Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-11-20
NEGRO BURNED 70 ASHES
Nothing Left of Porter Over Which
the Coroner Can Hold an
Inquest.
AWFUL PENALTY FOR HORRIBLE CRIME.

Father of, Little Louise Frost Declares
Hanging Is Too Good for the Brute
and Himself Applies the Torch
Dreadful Scene Enacted at LimOn.
Colorado.
Limon, Col, Nov. 19.-No inquest, it
is said, will be held over the remains
of Preston Porter, Jr, the self-con-
fessed murderer of Louise Frost, who
was burned at the stake by mob of
men at Lake Station Friday night.
an fact, the coroner can find no re-
mains upon which to hold an in
quest. A few men remained late at
night at the spot out on the prairie
where the murder was committed and
avenged. and renewed the fire again
and again. until every vestige of the
negro was gone. The iron rail, to
which the victim was bound will be
left standing as a warning to all in
clined to deeds similar to that for
which young Porter's life was taken.
"A mound of earth has been piled
; around the iron rail and covered with
ashes, and it will remain as monu-
ment, in sight of all passing trains.
1t is estimated that 700 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
carriage for inspection. The women's
vofa wae INIT for hurninu
Taken from the Sheriff.
The train, bearing the negro in Gus
tody of Sheriff Freeman and his depu-
fies, arrived in Limon at 3:45 p. m. The
cars were crowded with newspaper re-
porters 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 16 men who had been selected
by the vigilance committee entered
the train and demanded the prisoner
from the sheriff. Their every action
was marked by calmness and determi-
nation. 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, ibis protests
were disregarded. One man carried a
rope, of which hafl-peen formed hang
man's-aoose.r This was slipped over the
negro's neck. 1t was at first announced
that the negro was to be executed by
hanging.
Fathers Revenge.
Many, including the father of the
negro's victim, protested that such
death would be too easy, and it was
hnally decided to leave the method
of death to the outraged father. He
Needed upon burning at the stake.
The train was then allowed to pro-
coed, and at Lake Station, about
ssAhree miles from Limon, and near the
scene of the negro's crime, the party
as5t tbs tEs5H and ssgsn RsTeparatens
ttons of mutilation before burning
swere made but Mr.. Frost declared
against it. Wagons were dispatched
Hor wood, and upon their return q
score of men assisted in preparing
1T for the fire. When, at last, prepara-
Etions were completed, further delay
was made because it was known
many were en- route from Hugo and
Ipther parts of the country to take
part in the affair. 1t had been an
nounced that $50 o'clock should be
the hour for starting the fire, but it
tSwas nearly an hour later when the
word was finally given.
Displayed sullen Nerve.
Preston Porter did not seem to real
DE the awful punishment that he was
destined to undergo. AS he had ex-
hihited Indifference to the enormity
of his crime, SO he seemed to lack all
understanding of its terrible conse-
quences. For more than an hour
swhile preparations for his execution
nyere in progress he stood mute and
sullen among the avengers. When ev-
erything was ready he walked to the
stake with 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.
Father Applies the Torch.
Kerosene oil was applied to the
wood, and after brief pause Richard
Nv. Frost, the father of little Louise
Frost, whose cruelty mutilated
body was found one week ago on that
very spot. applied match. For a
moment but a little Pickering fame
arose. Then the oil blazed up sparks
dew into the air and the wood began
60 crackle.
Begs for Mercy.
Almost instantly the negroes trousers
caught fire. Even though the flesh
must have been scorched he did not
utter sound. The flames crept slowly
upward on his clothing. the sparks
Kew up in cloud of pale smoke. Por-
Her turned his head and frightful ex-
preston changed his face. With sud-
den convulsive Juggling. he stretched
his head as far from the rapidly in
ioreasing flames as possible, and uttered
o cry of pain. ''Oh, my God, let me go,
men. I've got something more to tell
you. Please let me go. o my God, my
/ God!" In terrible screeches these
words, the first he had uttered aloud
bame from the negro. A terrible tug
ging at the chains, 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 to be
\ shot
An Awful Scene.
Suddenly. the rope holding his hands