Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-11-17
HE DIES AT THE STAKE
Negro Who Cruelty Murdered q
Young Girl Near Limon,
Colorado.
FRIED Oh THE SCENE OF HIS DEED
While the Mob Looks On, Occasional
ly Replenishing the Fire With
Oil and Wood.

Limon, Colo, Nov. 17.-No in
quest, it is said, will be held over the
remains of Preston Porter, Jr., who
was burned at the stake by the mot
at Lauke Station last night. In fact,
the coroner can find no remains upon
which to hold an inquest. A few men
remained late last night at the spot
where the murder was committed and
renewed the fire again and again until
every vestige of the negro was gone.
1t is estimated that 700 people wit
messed the execution. No women
witnessed 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 was a unit for burning.
Denver, Nov. 17.-No steps have
been taken yet to prosecute any mem
bers of the mob that burned Porter
at Limon last night. 1t is unlikely
that any will be taken. Gov Thomas
refuses to express any opinion what
ever regarding the affair. District
Attorney McAllister said criminal
proceedings against the leaders would
be utterly futile on account of public
approval of the lynching. The father
and brother of the murderer were
released from Jail this morning. They
intend to return to their home at
Lawrence, Kan.
Limon, Colo, Nov. 11.-Chained to 4
railroad rail set firmly i'll the ground
on the spot where his crime was com
mitted. Preston Porter, Jr., or as he
Tllaf a
last evening paid Il terrible penalty for
his deed. 1t was 6:23 p. III. 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 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 lis face and the cries he
gave from time to time. The eXecu-
TONERS, Il .nob of about 300 citizens or
Lincoln county stood in a circle about
the tire until the body was entirely con-
Sumed.
Didn't Know "Advanced Civilization"
Preston Porter did not seem to real
iZe the awful punishment that he was
destined TO undergo. For more than
an hour. while preparations for his eX-
ecution We're in progress, he stood mute
and Sullen among the mob. When ev-
erything was ready he walked to the
stake with Il firm step. pausing as he
reached the circle of broken boards to
kneel in prayer. After he was chained
kerosene oil was applieP 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 spot, ap-
piled a match. For n moment but 4
little tiickering flame 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 n sound. The flames crept
slowly upward on his clothing, the
sparks flew up in n cloud of pale
smoke. Porter turned his head and Il
frightful expression changed his face.
With a sudden cOnvulsive tugging he
stretched his head as far from the rap
idly increasing flames as possible and
uttered cry OF pain. "Oh. my God,
let me go. men. I've got something
more to tell you. Please let me 90. o.!
my God, my Godr'