The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-04-08

DerS many prominent ana profess
ional men, has probably the most
complete and expensive "iniiia-
ting apparatus IN the country.
Nothing approaching the blood
curdling rites of this society has
been known since The days of The
"Knighls of Malta" which order
was virtually broken up by the
death of a young man at Louisville
from injuries inflicted during his
initiation.
Before victim is permitted to
enter the lodgeroom he is taken in
charge by Two or more guides"
who first blindfold him and then
remove most Of his clothing.
Sometimes he Is led on foot befbre
the presiding officer, but occasion,
ally he is mounted on a square
wooden pole, borne on the should,
ers of assistant "guides" and to
which the unhappy Initiate clings
in frantic efforts to avoid being
shaken off, and meanwhile hls
thighs are abradel and bruised hy
the sharp corners Of the beam
which he is astride. Sometimes
this mode Of entry is varied by
obllgine the neophyte 10 ride on
an artificial camel or elephant car.
ried by the brothers The victim
is made TO imagine that he is on Il
structure Of considerable height,
and while the procession is moving
around the room the guide occa.
sionally whispers "look out for he
top OF that door," and instantly
The poor fellow ON the elephant
ducks his head, whereat all the
brethren laugh noisily because
there is no door, When the victim
is led in on foot the brethren in
dulge in all SORTS Of ieering re-
marks and criticisms on his shape
and appearance, and lie Is a ihor.
oughly Inundated man before he
stands before The "altar" This
mode is sometimes varied by OBJ
lection being raised to lhe new.
corners admitlance, and he is halt.
ed just inside the lodgeroom door,
where he stands to hear himself
discussed in a hearless manner.
1t is alleged that he has been in
jail, or that he is a liberllne or a
drunkar1. or a 'deadbeat,' or that
he beats his wife, and members
make indignant speeches protest,
ing against The admission of such
a man in the order. A certain
prominent man on hearing these
accusations tore the bandage from
his eyes and challenged The lodge
singly and collectively to mortal
combat. He then rushed from the
place and spent two months in
trying TO ascertain the name of The
man who made the Objectionable
speech.
The candidate is placed Standing
on the end Of a long, thick, wide
plank, the other end Of which rests
on the edge OF IA platform about
four and half feet high. Care.
fully he is conducted mp this plank
until he stands on the platform
The guides then release him, and
he is asked If he is willing TO he
baptized into The order. No mat
ter whether he says yes or no the
chief iorturer inquiries: Glow cold
and how deep is The water in he
tank y and he is answered: Five
degrees above zero and II feet
deep" Jump" commands the
guide 10 the candidate, who either
in fear and trembling leaps, or if
not he is thrown in,o-nol water,
but stout, square of canvas held
in front oI the ALTAR" and in this
he is tossed TO the ceiling while
the brothers arms can stand The
work. A variation of his scheme
Is to place the elevated end of the
plank on il block OF wood only a
couple OF inches high The candi,
date is led up IN the same way, The
guides on either side STOPPING as
they 90 forward ill The initiate can
feel only the tops of their heads
with his own down. stretched fin
gers, and therefore imagines him
self TO be about six feet from The
floor. He Is commanded TO jump,
and jump he does, or must, with
his nerves and muscles braced tor
fall OF six feet, but instead he
only descends two inches and stops
with a jar that starts his scalp,
whereat lhe brethren roar with
mirIh.
Sometimes after the candidate
has been led up Tic plank onto
The "altar," which is a square. sol.
id table in the middle of the room,
the blindfnld is removed and in
The dim light he sees on the floor
in front OF him a board stud led
with upright iron spikes. Some
ore calls Attention 10 The fact that
some of the spikes are loose, and
the guide takes hammer and
knorl,S them ont. Thai iha hOr.