Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-24
STEARNS $4,000
Brooks Hardware COMPANY.
STREET, AUGUSTA


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little city cameits occupants and a good
sized crowd had soon gathered about
the Jail. Sheriff Brown was Emporium
ed to give UP the prisoner and finally
TO avoid an assault upon the Jail and
possible bloOdshed he turned the negro
over to the waiting crowd.
\ procession was quickly formed and
the doomed negro was marched at its
head through several streets Of the
town. Soon the public square was
reached. Here Former-Gov. Atkinson
Of Georgia, who lives in Newman, came
hurriedly 10 the scene and standing up
in a buggy importuned the crowd to
let the law take its course. Judge y.
ID. Freeman of Newman. spoke in a
similar strain, and prayed the mob to
return the prisoner to the custody Of
the sheriff and go home. The assem-
hlage heards the words of the two
speakers in silence, but the instant
their voices had died away shouts of
"On to Palmetto, Burn him. Think
Of his crime" arose ana 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 in a short time reached the
McE,lroy home. The negro was march
ed through the gate and Mrs. Elroy
was called to the front door. She inn
mediately identified the African and
her verdict was agreed to by her
daughter who had often seen Hose
about the Crawford place.
ITO the stake" was again the cry
and several men wanted To burn the
negro in Mrs. McElroy's yard. To this
She objected strcnously and the mob
complying with her wish. started for
Palmetto.
Just us they We're leaving Newman
news was brought that the 1 o'clock
train from Atlanta would bring 1000
people from Atlanta. This was taken
to be a regiment Of soldiers ana the
mob decided to burn the prisoner at
the first favorable place rather than
be compelled to shoot him when the
military put in an appearance.
Leaving the little town whose Sun
day quiet had been so rudely disturbed.
the mob. which now numbered nearly
1900 people. started on the road to
cles of all kinds their drivers fighting
for a position in line, followed the
procession at the head of which
closely guarded. marched the nego.
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 march
ed. his back placed to the tree and his
face to the crowd. which jostled close
~ about him. Here for the first time
he was allowed to talk. He said:
II am Sam Hose. | killed Alfred
Crawford. but was paid TO do it. Lige
Strickland. the negro preacher at Pal
metto. gave me ST. to kill him
AT this a roar went no from the
crowd. 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 leaf. con-
tinued his recital II did not
outrage Mrs. Crawford. Somebody
else did that. | can identify them.
Give me time for that"
The mob would hear no more. Tn
tiotiltS were Torn lIbil IUe negro III AL
instant a heavy chain as produced ana
wound around his body. He said not a
word to this proceeding. but at sight of
three or four knives flashing n the hands
Of several members of the crowd about
him. which seemed to forecast the ter
ribe ordeal he was about to be put to, he
sent up yell which could be heard for
a mile.
Instantly hand grasping a knife shot
out ana one Of the neEro'S ears dropped |
into a hand ready to receive it. He |
pleaded pitifully for mercy ana begged |
his tormentors 40 let him die. His CT es |
went unhcpdCd. The second ear went the |
way Of tie other Hardly had he been |
deprived Of his organs Of hearing than |
his fingers one by one, were taken from |
his hands and passed among the mem |
bers Of the yelling ana now thoroughly |
crowd.
The shriekng negro was quickly de
privcd of other portions Of his anatomy,
ana the words Come on with the oil
brought a huge can Of Kerosene to the Il
foot of the tree where 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 and its contents
poured over him.
BY this time a good supply OF brush,
pieces of fence rails and other fireWooI
had been placed about the negro IS feet.
This was thoroughly saturated and
match applied. A flame shot upward ana
spread quickly over the Pile of wood. As
il licked the negroes legs he shriekel
once ana began Juggling at his chains.
As the flames crept higher ana the
smoke entered his eyes and mouth, Iio s..
put the stumps of his hands to the tree
back of him and with terrible plunge
forward Of his body severed the upper
portion Of the chains which bound him
10 the tree. His body held 10 the tree
only by as far as the thighs, lunged for
ward. thus escaping the flames which
roared and cracked about his feet.
one Of the men nearest the burning
negro quickly ran up ana pushing him
back. said: Get back there into the fire,
md quickly coupled the dsio!nted links
u the chain
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