Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-01-24
TRAGEDYIN A MASONIC LODGE.
THE FATAL MISHAP THAT BEFELL
REV. ]. W. JOHNSON AT
HIS INITIATION.

REV. j. W. JOHNSON AT
HIS INITIATION.
A special to the Philadelphia
Press gives th particulars OF the
accident by which the Rev. j. w.
johnson was killed az Huntington,
West Virginia, while taking the
Royal Arch Degree in Masonry.
One feature of the ritual Occurr-
ed in what Is known as the dark
room, an apartment on the third
floor, about eight feet wide and
twenty feet long. AT one end is a
window aud at the other a door
opening into the lodge room prop.
er, which is lighted with electricl.
ty. In the middle of the little
room is three feet trap which
opens into vault, or arrangement
ika an elevator shaft. This vault,
which extends from the ceiling Of
the second story to the floor, is
some eight feet square and walled
up with wooden partition. 1t has
depth of some thirteen feet.
In the ceiling of the dark room
is hook to which is fastened a
double block aud tackle. The first
block is close to the ceiling, while
the second Is near the floor and
directly over the trap. A rope
seven. .eighths of an inch thick pass
ed three times over the top block.
1t is attached to a ring above the
second block, the end being wrapp-
ed around similar to hangman's
knot. Beneath the lower block
hangs a short loop, through the
end of which is passed a short
stick or bar. This stick is strad-
died by the candidate, his legs
hanging on either side, while he
clutches the block with his hands
and holds himself in position. He
is then lowered into the vault by
the members of the lodge, who
have hold of the other end Of the
rope, which generally lies loosely
piled upon the floor. The cere-
mony at this point is symbolic OF
the search IN the ruins OF King
Solomon's temple. The vault rep
resents the ruins and the candidate
one of party making the search.
| He descends into the vault and
| finds in one corner a small box, and
which is typical of the Ark OF the
Covenant, After this he is raised
again to the dark room. Next fol
lows the lecture, during which Il
explained the ceremony he has JUS
passed through and the Dlollca
events 1t symbolizes.
The block and tackle had Oeel
in constant use by the Huntington
lodge for over three years, There
has never been anything to arouse
the slightest suspicion of its weak
ness. In fact, the machinery, par
aphernaIia, and furnishing OF th'
lodge.room were the finest an(
most complete Of any IN the State
Mr.. johnson was a tall, well-bull
man, weighing some 1SO pounds
he had seated himself astraddlt
the bar and caught the block will
his hands, when suddenly there wa
; a wblrrlng sound and the end o
the rope was seen to jerk loos
from the ring about the block. Il
some way, most probably from th
long and constant use, the rop
/, had been gradually becoming loos
ened and nnwrapped, and Nj
Johnson's heavy weight detache
it entirely. Mr.. johnson dlsaT
., peared, and an instant later wa
heard the dull sound with whic
he struck the hard floor OF th
vault thirteen feet below. He II
mained conscious, though terribl
= injured, ana died on Sunday morn
= ing last, the accident having OF
Cured on Friday night. He hel
the lodge entirely blameless. IL
;, was not blind.tolded and kne
!, perfectly well what he was to g
Through with in the vault accor'
Ing to the ritual.