Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-22
KENTUCKY,
The Mining Ku-Klux of Estell
Their Secrets Revealed by d
Member.
The Grip, Passwords, Signs of
Distress. etc.

Wants tho Internal Revenue office
LOUISVILLE, July 21.-There is strou,
feeling among Republicans here in favo
of the appointment of Col. Josiah Civ
ms, Deputy Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, in case of resignation of Pleas
anton, which private sdVices say is i'm
minent. A petition TO that effect has
been forwarded to Washington, and
Others will probably be sent on.
The Mining Riots In Esteli.
Nine men were brought before United
States Commissioner Beatty to day
charged with being concerned in the re-
cent Ku- Elux outrsges near Fletchburg,
Estell county, in which one man was
killed. and several wounded, all of the
Kr-Klux party. Bony Vaughn, one of
me negroes Ku.Kluxed, testified to the
attack on his home, in which one Thomas
Payne gave States evidence. He said be
belonged to the Ku-Klux gang; had
Joined them to escape their prosecutions.
He was with them in the attack on
Vaughn's house, and pointed ont six of
the prisoners be recognized in the party,
so mentioning the names of number
of others not present. He had been
warned to leave by them and hunted and
his house searched for him, and had
joined the band in order to escape in
jury and learn all about them so he
could inform on them and get satisfaction
for his wrongs He told Of several bands
In Esten county, organized and under the
orders of their leaders, and repeated sew
eral snstsnces of outrsges by them when
he was forced to be present under threats.
II appears that the moving cause of these
organizations, which are local, and known
to exist only in the mining districts of
E~tell and Powell counties, wss the en-
trance OF an Ohio company into the dis
trict, who employed q large number of
negro hands, thus arousipg Jealousy and
Ill feeling among the whites of thst vi
cinity. Payne's evidence, if true, is
most important, as it is the first instance
of a so-callOd Ku-Klux exposing his or
ganization and companions.
1t is stated that Mr.. C5ckerill, mem
Der Of the Kentucky State Senate, was at
the bottom of the Estill county organiza-
ton. He was frequently referred to by
the members as the leader, and it seemed
to be generally understood among them
that he was prominent mover in their
affairs.
Tho prisoners were held in $1,000 bail
to answer at the October term Of the
Federal Court
Payne was interviewed this evening by
reporter of the Courier journal, to whom
be gave the following account of the
Ku. Kiux- Khan: l first signifed my in
teniion of joining the band to Henry
working in the same department
with Inc, about the 18th of May. Henry
then took me to the middle of the depart
ment, and il the presence of John
Patrick, having me put my left hand on
heart and held up my right, he admiuis-
tered the following oath to which l as
rented:
You do solemnly swear you will not
reveal a sign or password of this secret
to which you now sttach
yourself; also you will aid and assist any
brother in any difficulty in which he may
become involved, and you will support
Democracy, and may you suffer your
body to be cut in four parts and cast into
the four quarters of the earth, before you
will reveal q sign or password belonging
TO this secret organization.
| do not know the oath by heart, but
the sb0ve is shout it. There is also
something about negroes init. Adams also
gave signs and passwords. To recognise q
brother at distance, We raise our hatA
with the right hand and pull The brim
down over the right eye. The answer is
the same, with the left hand back, then
draw the left hand across the mouth as if
wiping it and strike the breast with the
right The grip is made by grasping the
hands in the usual manner, with the
thumb pressing tightly between the
other thumb and foreflnger, and giving
only one stroke, saying, Il am all right,
how are you He answers, 81 am alright"
| reply. elbow may know you are all
right" he answers by word or by letter.
| ask which do you prefer. He may
call for either. If he asks for letter,
tell him to spell. He says s. say L.
He says A. l say P. He says l. |
say P. All spelling out Slapup, which is
the test word Of the order. If want
any further proof, say Dick When he
answers, Bill. II l still require further
proof, l say Avigilia. If he is all right
he replies, EternslIy. A etill further test
would be for me to ak, What is most
like Cedar0 He would answer, A dead
Rebel l would ask, Why! He to sn-
swer, Because 1t never dies.
If get into difficulty and see | am
OvcrpoTered and desire 10 know if any
brother is present l lock arms across my
breast IS if cold, and say wish l knew
if any of 81. Mary's children were shout.
II any brother is about ne will immedi-
ately come TO my aid, and if my oppO-
nent be 9 member of the band ne will
Immediately desist and we become
friends
When travelling at night on meeting q
person and desiring to know If be is q
brother l say halt, and give loud clap
with my hand on my thigh. He answers
with two claps.
When it is desired by the Captain to
call meeting he sends Marshal 10 no.
tify each member. The place of meeting
is always in some dense wood, without
fire or light of any kind. No man must
leave his home for the place of meeting
before dark When the meeting is as
sembled the roll is called and the absen-
tees sent for and compelled to come IN
der guard. No raid is ever made unless
every member of the band is slong.
CALIFORNIA.
Dan.,nCrn1sc gTnfIv-A Wn0heER Tesus1