The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-08-03
KESTUCK EGE-EHLUX REVELA-
TI0NS.
A State Senator an Acknowledged
Leader-The Secret Signs and Grips.

A Louisville dispatch of the 21st says
Nine men were brought before United
States Commissioner Beatty to-day,
charged with being concerned in the re-
cent Ku-klux outrages near Fitchburg,
killed and several wounded One Thorn
he belonged to the Ku-Klux gang, and
had joined them to escape persecution
He was with them in the attack on
Vaughn house, and pointed out six
prisoners he recognized in the party,
mentioning the names of others not pres
ent. He had been warned to leave by
them, and had been hunted and perss
cuted, and joined the party in order to
escape injury and learn all about them
so that he could inform on them and get
satisfaction for his wrongs. He told of
several bands in Estell county, organized
and under orders of their leaders, and re-
peated several cases of outrages by them
where he was forced to be present under
threats. 1t is stated that State Senator
Cockerhill is at the bottom. He was
frequently spoken of by the members as
their leader. Payne was interviewed this
evening by a reporter of the Courier
Journal, to whom he gave the following
account Of the secrets of the Ku-KluX
Khan:
Il first signiGed my intention of join
ing the band 20 Henry Adams, working
in the same drift with me, about the II.
of May. Henry then took me to the
middle of the drift, and in the presence
of John Patrick, having me put my left
hand on my heart and hold up the right,
administered the following oath to which
/ assentcd: You do Solemnly swear
you will net reveal a sign or password Of
this secret organization to which you at
tach yourself Also, you will aid and
assist any brother IN any difficulty IN
which he may become involved, and you
will support the 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 a sign or
password belonging to this secret organi-
zation. | do not know the oath by heart
but the above is about it, There is also
something about the negro in it. Adams
also gave me signs and passwords. To
recognize a brother at a distance, we
raise our hat with the right hand, and
pull the brim over the right eye. The
answer is with the same hand. Both
then draw the left hand across the mouth
as if wiping it, and stroke the breast with
the right. The grip is made by grasping
hands in the usual manner, with the
thumb pushing tight between the other
thumb and forefinger, and giving only
one shake saying: IN all right how
are your He answers: IN all right.
| reply: How 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 a
letter. [ tell him to spell. He says S. ,
say L. He says \. [ say p He
says u [ say =, all spelling out slap
up, which is the test word of the order.
If want any further proof [ say sick,
when he answers bell. If | still require
further proof, | say "a vigilia.' If he is
all right he replies 'eternally. A still
further test would be for me to ask what
is most like cedar?' when he would an
swer Il dead rebel. | would ask why
and he would answer because it never
dies If | get into a difficulty and see |
am overpowered, and [ desired to know
if any brother was present, lock arms
across my breast, as i cold, and say, /
wish | knew if any of ST. Nary's children
were about If any brother is about, he
will Immediately come to my aid, and, If
my opponent be a member of the band,
he will Immediately desist and we become
friends. When travelling at night, on
meeting person and wishing to know If
he were brother, | say Hail and give
a loud slap with my hand on my thigh.
He answers with two siaps.