The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-04-25
Kentucky Kuklux Again.

A TRUSTEE OF COLLEGE VISITED AT
MIDNIGHT BY AN ARMED MoB-HE
Is DRAGGED FROM HIS Room IN A
HOTEL, BRUISED AND BEATEN.
BEREA, KY, April II, II.
To the Editor of the Louisville Commercial
The following account of Kuklux bar
barity is furnished at our request. Mr..
Wheeler is worthy Christian farmer,
living in this place, and trustee of
Bsrea College. We have known him in
timately for five years,and have no doubt
of the entire truthfullness of his state
ment We send several copies simultan-
eously to leading papers, hoping it may
help to impress good citizens Of both Sec
tons with the necessity of maintaining
law and order, and promoting Christian
civilization in the South.
What cognizance Kentucky Courts will
take of this crime is yet to be determin-
ed.
Z. H. FAIRcHILD,
President Of Berea College.
JOHN G. FEE,
Pastor of Christ's Church.
j. AR. ROGERS,
Professor in Berea College.
JOHN j. JACKSON,
Justice of the Peace.
STATEMENT OF MR.. WHEELER.
On the 18th of March l went with my
wife and little daughter to Fitchburgh,i in
Estill County, the seat of the Red River
Iron-works, on business. We were &C.
quainted with about dozed coloren PEG.
pie, most Of whom had been students in
Berea, and two whites. On the 18th ,af
ter attending to my business,I visited my
former acquaintances. We took dinner
with colored family, former residents
of Berea, and toward night the woman
rode out with my wife from the hotel
where we were stopping. At night at
tended a prayer-meeting at the colored
church-the only church in the place
and as was returning alone, was met by
two men, who, when they had passed me,
called out roughly, "Hold on you are the
man we want to see." l replied, Il don't
want to see you," and passed on. They
rushed up, crying, Surrender! surren-
der" | ran, and they fred at me. AT
| the same time two or three other men
sprang from the roadside and fred.
After running about thirty steps in the
darkness l stumbled over pile of cind.
ers and fell. The had fred seven shots
and ceased, probably they thought had
been hit. Along the streets and at the
hotel l met crowds who had heard the
firing and thought is was an effort to rob
me, retired without informing my wife
of the occurrence. About 2 or O'Clock
were awakened by confusion in front Of
the hotel, and heard voices calling "open
the door," looked cautiously out and
saw by the light Of the furnace fire TWEEN
ty or thirty men in line, some or all with
guns. Several were soon at our dool
shaking it violently and calling "open thu
door you shan't be hurt" My wifi,
said, 80, what shall we do" Pray,
said L. "Jesus will take care of me.
Knowing that resistance would be wors'
than useless, opened the door. Their,
stood the landlord with light, and hal
dozen men who seized me, dragged M
down stairs and rushed me barefoot owe
the cinders, the leader shouting, Fall in
file left, double quick" Meantime tn
leader pounded me with his fist, utterinl
the most terrible curses and oaths.
In reply to some threats of theirs,
said II love Jesus, and he will SAX,
care Of me-" "Yes," said they "yo,
Methodist hypocrite. you'll see how Jesu
will take care Of you when you are hang
ing twenty feet high l said, "You MAJ
hang me, but you cannot harm me-