The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-04
HAZING MOST HORRIBLE.
The Cruel Outrage Which a Lot of
Theological students Put Upon
Two SOphomores.

CHICAGO, June "A special to the Tribune
from Syracuse, New York, SAYS: The Madi-
son University and the Baptist theological
seminary, where Baptist ministers are turned
cut annually, is located at Hamilton, a vii
Iage about twenty miles south of this city
The institutions have always been known as
among the moral Hazing has been very
lnfrequent occurrence, which makes the cruel
and bar bareus treatment of two of the stu
dents all the more to be deprecated.
Early i'll the day it was decided by several
of the students to haze two of their number
belonging to the Sophomore class. About
fifty students were let into the secret, and a
full line of procedure was determined on
Two young men drove to Earlville, village
six miles distant, and secured Felt hall. as
surfing 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, to be served at a. IN.
After the two students who wers to be
hazed had retired, their rooms were broken
open. They were then ruthless!y compelled
to dress, and were bound hand and foot ami
gagged. A closed carriage was in 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 about
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, SO that they protTuded nearly an inch
on the interior. The two victims were placed
in these barrels after the gags had been re-
moved from their months The barrels were
then headed up. The floor of the hall was
wet down, and small fire built in the centre
The barrels were tsen rolled from one end of
the hall to the other, and several times around
and over the fire. Revolvers were fired 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 admission to the hall. but was
threatened with violence He ungallantly
retreated 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 pitahle sight
w hen the CITIZENS offered to lend aid and
call for physician the firing of revolvers be-
gan second time, and all were glad to re-
treat. The young mems clothing was nearly
torn from their bodies and the blood flowed
from the wounds caused by their coming in
contact with the sharpened nails The hazers
were indignant over the interference of the
villagers, broke every street lamp in the town
and destroyed othes valuable property,
!. 1t is alleged that nearly all Of them were in
toxicated, ministers, so-called, and all. They,
left the town at a. m without eating the
supper. The young men who were so cruelty
tortured were taken with them. Both are
lying very i'll.
The faculty will hold thorough inyestisa-
ton. They will also settle the damage done
at Earlville 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 ia
this state The high character of the institu.
ton makes the nights work all the more as
tonishiIg