish, started for Pal
metto.
Just as they were leaving Newman,
news was brought that the / o'clock
train from Atlanta would bring 1000
people from Atlanta. This was taken
TO be regiment of soldiers. and the
mob decided to burn the prisoner at the
first favorable place, rather than be
compelled TO shoot him when the militia
put in an appearance.
Leaving the little town, whose Sunday
quiet had been so rudely disturbed. the
mob, which now numbered nearly 1900
people. started on the road TO Palmetto.
line of buggies and vehicles of all
kinds. their drivers fighting for posi-
ton In line. followed the procession, at
the head OF which. closely guarded,
marched the negro.
One and a half miles out OF Newman
a place believed to be favorable to the
burning was reached. A little to the
side of the road was a strong pine tree
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 10 talk. He said: Il am Sam
Hose. l killed Alfred Crawford. but
was paid to do 1t. Lige Strickland, tie
sl2 TO Kill him"
At this roar went up from the crowd.
The intelligence impaired by the wretch
was spread among them.
Let him go on; tell all you know about
shivering like a leaf. continued his re-
oital. II did not outrage Mrs. Crawford.
Somebody else did that. can identify
them. Give me time for that"
The mob would hear no more. The
clothes were torn from the negro in an
instant. heavy chain was produced
and wound around his body He said
not a word to this proceeding. but at
sight of three or four knives flashing in
the hands OF several members Of the
crowd about him, which seemed To fore
cast the terrible ordeal he was about To
be put TO. he sent up yell which could
be heard for a mile. Instantly a hand
grasping a knife shot out and one OF the
negro's ears dropped into a hand ready
10 receive it, He pleaded pitifully for
mercy and begged his tormentors to let
him die. His cries went unheeded. The
second ear went the way OF the other.
Hardly had he been deprived of his or
gans OF hearing than his fingers, one by
one, were taken from his hands and
passed among the members Of the yell
ing and now thoroughly maddened
crowd. The shrieking negro 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 where the negro. his body
covered with blood from head 10 foot,
was striving and tugging at his chains.
The can was lifted over the negro's head
by three or four men and its contents
poured over him. BY this time a good
supply OF brush, pieces OF fence rail and
other flrewood had been placed about the
negro's feet. This was thoroughly sat-
urated and "A match applied. A flame
shot upward and spread quickly over the
pile of wood. AS IL licked the negrGfs
legs he shrieked once and began Juggling
at his chains. AS the flames crept higher
and the smoke entered his eyes ard
mouth Hose put the stumps OF his hands
to the tree back OF him and with a ter
rife plunge forward OF his body severed
the upper portion of the chains which
bound him TO the tree. His body held TO
the tree only by as far as the thighs.
lunged forward. thus escaping the flames
which roared and cracked about his feet
One of the men nearest the burning
negro quickly ran up and. pushing him
back, said:
Get back there into the ire" ard
quickly coupled the disjointed links of
the chain.
The road for distance of half a mile
on each side of the burning negro was
black with conveyances and was simply
impossible. The crowd surrounded 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 ard the progress
OF the flames was communicated TO those
in the rear by shouts from the eye-wit-
nesses. The torch was applied about
$3.50. and at 2 o'clock the body OF Sam
Hose was limp and lifeless. his head
hanging TO one side. The body was not
cut down. 1t was cut 10 pieces. The
crowd fought for places about the
smoulderlng tree and with knives Sc
cured such pieces OF his carcass as did
rot fall Go pieces. The chain was severed
by hammers. the tree wag chopped down,
and with such pieces OF the firewood as
had not burned we're carried away as
souvenirs.