The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-21
BURNED AT
THE STAKE.
Negro Ravisher Horribly
Punished by White Men
IN Colorado.
Father of the Brutes Victim Ap-
plies Match.

Linon, Colo, Nov 10 -Chalned to
railroad rail set firmly in the ground
on the exact spot where bis crime was
com mitted, Preston Porter. Jr, or as
be was familarly known, John Porter
this evening paid terrible penalty for
his deed. It was 6 % o'clock when the
father of the murdered girl touched the
match to the fuel which had been piled
around the negro aud in 20 minutes
later a last conyalsive sbudder told
that bis life was extinct What agony
the doomed boy suffered while the flames
ebriveled up bis flesh could only be
guessed from the terrible contortions
Of his face and the cries be gave from
time to time. The executioners, who
numbered about 800 citizens of Lincoln
county, had DOT the least semblance of
the ordinary mob. Their every act
vas deliberate and during all the pre-
paratiops as we'll as throughout the suf.
feriogs of the negro hardly an unucces.
sary word was spoken Grimly they
stood 10 circle about the FIRE until the
body was entirely consumed and then
quietly took their way back to Limop,
whence they parted for their homes
shortly afterwards.
Preston Porter did aos seem to real
IL, the awful punishment that he was
destined TO undergo As he had ex
hibited iodifererce to the enormity OF
bis crime, so he seemed to lack sll uu-
derstaudirg Of its terrible GOOSE
quences For more than an hour.
while preparations for his execution
we're iu progress, he stood mute and
sulleo amopg sbe avengers. When
everything vas ready be walked to the
stake with firm step, paused as be
reached, the circle of broken boards
to knee! in prayer. He was
allowed to take his time. He arose and
placed his back to the iron stake aud
half dozen men wouod chains about
his body aud limbs. Kerosene oil was
applied to the wood and after a brief
pause, Richard W. Frost, The father of
the little Frost girl, whose cruelty mu-
tilased body was found oue week ago
Oh that very spot, applied the match.
For moment ba. little aickering
fame arose. Then the oil blazed up.
sparks few into the air and the wood
begao to crackie Almost instantly
the uegro's trousers caught FIRE.
Even though the aesh must have
been scorched, he did not utter 9 sound.
The flames creps slowly upvsrd on bis
clothing, the sparks flying up iD q
cloud Of pale smoke. Porter turned his
head aud fr,ghtful expression changed
his face. With a sudden convulsive
tuggiug he stretched his head as far
from the rapidly increasing flames as
possible aud uttered cry of pain.
"Ob, my God, let me 60. men. I've
got something more to tell yoa. Please
let me 60. Oh, my God, ny God"
In terrible screeches these words. she
6rst be had uttered aloud, came from
the negro. A terrible tugging at The
chains, succession of awful groane
aud screams, the agony vas at last
breaking down his sullen composure.
Not an oath escaped. but be begged
aud pleaded to be shot Suddenly the
rope holding his hands burned through.
Then arms, head and shoulders slipped
through the obaius For an instant the
body stood erect, the arms we're raised
in supplicatiou while burning pieces of
clothing dropped from them. The body
| then fell away from the Ere, the head
lover than she feet. stiil fastened to the
rail. This vas not expected, and for
few minutes those s.olid men we're dis
concerted ; they feared that the only
remaining chaio would give way Il
this had occurred the partly burned
human being would have been dashed
among them IN his b!aziug garments.
And not many would have cared to
capture BIN again. but sne onaln nelo
fast. The body was then in such
position that only the legs were in the
fire. The cries Of the wretch were
redoubled and be again begged to be
shot. Some wanted to throw him into
the fire, others tried to dash oil upon
him. Boards we're carried and large
pile made over the PROSTATE body.
They soon we're ;gnited and she terrible
heat aud lack Of sir quickly rendered
the victim unoooscius. bringing death
few moments later. This terrible cere.
mony, ous upon the rolliog prairie,
concluded the second tragedy upon
that spot. the terrible aveugiog of the
first
Through the entire affair but little
was said As they calmly prepared for
the aveuging, so the people OF the
eastern part Of the State carried oas