The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-13
knights OF E'ytiiins--A Coiored mans
Experience--He Claims 20 nave "ee"
.Bnmb0OzIcd.''

ESN1NpteahSn"
From the Pittsburg Commercial
last evening. while our reporter was
saoted in the MAYORS office, q stalwart col
nrnd man r1,shcd frantically into the once
and innuired for the Mayor or ms cleIh;
Mother of these officials were present, ana
the darkv was so informed, but believing
from the conduct Of the youth that some
thing was wrong, Chief Hague was called
and introduced TO him. After he had rcco-
Yercd his compoSurc he narrated the lolioG-
ing rs the result OF his experience while
hcipr initiated into the order known rs the
Knights of Pythias, claiming that his SELL
respect had been outraged and his name
ridiculcd bv every person in MlnersVille.
He said that about three weeks ago ne
was approachcd by two wcll-known cit
liens of MincrSviile, one physician,
The other lawyer, with the request
that he join the Knights of PVthlas.
lie AT first refused the invitation, out
finally yielded to persuasion, ana agreed 10
ioin The gentlemen referred 10 thcn III,
formed him that if he would call ut ieed
store on Centre avenue, near MlnerSVille,
four evenings afterward, he would be put
Ibrouph a :. degree" lie was on hand,
according to promise, and, as he AYERS, the
following programme was carried out lie
WAS stripped Of his clothing, blindtolded,
and handcuifed. He was then started run
ming through the feed store, 'ducked
with water, and bran thrown all over MN.
lie was made TO jump over benches, etc,
and after about an hour he was informed
that he had PASSED the first " degree" This
much for the first night. Tuesday evening
was arranged for the taking of the second de-
cree. The colored man was hunted UP ana
notified TO be on hand at the new hail, over
the car stables Of the Central passenger rail-
Wlv at MinerSville. where the hmghts
would be in session. SambO came III tune,
was presented to the large audience, who
observed him with masked faces, then con-
Quoted TO an "antc-room," stripped, Aand-
clilcd, and blinded rs before, and conducted
u the hall. Here he was made to perform
al sorts OF gymnastic ileatS, silch as running
around the hail. jumping over benches, but
ling the goat" etc. His conduct must
have been really ludicrouS. He was kept at
this for nearly two hours, when he was
taken to the ante-roCm, dressed, ana Scnl
home. with instructions to hencelorWard
consider himself knight Of the second de-
cree. He could not think OF 1t With any
degree of comfort. however, and resolved 10
inform all others bent on joinngth hhights
Of the tormcnts they would have to endure
20 become 4 member OF the Order. SWEEP
dreams came TO him during MS sum,
beers, however ne thought he had
arose TO the rank Of d. D. G. NJ.
p. G.. Il. of the Order: that he was out
on drcsS-parade in full regalia, and the
thought Of the trials he had endured was
but little compared with the honors now
heapcd upon him. Yesterday morning he
awoke to the painful reality that all WAS L
deluSion; that lie was still a - second-de-
greed knight Subsequently he was in
formed that he had been humbugged, BAN
boozlcd etc, and determining to punish
his prosecutors, called at the Mayors office
last evening TO take the necessary steps to-
ward that end. Chief Hague, after the
darlv had concluded his somewhat lengthy
narrative. consoled him in the following
manner: $50 home, my good man 1t Is
all joke. Nothing is meant whatever"
The darby replied, Ono, sab; III do no
such thing. They can't make no fool OF dis
chile. I'll 90 to a squares office and sue
DEM Exit negro.