The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-17

 was so intense that the crowd were com pelled to turn out when two miles of the six mile route had been traversed. Going several hundred yards from the road the crowd halted. The two negroes were made to seat themselves on log. They were told they had but short time to live and that they should confess.
 Reed was the first to speak. He con- fessed, duplicating other negroes as he had in the courtroom. He denied. how ever that he had taken an active part in the murder.
 Crowd Calls for Ropes.
 Cato answered incoherently. The crowd moved across a field to a strip of Wood land Several men climbed to branches and called for ropes.
 Burn them burn them" shouted the crowd. Cato begged to be shot or hanged, saying he was innocent: that he had had no part in the crime. Some of the more humane wanted to grant his request, but they were In the minority The rest wanted to visit the same death upon the negroes that they had visited upon the Hodges family.
 Speech lntames the Mop.
 A member of the mob made a speech re- counting the horrors of the crime. This infiammed the crowd to the burning pitch. With their backs to large stump, twelve feet high, the men were fastened with trace chains. Then a wagonload of rine wood was hauled to the spot It was piled around the men and ten gallons of kero- sene was thrown over them. A photogra- pher was present and the crowd was cleared back that he might get several views of the men bound to the stake and ready for the burning.
 The scene which followed beggars de- scription.
 Frenzied cheers rent the air as the al- most crazed with hatred of the men be- ing punished saw the cruel flames drink ing up the life blood.
 Just as the match was applied to the pyre one of those in front asked Reed if he did not want to tell the truth before he died.
 Reed Makes Confession.
 .sYes, sir; killed MT. and Mrs. Hodges" he replied.
 who killed the children?" he was asked
 "Handy Bell" came the response as the flames leaped upwards and further ques- tioning was impossible In the wild tu- l mutt.
 The spectacle was frightful. As the | flames touched Reeds naked oil-soaked | deavor to choke himself and avoid the l fearful torture. Only once did he com 1 plain. He said, Lord have mercy" | Cato screamed in agony and begged that he be shot His heavy hair which was | oil-soaked was almost the first thing the | flames fastened on, and screaming with agony, while the hemp rope became col l lar of fire around his neck, thrill of hor- | or ran through the frames of the more I timid Before the flames had quenched l Cato's life the rope was burned into and 1 his head swung from sided to side as ne | endeavored to avoid the fiery tongue By efforts almost superhuman he writhed under the close-locked chains For only | about three minutes was he visible to the l crowd before the great pile of fagots made wall of flame which the wind whipped around Cato's side and hid him | from view.
 Crowd Throws Lightwood Knots.
 Reed was the first to exhibit uncon- sciousness and was perhaps the first dead. | Before the flames had progressed very far up his body his head sunk forward and many believed that the Ire got into his l lungs and killed him. As Catos head | swung to and fro some of the more ex- | cited members of the party commenced 1 throwing lightwood knots at 1t. | As soon as 1t was seen that the mer l were dead the crowd commenced dis. | persing. A large number remained behind 1 however. piling more fuel on until both l bodies were burned all except the trunks Others employed thAnaaalvAg h thrashina