The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-17
Seized the Negro and Permitted the
Train to Proceed to Lake Station,
where They Burned Him.
SILENT BAND OF AVENGERS
HAD LITTLE TO SAY AND WAS
ORDERLY AND METHoDICAL.
Pifeous Appeals of the Tortured Boy
Answered with More Fuel
for the Flames.

LIMON, Col, Nov. 16-Chained to rail-
road rail, set firmly in the ground, on the
exact spot where his fiendish crime was
committed, Preston Porter, jr., or, as he
was Familiarity known, John Porter, this
evening paid terrible penalty for his deed
1t was 6:25 o'clock when the father of the
fuel which lad been piled around the ne
gro, and twenty minutes later last con-
vuIsive shudder told that life was extinct.
What agony the doomed boy suffered while
the flames shriveled up his flesh could only
be guessed from the terrible contortions OF
his face and the cries he gave from time
to time.
The executioners, who numbered about
sv0 citizens of Lincoln county. had not the
every act was deliberate, and during all
the preparations, as well as throughout
the sufferings of the negro, hardly an I'M
necessary 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 departed for their homes
shortly afterward
Preston Porter did not seem to realize
tined to undergo. AS he had exhibited in
difference as to the enormity Of his crime,
so he seemed to lack all understanding of
its terrible consequences. 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.
OIL POURED ON THE WOOD.
Kerosene oil was applied to the wood,
and after brief pause Richard w. Frost,
the father OF little Louise Frost, whose
cruelty mutiIated body was found one week
ago on that very spot. applied a match.
For moment but little pickering flame
arose. Then the oil blazed I'D, sparks flew
into the air. and the wood began to crackle.
Almost instantly the negros trousers
caught fire. At first he did not utter a
sound The flames crept slowly Upward
or his clothing, the sparks flew UP in a
cloud of pale smoke. Porter turned his
head and frightfui expression changed
his face. With a sudden convulsive tug
ging he stretched his head as far from the
rapidly increasing flames as possible and
uttered n 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 Cod
In terrible screeches these words. the
first he had uttered aloud. came from the
negro. a terrible Juggling at the chains, a
succession of awful groans and screams
the Negroes agony was at last breaking
down his sullen composure. Not an oath
escaped him. but he begged and pleaded 10
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 were raised i'm supplication, while
burning pieces of cloth dropped from them
The body then fell away from the fire, tho
head lower than the feet, still fastened to
the rail. This was not expected, and for a
few minutes those stolid men were dis
concerted; they feared that the only re-
naming chain would give way If this
had happened the partly burned human
being would have dashed among them I'm
his blazing garments And not many would
have cared TO capture him again But the
chain held fast. The body was then In
such position that only the legs were In
the FIRE. The cries OF the wretch were re-
doubled. and he again begged TO be shot
Some wanted TO throw him over the ire
others tried 10 dash oil or him Boards
were carried and a large pile made over the
rsostrate body. These soon were ignited.
and the terrible heat and lack OF air quick.
~ rendered the victim unconscious, bring
ing death few moments later
Through the entire affair but little was