Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-04-20
KENTUCKY KU-KLUxIsM.
Letter from Rev. j. G. Fee-A Micn'
fxam MAN the Victim Of the MASK.
ed ASsasDfnHs

lBerea (Ky.I Cor. Of the Cincinnati Chronicle.
1 have Just learned that some man nai
sent slanderous report concerning IT
w. W. Wheeler Of orr place, Berea. Tne
writer evidently designed the false state.
ment to be vindication of the brutal CON.
duct of the Ku.Klux and forestallment
of the public mind.
Mr.. Wheeler is native of Michigan
was time in the employ OF the American
Missionary Association as teacher among
the freedmen in Virginia; has been
citizen of Berea, KY, for some six years
is a trustee of Berea College, and Chris.
tian gentleman. His wife is native Of
the same State, Michigan, Christian
LADY; was for time an assistant teacher
of Latin and mathematics in Berea Col.
lege.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wheeler are very exemp'
larry people. Mr.. Wheeler went to Fitch.
burg, Estill county, KY, place about AZ
miles from Bsrea, for the purpose, not OF
raising colored school, nor mixed school,
as was alleged, bnt solely to collect some
money due Berea College, and borrow
some for himself. His wife desired to see
the iron works, and for this purpose went
with her husband, and took with her
their little daughter. They went quietly
to Fitchburg and put mp at the hotel. The
next day Mrs. Vaughan, who, with her
husband, had previously resided near Be-
rea, called on Mrs. Wheeler and invited
her and her husband to take dinner with
Mr.. and Mrs. Vaughan that day. This
they did, and in the afternoon Mrs. Wheel
er, desiring to see the furnaces, accepted
Mrs. Vaughan's guidance, and both rode
in Mr.. Wheeler's carriage around the fur
naces. This, Mrs. Wheeler was assured,
had been frequently done before by other
white ladies. Mr.. and Mrs. Vaughan are
people almost as fair as your informant,
yourself or myself. Mr.. and Mrs. Waugh
an are tidy persons in their appearance at
home and abroad, and Mr.. Wheeler at the
time knew nothing against the past or
present virtue Of Mrs. Vaughan. Ken
tucky Ku-Klux the custodiaus of virtue
"Tell it not in Gath" Well might virtue
say, ''Save me from my friends" Regard
for virtue was not the cause of this out
rage upon the person of Mr.. Wheeler, as
the sequel will show. Mr.. Wheeler, at
the invitation of some young men who
prayer-meeting held by colored people at
night. AS he went from this meeting to
the hotel where his wife and child were,
two roughs met him and demanded halt.
This he did not do. Seven shots were
fred. Mr.. Wheeler had no weapons; but
was unhurt; went on to the hotel. Many
persons heard the firing and came to the
hotel. The conclusion of most persons
was, that these fellows wanted money or
sport. Mr.. Wheeler came to the same
conclusion. and went to bed without in.
forming his wife of what had transpired.
About two o'clock at night Mr.. Wheeler
was reused by the heavy tread of men
looking out of his window and saw about
90 men drawn up in line, with their guns
in hand. Soon violent men, conducted by
the landlord, were at his door, and de-
manded that the door be opened. With
this they gave assurance that he should
not be hurt. Immediately they seized
him, yet in his night clothes, dragged
him down the stairs. double quicked him
about quarter of mile to large log,
then one seized him by the hair, jerked
him across the log, another by the feet,
whilst two others with hickory rods, gave
him over 40 lashes together with blows,
bruising his body in the most shocking
manner. afterwards saw the bruised
flesh myself. ... .........-- .
They let him up; charged him with
having come there to "set up a niger
school," He said he had not They said,
You are id Massachusetts, Yankee"
gan" "Then," said they. "you are Nerth-
"Y es," said he. II am" They then asked
He said no, and then asked them if they
would theirs. They said, "He is not PEN
itent; give him some more" They PIN
toned him down again, and gave him 10
more blows; then let him up, and ques-
toned him as before, saying, "We are
Democrats" =..r
They then removed him to the spring,
not far distant, and proposed to hang
him. Others said, "He has had enough"
and hanging was sommuted to 10 more
stripes, which were then given to him
over the shoulders and arms, bruising the
body there, as previously, over his loins.
They then demanded that be leave the
place within an hour.
He returned to the hotel, found many
citizens there together, with many board
ers who were boarding in the house. No
man offered to him sympathy. aid or pro-
lection. He left, with his wife and beau
tiful little child, bruised, mangled, but
man. He had violated no law,
disturbed no man, nor with his knowledge
Of persons there, had he violated Christian
propriety. The National Government
and every liberty-loving citizen has been
in the person of Mr.. Wheeler.
/ give the statements of Mr.. Wheeler
rs he gave them to me and to other friends
1t Berea. For prudential reasons the
'acts were not given to the press for a |
lime. Before this shall reach you that
lime will have expired. -... 8 "a.
L am now attending a meeting in
Bracken county, KY, my native county.
hear learned the fact that the false state. |
nent is prejudicial to Mr.. Wheeler, and
designed to abate that righteous
public indignation which the facts in the
'ause ought to elicit. 1, therefore, send
his to you, and ask that papers which
ave published the previous statement
will publish this. Also that other papers
Who wish to give Mr.. Wheeler proper
and to the virtuous COM
nunity facts for thought, will also pub
ish. r-.~f
1 ask that copy may go to Senator
herman, because he is wisely proposing
hat Congress do something for the pro-
ection of loyal men in the South. Many
here are in Kentucky who are beginning
0 think that the National Government is
lmost as impotent as was Gov. Stevenson
imself. The loyal people of Kentucky
yould be glad to have protection, first of
II, through State authorities. If this
annot be had, then from National. If
rom neither, then will the loyal people
rganize, as they did in California years
ince, and enforce the law. The Govern
lent ought, at any expense and at all
azards, to give protection to its own
,yal citizens.
Let US reconstruct at home before at
,mpting to add foreign belligerent ele-
rents. JOHN G.. FEE.
DecOratiOn Nav Orators.