Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-03-31
Anglo Saxon Reader Cremated.

and Jefferson college held a ''mocB
trial in College chapel, to decide
whether or not to cremate their An
glo Saxon Reader which they had
been studying the last term. The
court was chosen from members OF
the above named class as follows
Judge ofCourt, Srodes; Prosecuting
Attorneys, Mcclure and Loves; At.
torneys for the Defence, Harriet and
Wise; Court Crier, Porter Clerl
of Court, Wright. The trial was
opened by the reading of the charge
brought against the Anglo Saxon,
which was that of witchcraft. A ju-
ry was called composed of members
of the class. They responded totheil
names and came from all parts OF
the audience into the jury box. They
swore by the uplifted hand and any
way contrary to the binding oath ia
ken in regular court. The prisoner
was brought in by Sheriff Armstrong
and placed in the dock. She was
not the Anglo Saxon herself, but g
:. Sophomore dressed in female appar
el, of a very coarse texture, of a red
color, and wearing false face and
handouts. She represented the
witch Anglo Saxon. At the end Of
the trial the jury brought in yer
dict of guilty of the charges preferred
The audience dispersed, but in hall
an hour afterward, the Sophomore
class as had previously been planned,
formed in line on the college campus
and proceeded to march, all being
dressed in sheet ike clothing with
paper hats, and carrying canes in
their hands The living so called
witch that represented the Anglo
Saxon, disappeared at the end of the
trial, bat a rag dummy lying upon a
stretcher, was substituted for it and
carried by four of the class, at the
head Of the procession. The line of
march was through the principle
streets of the town. All went smooth
ly until the parade passed into Mai
den street, when four men in two
buggies drove rapidly through the
ranks of the Sophomores and out in
to the country. Many of tine class.
and other students narrowly escaped
being ran over 1t was believed to
have been an act of carelessness, but
the return of the parties and again
passing, in the manner as before.
through the parade, which had re-
formed, convinced all that il was ma
liciously done to break up tie parade.
Marching was resumed, when for the
third time, the rash and rough driv
ers returned. The class ran for safe
ty to one side. but the roughs turn
ed their horses in after them, howey-
er, all escaped except Grant Hess,
who was struck in the ab lomen by a
buggy wheel, knocked down and hunt.
Great indignation now ran through
the class. 1t was believed they oald
return, and the cry was raised, ..let
us stone them" Stones were hastily
gathered, but before any order for
throwing them coGll be arranged,
the party wss reported coming. The
angry crowd scattered to both sides
OF tbe road, and although shouts
were raised, ''.,il get to one side Of
the road, it was too late for such a
preoaution, Tor TIE party in bugaies
appeared. 4 terrible volley of stones
was delivered from both sides of the
road, endlngeIing the safety of all,
but no students were hurt One of
the occupants of the first buggy re
spOnGed b5 two shots from revol
Yer, The horse was whipped up to a
run. but not fast enough 10 escape
the stones. Next morning the buggy
WAS discovered at the livery stable,
from which it had been hired, the
top was full OF holes, the horse was
wounded, and one of the occupants
of the buggy was seen with his head
tied up, having been hit with stone.
The second party were loug in re
turning, but finally they came at full
speed, and passing by were stoned,
although it is believed they escaped
with little damage. Although the
class had become greatly demoraiz-
el by the unlocked for insults aud
especially by one Of their number
having been wounded, vet they rail-
led at-th9 call OF several of their lea
ders and proceeded out of town and
then climbed GalloS's hill, tine place
fer lie cremation. Previous 10 the
arrival of the class, and the crowd
that followed in the rear, 10y order
of committee, a fire had been start
ed on the very highest point Of hill
Near it, all in readiness, was a barrel
of crude oil, from some one of the
wells in the vicinity. 1t was in such
Il condition that it would not make q
serious explosion. The crowd having
gathered around, the barrel was roll
ed nearer the fire, the head WAS then
knocked in. The rag dummy or An
glo Saxon witch was placed on top.
Grant Oliver then stepped to The
front and delivered the funeral ora
ton. Tie barrel was then set on
fire at the lower end. The flames
burned on the outside quite while,
before reaching the oil, but when it
did reach it the barrel exploded caus-
ing a brilliant fame of fire which
lighted up the scene. Thus was ere
mated the Anglo Saxon in the form
of rag dummy.
GENERAL .N'EWS ITEMS.