Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-06-16
A Nice Set of students.

The Madison University and the
Baptist Theological Seminary, where
Baptist ministers are turned out annu-
ally, is located at Hamilton, village
about twenty miles south of Syracuse,
n, Y. The institutions have always
been known as among the moral. Ha1-
ing has become very infrequent 90
currence, which makes the cruel and
barbarous treatment of two of the stu
dents few nights ago all the more to
be deprecated.
Early in the day it was decided by
several of the students to haze two of
their number belonging to the Sopho-
more class. About fifty students were
left Into the secret, and full line Of
procedure was determined on. Two
young men drove to Earlville, village
six miles distant, and secured Felt
Hall, assuring the owner That they
were to have some harmless exercises,
common in college life, and would not
require any fire or lights. The keys
were therefore placed in their charge.
Suppers for fifty were also engaged at
the hotel, 10 be served at 2 a. m.
After the two students who were to
be hazed had retired their rooms were
broken open. They were then ruth
lessly compelled to dress, and were
bound land and foot and gagged. A
close carriage was waiting, and into
this they were thrust, and the horses
heads turned toward Earlville. The
larger part of the participants had
gone in advance by carriages.
They arrived at their destination
ebout midnight, and Immediately took
charge of Felt Hall. Two large barrels
had previously been prepared for the
occasion. Sharpened nails had been
driven into them from the outside, 80
that they protruded nearly an inch on
the interior. The two victims were
placed in these barrels after the gags
had been removed from their mouths.
The barrels were then headed up. The
! floor OF the hall was wet down, and
small Are built in the center. The bar
rels were then rolled from Que end of
the hall to the other, and several times
around and over the FIRE. Revolvers
were fred and fire-crackers exploded.
The terrible din had aroused several
of the villagers, who assembled about
the hall. The cries of the imprisoned
young men could be heard above all the
confusion. A constable demanded ad-
mission to the hall, but was threatened
with violence He ungallantly retreat
ed. The barrels were finally rolled
down the stairs and into the street.
The heads were knocked IN and the
two students liberated. They were
more dead than alive, and presented
pitable sight.
When the citizens offered to lend aid
and call for physician the firing of re-
volvers began second time, and all
were glad to retreat. The young mems
clothing was nearly torn from their bod
les, and the blood flowed from the
wounds caused by their coming in con-
tact with the sharpened nails. The
hazers were indignant over the inter-
ference of the villagers, broke every
street lamp in town, and destroyed other
valuable property.
! 1t is alleged that nearly all Of them
were Intoxicated. They left the town
at a. IN, without eating the supper.
The young men who were so cruelty
tortured were taken With them. Both
are very i'll.
The faculty will hold thorough iu-
vestiga:ion. They will also settle the
damage done at Earlvillo. The whole
affair has caused just indignation. The
names of the students who were hazed
are withheld for the present. No such
treatment has ever been heard of in this
State. The high character of the insti-
tutior makes the nights work all the
more astonishing.