Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-11-20

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
the legs were in the fire. The cries
OF the wretch were redoubled, and
again he begged to be shot. Some
wanted to throw him over into the
fire, others wanted to dash oil upon
him. Boards were carried and a large
pile made over the PROSTATE body.
They soon were ignited, and the ter
rible heat and lack of air quickly rem
dered the victim unconscious, bring
ing death few moments later. This
terrible ceremony, out upon the roll
ing prairie, concluded the second trag-
edy upon that spot, the terrible aveng-
ing of the first.
Avengers Did Little Talking.
Thru 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.
nere was not hitch in the entire
proceeding. Not a 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 the at
fair.
1t had been hoped to get the negro
thru Limon to the Jail at Hugo. The
governor was bound to deliver the
prisoner TO the sh ,riff, and had been
assured that even if the prisoner We're
intercepted, he would be executed
without torture or mutilation. The
negro had confessed his sickening
crime, and there was general dispo-
sition to do away with him as speed
lily as possible.
The train bearing the negro, in Gus
tody of Sheriff Freeman and his depu-
ties, arrived in Limon at 3:45 p. m.
The cars were crowded with newspa-
per reporters and people who were
curious to see the negro executed. r.
w. Frost, the murdered girls father
was one of the passengers. When the
train stopped, sixteen men who had
been selected by the vigilance commit
tee entered the train and demanded
the prisoner from the sheriff. Their
every action was marked by calmness
and determination.
Protests Fell on Deaf Ears.
The officer protested in the name of
the law and asked the men to allow
him to take his prisoner to the county
Jail at Hugo, but his protests were dis
regarded. One man carried rope in
which he had formed a hangman's
moose. This was slipped over the ne
gros neck.
1t was first announced that the ne
gro was to be executed by hanging.
Many, including the father of the ne
gro's victim, protested that such
death would be too easy and it was
finally decided to leave the method of
death to the girls father. He decided
upon burning at the stake. The train
was then allowed to proceed, and at
Lake Station. about three miles from
Limon and near the scene of the ne
gro's crime, the party left the train
and began preparations for the deed
of vengeance.
Suggestions of mutilation before
| burning We're many, but Mr.. Frost de-
clared against it. Wagons were dis
patched for wood. and upon their re-
turn score ofmen assisted in prepar-
ing it for the fire. When at last prep
arations were completed a further de-
lay was made, because it was known
many were enroute from Hugo and
other parts of the county to take part
in the affair. 1t had been announced
that $3.50 o'clock should be the hour
for starting the fire, but it was nearly
an hour later when the word was fin
i ally given.
Will Hold No Inquest.
Limon, Col, Nov. 17.-No inquest, it
is said, will be held over the remains
of Preston Porter, Jr., burned at the
stake by mob at Lake Station last
night In fact the coroner can find no
remains upon which to hold an in
{ quest. A few men remained late last
night at the spot where the murder
was committed and avenged, and re-
newed the fire again and again until
every vestige of the negro was gone.
1t is estimated that TOO people wit
messed the execution. No women wit
messed the cremation, but many of
them went to the scene before the fire
was lighted and remained while the
| negro was led from carriage to car
riage for inspection. The women's
vote as a unit was for burning.
Will Not Prosecute the Mob.
Denver, Col, Nov. 17.-No steps
have been taken yet to prosecute any
of the members of the mob that burn.
ed Porter at Limon last night, and it is
unlikely that any will be taken. Gov.
4 Thomas refuses to express any opin-
ion whatever regarding the affair. Dis.
trict Attorney McAllister said criminal
dintrc ~ nGtt 10 JooSorc .yo,,1d