Evening journal., 1900-11-17
Was Burned to Death at the
Stake
BEGGED CROWDS 70 SHOOT HIM
They COOlIy aud Carefully Planned
Proceedings Which Eere Carried
Out Without a Hitch

Limon, Colo, Nov 17.-Chnined to a
railroad rail set firmly IN the ground,
on the exact spot where his fiendish
crime was committed, Preston Porter,
Jr., or as nc was familiarly known,
John Porter, last evening 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
20 minutes later last convulsive shud-
der 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 con-
tortions of his face and the cries he
gave from time to time. The execu-
TONERS, who numbered about 800 citi-
zens Of Lincoln county, had not the
least semblance of the ordinary mob.
Their every act was deliberate, and
during all the preparations, as we'll as
through the sufferings of the negro.
hardly an unnecessary word was
spoken. Grimly they stood about tho
fire until the body was entirely con-
sumed.
Preston Porter did not seem to realize
tined to undergo. As he had exhibited
Indifference to the enormity of his
crime, so he seemed to lack all under
Standing of its terrible consequences.
For more than an hour, while prepara-
tions for his execution were in pro-
gress, he stood mute and sulien among
the avengers. When everything was
ready he walked to the stake with a
nrm step, pausing as he reached the
circle of broken boards to lneel in
prayer. He was allowed TO take his
time. He arose and placed his back to
the iron stake, and half dozen men
wound chains about his body. and
limbs. Kerosene oil was applied to the
wood, and after a 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 a moment but a little fickering
fame arose. Then the oil blazed up
sparks flew into the air and the wood
began to crackle. Almost instantly
the negro's trousers caught fire. Even
though the flesh must have been
scorched, he did not utter a sound. The
flames crept slowly upward on his
clothing, the sparks few up in a cloud
OF pale smoke. Porter turned his head
and a frightful expression changed his
face. With a sudden convulsive tug
ging he stretched his head as far from
the rapidly increasing flames as pos
sible 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 Cod"
In terrible screeches these words. the
first he had uttered aloud. came from
the negro. A terrible Juggling at the
chains, q succession of awful groans
and screams, the negro's agony was at
last breaking down his sullen compos-
ure. Not an oath escaped him, but
he begged and pleaded to be shot. Sud
denly the rope holding his hands
burned. Then his 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 drop
ped from them. The body then fell
away from the fire, the head lower
than the feet, still fastened to the rail.
lh;s was not expected, and for a few
minutes those stolid men were discon-
certed. They feared that the only re-
naming chain would give way. If this
mad occurred the partly burned human
being would have dashed among them
In his blazing garments, and not many
would nave cared to capture him again.
But the chain held fast. The body
was then in such a position that only
the legs were in the fire. The cries Of
the wretch were redoubled and he
again begged to be shot. Some want
ed to throw him over into the fire.
others tried to dash oil upon him.
Boards were carried and a large pile
made over the PROSTATE body. Thev
soon were ignited and the terrible heat
and lack of air quickly rendered the
victim unconscious, bringing death a
few moments later. This terrible cere-
mony, out upon the rolling prairie
concluded the second tragedy upon that
spot, the terrible avenging Of the first
Through the entire affair but little
was said. AS they had calmly pre.
pared for the Gvenging, so the people
of the eastern part Of the state carried
out their plan coolly and deliberately.
There was not hitch in the entire
proceedings. Not a weapon was
drawn, and there was no angry discus
sion. After the fire had burned low
they BID each other good night ard
went home.
The train bearing the negro, in Gus