Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-11-17
BURNED TO DEATH
AT The STAKE
The Awful Fate Of John Porter, the Negro
Boy Who Killed Little Louise Frost
at Limon, Colorado
A SCENE OF SHOCKING BRUTALITY

likely over the remains of John Porter
the negro burned at the stake last night
on the spot where Louise Frost was
murdered, as no remains can be found
The fire was renewed until every ves-
tige of the body was destroyed The
iron rail to which Porter was chained
will be left standing as a warning.
PRESTON AND ARTHUR PORTER
RELEASED.
Denver, Colo, Nov. 17-Preston and
Arthur Porter, father and brother of
the negro burned near Limon, were re-
leased from Jail today. They intend to
return home to Lawrence, Kas.
THE BURNING.
Denver, Nov. ia morning press
dispatch describes the burning of Por
ter as follows:
Preston Porter did not seem to realize
the awful punishment he was destined
to undergo. AS he exhibited indiffer-
seemed to lack all understanding of it's
terrible consequences. For more than
an hour while the preparations for his
execution were in progress, he stood
mute and sullen among the avengers
When everything was ready, he walk
ed to the stake with a firm step, paus-
ing as he reached the circle of broken
boards to kneel in prayer. He was al
lowed 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. Kerosine oil was
applied to the wood and after a brief
pause, Richard w. Frost, father of lit
tie Louise Frost, whose cruelty mutil-
ated body was found one week ago on
that very spot, touched a match to the
combustibles
Almost instantly the negros clothes
caught fire. Even though the flesh
must have been scorched, he did not
utter sound. The flames crept slowly
upward on the clothing. Porter turned
his head and frightful expression
changed his face. With a sudden con-
vulsive tugging, he stretched his hand
as far from the rapidly increasing
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!"
In terrible screeches, these words,
the first he had uttered aloud, came
from the negro. A terrible tugging at
the chains, succession of awful groans
and screams, and the negro's awful
agony was at last breaking down his
sullen composure. Not an oath es-
capped him, but he begged and pleaded
to be shot. Suddenly the rope holding
his hands, burned through. Then his
arms, head and shoulders slipped
through the chain. For an instant the
body stood erect, the arms raised in
supplication, while the burning pieces
of cloth dropped from them. The body
then fell away from the fire, the head
lower than the feet, which We're still
fastened to the rail-
lllS was IlOl cAptCleu, dIlu lOI d lew
minutes those stolid men were discon-
certed. They feared the only remaining
chain would give away. If this had oc-
CURED the partly burned human being
would have dashed among them with
the burning garments. Not many would
have cared to capture him again. But
the chain held fast. The body was then
in such a position that only his legs
were in the fire. The cries Of the wretch
redoubled, and he again begged to be
shot Some wanted to throw him over
into the fire; others tried to throw oil
upon him. Boards were carried and a
large pile made over the prostrate body.
They were soon ignited and the terri
BILE heat and the lack Of air quickly
rendered the victim unconscious, bring
ing death few moments later. This
terrible ceremony out upon the rolling
prairie concluded the second tragedy
upon that spot; the. terrible vengeance
OF the first.