Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-12-16
INDIANA KU-KLUX.
HoVV the Recent Tragedy was
Performed.
What the Indiana People think
of il.


From the Louisville Courer-Journal.l
The descent Of the Seymour masque
raiders on the New Albany Jail appears to
have been organized, as il was executed,
with uncommon secrecy, resolution and
address.
The parties involved in the transaction
| got aboard the down train at various
| points between Indianapolis and Jeffer-
sonville, and were not suspected by any
one. The train was delayed about fifty
| five minutes, and did not reach the JEFF
fersonville depot until nearly three
O'Clock. Il was in time, however, to
catch the early train for New Albany,
and on this the masqueraders collected
themselves. AS soon as they had fairly
got under way, en- route for New Albany,
they made prisoners OF the engineer ana
conductor, and on arriving at the New
Albany depot, locked them up in the
ticket Office and placed q guard over
them. The party then went to the jail
and did the work they had set them
selves to do, as we have described. Then
they retT&ced theic steps; re-enteFed
the tram; placed the engineer and con-
ductor st their posts, bat still well glard-
ed aud, under penalty of death, com.
mRnded these railroad officials to take
them Instantly back to JeffersoHvIlle.
Y EElwithin 8 short distance OF the de-
pot, st this latter point, they esused the
train to stop, and, getting ont themselves,
they released the engineer and conductor
ordering them to return to New Albany,
which they did. Il Yss now nearly five
O'Clock, the time Of departure for the
early train on the JelfersonviIis, Madi-
son and Indianapolis Railroad. They
accordingly separated themselves, strag-
gled in one by one st the JeffsrsonVille
depot, got on the cars Sc ordinary passen-
gers, and long before daylight were speed
ing over the country, apparently uncon-
scious of the terrible tragedy in which
they had borne the leading paris. The
telegraph wires had been cut, and by
the time the news could Iursue them,
they were beyond the reach cf recogni-
ton.
The Seymour vigilance committee is /
composed of men of all sects, of all par
ties, and Of all conditions; but in this
business their agents conducted the
bloody mission which was iDtTusted TO
them with celebrity, union, and purpose
which are alone ascribed to the mystical
Ku-Klux Elau.
The feeling ia Indiana, as far as we
can learn 1t, is one in which disapproval F.
and relief make up the chief ingredi- !
ents. LaW-abijing people are naturally !
shocked st SO startling q violation Of the /
law; but, on the other hand, peaceable |
citizens feel that no community was safe /
so long as the felons remained unhsnged. /
The prOvar6ial locseness of the law, the /
danger Of escape by legal manipulation /
or outside e0n.rivance, and the desperate |
character of the prisoners, are set up as |
pretext for an Gct which cannot be ex- /
cused except upon grounds of great pa0- I
lie apprehension and absolute public /
peril. Is is declared that these grounds /
exist in the MINDS OF the people of Sey- /
mour, aud it is clsar enough that they (
exist in their imsginAtions, which more 4
OF less control the conduct Of ell men. /
The subject, however, is both eompli- /
Gated and mysterious, and we leave it ia
the keeping of those who have more i'm
mediate interests than We have, and are
better advised.