The Portland daily press., 1878-03-20
IChristian Union.l
A Hazed Students Device.

In 1872 somo of the law-and-order students
of Bowdon College undertook to stop all
hazing and other like Irregularities They
sometimes used "carnal weapons and used
them pretty effectively, too, to the grief of
those who considered hazing divine institu-
ton and all who interfered with 1t as having
no rights which hazer was bound to respect.
Some circumstances mads one Of the leaders
Of the anti-hazing party especially obnoxious,
and he was warned that some terrible ven-
geance would be executed upon him by league
formed for that purpose. he was not easily
frightened and he did not even think it nec-
essary to take special precautions. One night,
about midnight. seven Of the hazers broke into
his room and seized him in his sleep. 1t did
not take him long to wake up sufficiently to
compre hend the situation. Resistance was use
less. He instantly decided to play "possum"
and feign death. He was borne down two
flights Of stairs with q rush, in no gentle hands,
and with many a wrench and bruise, to the
pump. But he never moved; he lay perfectly
limp in their hands The device succeeded.
When they reached the pump one of the as
salants exclaimed: "He is dead" the fright
eoed students dropped him on the ground and
fed. The sight of the pump and the wet plat
form revived the dead, and he arose and pur-
sued the fleeing students. Fear sdded wings to
their fight; they were all masked aud they all
made good their escape He went back to bed
and being naturally unexcitable and cool, he
went to sleep, woke later than usual, ate his
breakfast, and went about his usual business,
taking no notice OF the affair. The students
held college meeting and passed strong reso-
lutions commendatory Of his course and char
acter, and condemning the perpetrators Of the
act as unworthy of college Fellowship. But
they were unknown, aud the college Faculty
was unable to take any action in the premises,
even II it had been minded TO do so. What
we're its inclination, or whether IL had any, we
do not know. .-..i..
The student, however, had decided what
course he would pursue before he went to sleep
that eventful night aud he was well satisfied
with his decision. He has shown in after life
in many a critical emergency. the same cool
ness and the same resouteness OF purpose
which served him then. For six weeks be alb
| solutely refused TO talk about the affair even to
| his most intimate risnds Every one thought
| became communicative. They "leaked'. The
| student waited and watched till his evidence
| was accumulated and convincing. Then one
morning, he waited on lawyer in the town
aud desired to retain him for criminal case Of
assault and battery. The lawyer was at first
inclined to pooh-pooh at him. The student
pressed the question: Is it au assault aud bat
terry to break into mans room at night and
carrv him forciby down stairs to pump on
him? Is it an offense against the laws Of the
| Slate? Is there any punishment provided for
| snc1 an offense? Will you take the retainer?
| Or shall it go to the lawyer over the way? The
| case was taken, the warrants were issued, the
| seven perpetrators were all arrested-if We are
| not mistaken, were marched out of their recita-
| ton room-one morning By the Constable; and
| seventeen collegiads were sum moned IS wit
nesses to prove the facts. The whole college