American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-03-21
*. X. X.
TRE sECRE? EVELUx KLAr
CLIPPINGS FROM TIE PRESS.



ORDER has risen as if by magic, int
lflShtlul proportions, and assume
Il shape the most appalling. 3u
a week ago it was the subject Of jok
and laughter, a d regarded only Il
soutce OF amusement; but in TIN
tWlnkllng Of an eye it has expandtt
INTO the huge proportions Of 9ian
inll OF power and Of passion. Blu
= IN It's expansion it has lost none o
its mysteries. On the contrary, thi.
element il is, that nas grown so won
derlully. Twice has this Khan made
Its appearance IN onr midst within a
week, once at the funeral and around
the grave Of john Bicknell, and once
at the iail to take peaceable posses.
sion OF the murderer; but on neither
occasion has the most active inouirv
OF the quickest suspicion been able
to point to any individual as belong.
ing to the klan. Who they ara. no
one can even surmiSe. But all know
! they are great III numbers, and as
determined as men can be, if men
they are.
Since the war closed this communi.
! ty has not been SO profoundly agtat-
ed as within the past week. At all
hours of the day men here gathered
IN groups, and had serious converse
upon the terrible state Of affairs.
Every face has worn a sad ana Seri-
Gus aspect, and scarcely ever "A laugh
has been heard. And the occasion
is one that may we'll beget sorrow.
First came the revolving news of the
bloody death Of John Bickuell. and
when the first numbing sense oil
horror had given place to the firlcrst
Indignation and thirst for vengeance.
when scores OF the mHrlered mans
COM anionS and acquai tancps were
scouting the country in every direc-
non Ill search OF the foul tiend that
had taken his life the community
was again agitatcd with the very |
deepest SORROW and heartieSt sympa.
Thy ny the news OF the death Of Col. |
Btcknell, the father Of the murdered
man. And To add a deeper coloring
TO the sad picture, it was announced
That the beloved mother and wife
was prcStlated under the terrible
tt1lic'jon and held oH to life only hv
a thread. Such were tNe FEELINGS OIL
the community on Sunday when the
foIIlug bell announced the burial ot
John BickneiI. Although it raincd
'old Sleeting torrents. hundreds and
joined the SoIroWing pro.
'eS>lon and gathered at the grave TO
-rStiiN at once their esteem for the
departed. aud their Indignation at
he crime Of which lie WAS the victim.
The scene at the grave added the
'lement OF mysteries that atone
vas wanting to wind mp the public !
ceiling to the highest pitch of eX
element. The appearance in the
procession OF Il body of horspmrn
in all the my lstcrv of the 5
most complete and tantaStical dis
,ui>eS, and their silent solemn cprp {
lonleS at the grave, knrclng and,
nth uplltted hands, vowing ven T
eance on the murderer, completed
he act. )
Everybody had wished the mur- e
"rer caught and executed, but all t
1T an nnc ainty and fear that he o
llghr escape, or if taken and con. "
rmn"d 10y the courts that pardon II
lsht he extended to him. Bat o
there was no such fear. \
he mysterious band, coming from e
D one knew where, going no one II
new whittier, Slipped in and took u
le place in the public estimation Z
lat the avcnging tatcs held in the s.
indS of the Greeks. Henceiorth tt
Iere WAS a breathlcSS waiting, a Y,
'om that could not be avoided a III
aiting, as it were, tor the approach ri
a dread monster whose spreading IL
adow had already come. The can ut
re and execution Of the murderer dt
rs thencetorth toregone conclusion he
certcd as events TO he expected 81
til almost as much certainty as K
ath itself The expected evcntcamp te
pass. Through all his ridingS, six m
Solute untirinG young men follow. bt
by day and 10y night, never stop t.
ng, never. resting until the miSrr- ut
lie cu'prit was caught and safely to
igcd in prison. III
How from the prison he was twice AN
ken, once To escape and he return wi
and once to he executed, is else Of
Irre related. The muurntul cataS- "
'phe has left the community tn
angely filed with sense of salts de
zion that justice has been done. OF tee
.rct that it has been done in such u an
inner, 0f wonder and doubt as to or
: bands that did the work. and Wt
ally of dread aud uncertainty as co
the consequences. Siu
ii
From the Louisville Courier
March 5.-The spread
ihr my >teIiuuS order known as
kiHX klau is causing a good lat
Il oi excitement and general com 1i.
nt. The Radicals insist that it po
I political organization, and are tai
calcuing all suItS of Vengeance lea
inst HE members of il. cnr
h Press and Times saws that "a q
Dlg Efforts will Ice made hy 81 q
,wnlow to eXiprminatr the klan. WI
this while the LOYAL League. a dr
military oath bound uIgaIiza- pnI
=, is found all over the State. sim