The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-09
A Woman among the Sons OF Malta.

sons
A few days since we called attention to
the fact that great excitement existed in
GAINESVILLE, Ohio, with regard to the disap-
pearance OF a Mr.. Curtis, who it was said
had divulged the secrets of the Sons of
Malta, and had been spirited away by the
members of the Order, to the great distress
OF his family and the astonlshment of the
public at large, who scarcely knew what to
think OF the boldness of the proceeding. 1t
turns out now that the expose which gave
such offense to the Order, was not written
by Curtis, but by his wife, who comes out
with an avowal OF the fact, and gives it as
her opinion that the Sons are not to blame
for his disappearance.
Mrs. Curtis writes very amusing account
Of Mr.. Curtis and Mr.. Smith becoming
Sons of Malta, and the natural curiosity of
herself and Mrs. Smith to find out the secrets
of the order. The two ladies agreed to
have themselves proposed as members, and
got Mrs. Smiths cousin to attend to the
matter. WE'LL" Mrs. Curtis goes on to
say, we were proposed and elected, and Joe
came down into the store where we were
and told us, so we hurried through With the
dressing, and went up to the ante chamber
and sat down all in row. We hadn't sat
there long before two men came out to us,
from the inside room, all muffled up in
gowns, and having a kind of tin hats on
their heads which covered their faces.
They asked US for SIS each and Joe handed
over the money for us and himself, as we
had given him nearly our amounts, and
promised him the rest soon. Then there
came two more men like the other two, who
formed us into line (they call it single ile,)
and told US to walk right along. They had
swords, and one of them walked before joe,
who was in front, while the other walked
behind me. 1t was dark, or nearly so, when
we past in. 1 was glad of The darkness,
because, having on suit of my husbands
clothes was not sure that they fitted very
WE'LL"
She next describes the scenes inside as she
saw them, and says: l was not frightened,
for am not one of your timid people, being
reared to ride colts, shoot pistols, skate and
swim. So got through all the maneuvres
previous to that coat business pretty well.
But when the conductor said, "Can you
swim, sir ?" l said, Eyes" "Can you swim
in fourteen feet of water?" l said Eyes
the deeper the better!' "Well take off your
coat and try YOURSELF" Now, when be said
stake off your coat" that scared me, because
had put on a loose sack on purpose, for
reasons you will see yourself.
However, thought moment and then
said, "NO, sir; never heed the coat can
swim as we'll with as without it every
well, said the conductor, "yOur peril will be
upon your own head. Now, hold up your
right hand, sir take this life preserver
and'- Here he gave me push and
went over backward, and as soon as Ialight
ed l went up again, fying-then down and
up in the same way, until l thought all my
brains were flying out of the top of my head,
and then everything swan round and round
until did not know anything at all, for |
had tainted.
The next place found myself was in the
ante-chamber, or rather just being led into
the ante chamber by two men, and | was
first conscious that l must have been sitting
in bath tub with my clothes on. l think
that the cool air brought me to my senses.
The two men looked very scared and sorry
l looked about for Mrs. Smith and Joe, but
they had gone as soon as they heard the
noise in initiating me. asked one of the
men if Mr.. Curtis was in the lodge. The
man said he was. | said / would like to
see him a minute. The man went into the
lodge room, and presently outcame my beau
tlful husband, all mutfled up. just whis-
pered word or two in his ear, and maby he
didn't pull off his gown and hood in short
order and walked home with me.
He left me that night in anger and mott
fication, and have not seen him SINCE But
then he had no need to be angry, because he
has always known that have been in favor
of "Women's Rights, and have always held
the women as capable as men. But when it
comes to the "Sons of Malta 1 think
"Women's Rights" is failure they cannot
do it. do not suppose any of the members
recollect my initiation, but they will recollect
the man who tainted, unless there have been
others who have tainted as we'll as myself
which last think quite probable.
Mrs. Curtis stops here. Her husband
we may add, is yet missing and not likely
soon to turn up. but she blames herself for
the whole thing.