Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-11-21
A NEGRO BURNED ro' DEATH.
TerribIo Vengeance In Colorado for the Usual
Crime.

/
tho ground, on tho exact spot whore tho
crime was committed, Preston Porter,
Jr., or, as he was famlliarly known, John
Porter, this evening paid q terrible pen
atty for his deed. 1t was $50 O'Clock
when the father of tho murdered girl
touched tho match to tho fuel which had
been placed around the negro, and twenty
minutes later last convulsivo shuddcr
told that his life was extinct. What
agony tho doomed boy suffered while tho
flames shrivellod up his flesh could ONLY
bo guessed from the torriblo contortions
OF his face and tho cries he gave from
time to time, Tho exccntioncrs, who mum
6ered about three hundred citizens OF
iilncoln county. had not tho least semb-
lance of tho ordinary mob. Their every
act was deliberate, and during all tho
preparation, as well as throughout tho
sufforipgs Of tho negro, hardly an unnec-
cssary word was spoken. Grimly they
stood in circlo about tho fire until tho
body was entirely consumed, and thon
mon, whence they departed for their
homes shortly afterwards.
Preston Portor did not SOON to roalZo
tho awful punishment that ho was dos
tined to undergo. AS he had exhibited
indifference to tho enormity of his crimo,
SO ho seemed to lack all understanding
OF it's terrible consequences. For moro
|
execution were in progress, he stood
mute and sullon among tho Avengers.
When everything was ready ho walked
to tho stake with firm stop, pausing, as
ho reached the circle of broken boards,
to kneel in prayer Ilo was allowed to
take his time. IIc arose and placed his
back to tho iron stake, and half dozon
mon wound chains about his body and
limbs. Kerosene oil was applied to tho
wood, and, after Il briof pause, Richard
| w. Frost, the father of tho littlo Frost
girl, whose cruolly mutilatcd body was
found ono week ago OH that vcIy spot,
applied q match, For moment but a
oil blazcd up, sparks flow into tho air
and tho wood began to cracklo. Almost
instantly the ncgro's trousers caught
fire. Even though tho flesh must havo
scorchcd ho did not utter a sound Tho
flames crcpt slowly upward on his cloth
ing, the sparks flew up in n cloud Of
pale smoke. Porter turned his head and
frightful expression changed his face.
With sudden convulsive Juggling he
stretched his head as far from tho rap
idly increased flames as possible and
uttered cry Of pain: sob, my God lot
mo go, mon. Pvog got something moro to
tell you. Please lot me go. Oh, my
God, my God p
In terrible scrocchcs these words, tho
first he had uttered aloud, camc from tho
negro. terrible tugging at the chains,
a succession of awful groans and screams,
the agony was at last breaking down his
sullen cOmpoSuro. Not an oath escaped
him, but ho begged and pleaded to bo
shot Suddenly tho rope holding his
hands burned through, Thcn arms, head
and shoulders slipped through the chains.
For an instant the body stood erect, the
arms were raised in supplication, while
burning pieces of clothing dropped from
them. The body then fell away from tho
fire, the head lower than the feet, still
fastened to the rail. This was not OK
pectcd and for few minutes those stolid
me, men were Disconnected; they feared that
tho only remaining chain would give way
II This had occurred the partly burned
human being would have been dashed
among them in his blazing garments and
not many would have cared to capture
him again. But the chain held fast
The body was then in such a position
that only tho legs wcro in the fire. The
cries OF the wretch were rcdoublcd and
he again begged to be shot Some want
| cd to throw him into the fire, others
tried to dash oil upon him. Boards were
carried and large pilc made over the
prostrato body. They were soon ignitod
and the terrible heat and lack of air
quickly rendered the victim unconscious,
bringing death a few moments later.
rolling prairie concluded the second
tragedy upon that spot, the terrible
avcnging of the first.
Through the entire affair but little was
said. AS they had calmly prepared for
the avcnging, so the people of the East
crn part of tho State carried out their
plan coolly and deliberately. There was
no. IA hitch in the entire proceeding. Not
weapon was drawn; there was no angry
discussion. After the fire had burned
low they told each other good night and
they went home. They did not stop to
discuss tho affair
The train bearing the negro in custody
OF Shcriil Freeman and his deputies ar
| rived at Iimon at 3.I5 y. m The cars
were crowded with newspaper reporters
and people who were curious to see the
negro executed. Il. w. Frost, the muir
! dcrcd girls father, was one of the pas
scngcrs. When the train stopped six
teen mon, who had been selected by the
vigilance committee, entered the train
and demanded the prisoner from the
Shcrin. Their every action was marked
by calmncss and determination. The
officer protested in the name Of the law
and asked the men to allow him to take
his prisoner to tho county Jail at Hugo
but his protests were disrcgardct Ono
man carried rope of which had been
| formed ndiiSIIIan nOUso. This Has
slipped over tho ncgro's neck. 1t was
| at first announced that the negro was to
be executed by hanging. Many, nclud-
ing the father of the ncgro's victim, pro
tested that such death would be too
easy, and it was finally decided to leave
the manner Of execution with the out
ragged father. He decided upon burning
| at the stake. The train was then allowed
to proceed and at Lake Station, about
| three miles from Lmon and near the
scene OF the negro's crime, the party left
the train and began preparations for the
dccd OF vengeance. Suggestions Of mu-
tllation before burning were made, but
Mr. Frost declared against it.
Wagons were disp' tchcd for wood and
in preparing it for the fire. When at
last preparations were completed fur
thcr delay was made because it was
known many were on their way from
Hugo and other parts of the country to
take part in the affair 1t had been an
| nounccd that $50 o'clock should be the
hour for starting the fire, but it was
| nearly an hour later when the word was
finally given
ONLY THE METHOD CONDEMNED.
Denver, Colorado, November lG-
When asked his opinion regarding the
| burning OF the negro murderer, Preston
Porter at limon tonight Governor
| Thomas declined to make any statement
whatever. Early in the week, in an in
tcrvicw, the Governor was quoted as
saying that he had nothing to do with
the matter. Shcrin Freeman, Of Lincoln
county, after the prisoner was taken
from him, remained on the train and
lie was strongly opposed to the lynching
| consented "A Ia m