The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-17
HIS VICTIM WAS A CHILD
Previous to Murder She Had Been
Criminally Assaulted.
The ARREST OF JOHN PORTER FOLLOWED
he With His Brother and Father Was Placed in
Jail at Denver, Where He Confessed
the Crime and Gave the
Details.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press)
Limon, Colo. Nov. 16. 6.--Chained TO a
railroad rail set firmly in the ground on
the exact spot where his crime was COM
mitted, Preston Porter, Jr., or as he was
familiarly know. John Porter, this oven-
ing paid a terrible penalty for his deed
1t was 6:23 o'clock when the father of
the murdered girl touched the match to
the fuel which had been piled around the
negro, and twenty minutes later a last
convulsive shudder told that life was
extinct. What agony the doomed boy suf-
fered while the flames shriveled up his
flesh could only be guessed from the ter
rible contortions of his face and the cries
he gave from time to time.
The executioners, who numbered about
three hundred citizens of Lincoln county.
had not the least semblance of the or
dinary mob. Their every act was DELHI
crate and during all the preparations as
well as throughout the sufferings of the
negro hardly an unnecessary word was
spoken. Grimly they stood in circle
about the fire until the body was entirely
consumed, and then quietly they took their
way back to Limon, whence they depart
ed for their homes shortly afterwards
"FLICKERING FLAME AROSE"
Preston Porter did not seem to realize
the awful punishment that he was des-
tined to undergo. AS he had exhibited
indifference to the enormity of his crime.
so be seemed to lack all understanding
of its terrible consequence For more
than an hour while preparations for his
execution were in progress, he stood mute
and sullen among the avengers. When
everything was ready he walked to the
stake with a firm step, pausing as he
reached the circle of broken boards, to
kneel in prayer. He was allowed to take
his time. He arose and placed his back
to the iron stake. and half a dozen men
wound chains about his body and limbs.
Kerosene oil was applied to the wood,
and after brief pause Richard w Frost,
the father of little Louise Frost whose
cruelty mutilated body was found one
week ago on that very spot, applied a
match For n moment but a little flick
ering flame arose. Then the oil blazed
up. sparks flew into the air and the wood
began to crac1le. Almost instantly the
negros trousers caught fire. Even
though the flesh must have been scorched.
ne did not utter a sound. The flames
crept slowly upwSrd on his clothing, the
sparks flew up in cloud of pale smoke
Porter turned his head and frightful
expression changed his face. With a sud
den convulsive tugging he stretched his
head as far from the rapidly increased
flames as possible and uttered a cry of
pain. 'Oh, my God, let me go, men.
I've got something more to tell you
Please let me go. Oh, my God my God"
SCENE OF sICKENING HORROR.
In terrible screeches these words, the
first he had uttered aloud, came from
the negro. A terrible tugging at the
chains, a succession of awful groans and
screams, the negro's agony was at last
breaking down his sulIen composure Not
an oath escaped him. but he begged and
pleaded to be shot. Suddenly, the rope
holding his hands burned through. Then
arms head and shoulders slipped through
the chains. For an instant the body stood
erect, the arms We're raised in supplica-
tion while burning pieces of clothing
dropped from them. The body then fell
away from the fire. the head lower than
the feet. still fastened to the rail. This
NoS hol SApOCbSu, anu lot lew minutes
those stolid men were disconnected; they
feared that the only remaining chain
would give way. If this had occurred the
partly burned human being would have
dashed among them in his blazing gar
ments and not many would have cared
TO capture him again. But the chain held
fast. The body was then in such posi-
tion that only the legs were in the fire.
The cries Of the wretch were redoubled,
and he again begged to be shot. Some
wanted to throw him over into the fire.
Others tried to dash oil on him. Boards
were carried and a large pile made over
the PROSTATE body. They soon were
ignited and the terrible heat and lack of
air quickly rendered the victim uncon-
scious, bringing death a few moments
later. This terrible ceremony. out upon
the rolling prairie concluded the second
tragedy uDon that spot, the terrible
avenging of the first.
THE AVENGERS GO HOME
Through the entire affair but little was
said. As they had calmly prepared for
the avenging so the people of the eastern
part of the State carried out their plan
coolly and deliberately. There was not
a hitch in the entire proceedings. Not
weapon was drawn; there VAS no angry
discussion. After the fire had burned down
they told each other good night and they