Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-02-01
6 He Joined"

Democrat will be appreciated by all
old members of the honorable order
of {" One Thousand and One" which
f1ourished in early days in Mineral
Point:
Here is story which will certain
] " be read with interest by many
an old citizen of Madison. It's a
drummer's story. He said he would
not come off the train; he did not
propose to stop in Madison, but to
go on to MazoManie. The " brother
hood spoken of was the ancient
order OF the lone Thousand and
One" and the High Mogul" men,
toned was none other than Hon.
William Welch, long of Madison,
now of Minneapolis. The place of
initiation was in the old s Argus :"
block now owned by Geo. Heilman,
corner of Main and Webster streets.
Read the following:
1t was in Madison, some time ago,
and my recollection of that trip Ct
was then drummer y makes me
shudder. | had been round TOR
about two days, and made good
sales, and also made the acquaint-
ance of some good fellows Gas |
thought) in the central part of town.
| | was with a party at the-hotel,
talking and joking, when one of 'em
said to me:
You'd better remain tonight and
join our beloved order-the Mystic
al Brotherhood. It'll be a great
benefit to you in your travels, It's
the best society IN the state and you
can make friends by being known
as a member, in ten minutes after
you stop at a city or village"
|, like a sucker, took the cork
under and stayed and joined.
The mysterious Brotherhood then
met in hall near the hotel. B
kept saloon below the lodge room.
There were about twelve members
of the lodge, and most of them were
present to assist in my initiation
The officers were 4 High Mogul,
Second High Mogul, Secretary and
Treasurer Inside and Outside SEN
tinels, and CONT with three asst
ants. The initiation fee was any
thing the lodge could get, from 81
to SIS. | was received at the ante
room by a masked guard. | heard
grum voice inside say:
Is there any person in waiting to
be initiated into our beloved order?"
Another said:
There is one hard customer, my
lord, who has deposited the blunt
according to the requirements of
our sacred order"
A bell tapped and the whole order
instantly yelled Amen! Amen."
| was led in. The whole assemb-
ly were in long gowns, reaching to
their feet, of various colors, and had
their faces masked. | was blind
folded, and led three times around
the room, while they all saying:
Should you feel inclined to censure
Faults you may i'll others view,
Ask your own heart ere you venture
If 1t has not iailings toO!'
The bell tapped and | was halted
before the High Mogul. Near him
stood the Comit and three aids with
stuffed clubs three feet long. | was
sworn to answer all questions truth
fully and keep the secrets of the
order. Every time l failed to
answer question Immediately
stuffed club took me an awful belt
" far below the belt " in the rear.
The following questions were put
and answered.:
High Mogul-" Are you a mar
ried MANI"
Candidate Yes"
High Mogul-" How many child
rem have you? State their ages, sex
and compilations"
Before | had answered half | was
fairly lifted by the stuffed clubs.
High Mogul-" Are you in the
habit of running around nights?"
| answered "No" right quickly
though it was not exactly the truth,
to escape the clubs.
The devils had big plank in the
room rugged by trestles, with one
end seven feet high. Near the cen
ter of this plank was hinge that
worked with trigger, but | knew
nothing of this until later in the
proceeding. | herd all the while
running water, as if the reservoir
was being emptied. The bell tap
ped and | was marched around
again. The Great Mogul asked:
How much water is there in the
tank 7"
The answer was four feet
The Mogul said:
I" Let it be deeper"
Then he asked me-"
Have you any money, watches,
notes, papers rings and precious
stones that will be damaged by
water?o
| said No"
He then sang out:
How much water is in the
Tank"
six feet " was the answer.
Grand Gogul-" Let it be deeper
| was next led to the plank, and
compelled slowly to ascend it. [
had reache the end of it, and was
on my knees when the Mogul called
out again:
How much water is in the tank
now?"
The answer came, " Nine feet
The bell tapped, the end of the
plank hoped down, and | went
headlong but not into a tank of
water. | was caught in a large piece
of stout canvas, supplied with hand
holes around the edges and corners,