Henry Smith Burned Alive in Paris, Texas, February 1893

On February 1, 1893, Henry Smith was burned alive before an estimated crowd of 10,000 in Paris, Texas. His execution was advertised in advance over the Associated Press wire; special excursion trains brought spectators from across the region. Smith was tortured with hot irons for nearly an hour before being set alight. It was the first large-scale public burning lynching in documented U.S. history, establishing a horrific template.