NEGRO BURNED AT THE STAKE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 261, 21 October 1911, Page 4 (Supplement)

NEGRO BURNED AT THE STAKE.

3,000 SPECTATORS CHEER HIS

EXECUTION

WOMEN SPECTATORS

Another negro was to-dav burned alive at the stake by a mob at Purcell, Oklahoma.

He had attacked a white woman, the wife of a fanner, during the alwenco of her husband, and had then sot the bouse on lire, almost burning her to death. Ho escaped, but was caught by three other negroes, who were taking him to gaol when they encountered a search party of whites, who seized tho criminal nnd marched him to the centre of the town.

Tho sheriff tried to interfere, but tho mob locked him in his own gaol, and then proceeded with the preparations lor lynching tho negro. Faggote wore piled, high on the roadway, the excited whites running to and tor to gather the timbers. The crowd cheered loudly ns tlio pyro grow-.

BOUND TO A TELEGRAPH POLE

lhe negro, who was compelled tn watch tho preparations for his dentil, how'ed and begged for tnmey, but no one paid attention Oil wao poured on tho pile of wood, and then the nogn. w.-i-i bound to a telegraph polo in the centre and a match was applied. Flames shot nil around him, nnrl three thousand spectators choored lustily, but through it nil tho negro's picresiig shrieks cf ngony could bo beard. Tho news had spread rapidly, and people hid driven up in carts and motor-cars to be present at tho lynchtKß. _ There wero at least 500 women in the crowd and many children. They stood on the scats of the cars to obtain a better view; of the burning. They showed no evidence of pitv. but cheered Ji'idly when the pyro blazed. The principal nctors in the tragedy d'd not trouble to wear masks, as is generally done at lynchings to prevent identiftcaitiqn, .and 'when (the o-IJv-iff had pleaded with them not to disgrace the town, and promised a.n immediate trial of tho negro, they merely replied, ’’Ate must protect our women,” and proceeded with the execution.