The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-07-13
DEATH THE PENALTY.
Irvnclad Oath Of the Battery
Ram Of the World.
Bfna ing Obugaflon ee the Few POM
Zeal Socisty-The RA& sxesA
~ Monsoon.

The battery Ram 81 the wors--wfat
has become Of il? The news that anotheF
secret political association has oeen y.
ganize6 similar 10 the A. z a was -
pubic early In the spring Of ne presen<
year. when there was . story abroad 20
the effect thai ssacn an organization rad
rasrea a fcoshold In this city. that us
supreme head or coEnmccore lvec N sAs
ssx<h ward, ard that there was saoor-
Sfnaee for each OF the nine wards IN Sn-
city. When Justice OF the Peace w l5sam
Caldwell droppsd out OF sight some ,,'ne
since. there Was an sddl 1onl INIT thAi
he had been the treasurer OF the sccaefy.
and had taken with him al the available
funds, but this story 10 stout'y denied oy
pr. Samuel Burdefte. VINO declares thar
he himself In the traasursr. that CAidweu
10 not even . member Of the Battery
Ram, and that every cent IN the treasury
Is accounted for.
BY reason OF the asmcst t,npenetrzoie
veil OF secrecy spread before the Battery
Ram Of the World. II 10 extremely Diff
cult 70 keep IN touch with its operations,
nevertheless It's members are quite we'll
known and the framework Of the asscct-
stion can be traced by one who has 1t
tie patience IL appears that the Bat
terry Ram Lately has been on the verge
Of innoc1ous desuetude. and this has led
taken al short range. 60 copy the IRON
clad oath which members are obliged TO
take ON initiation. This stranger refers
IN a tocuiar tone to the Battery Ram. and
seems inclined to bclittle the objects Of
the organization. He prefaees his copy OF
the obligation with a few remarks which
he entities Lost at Sea"
The Battery Ram Of the World" he
says. which has been cfrciing IN the
political pot for several months past, was
struck BY q monsoon a few days ago, and
sunk IN go faFhoms OF promises This
noble vessel whose spars reach almost 10
every star. is now thing OF the past.
II rose like black cloud on the poiit-
hal horizon. threatening to engulf all who
sought % stay It's progress. II was
manned by two plots from each of the
nine tribal boundaries OF Seattle, and Il
was coaiad from the political bunkers OF
disabled craftsmen
No wonder Its disappearance has
caused shade of sadness and a feeling
OF remorse In the faces and memories of
ne late defenders Not ore of those faith
ful defenders was on board when Il went
DOWN AL were ashore enjoying a siesra
or oaskfng in the sunshine of soma noiit
zeal tuggier Truly, the monsoon "a
mighty. The mighty admiral OF the pst-
terry Ram, the kingly Lobengula, Is now
on waiting orders
the late wreck found what must hava
been the log OF the lost Ram. II shows
tnat the vessel was put in commission
about February II. 1886. the officers and
crew coming aboard later. In order 70
enlist on board this wonderful Ram. the
recruits were first examined by the leu-
tenant commander In the hold Of fra Vs.
sci at the midnight hour. the recruits sur
rounded by all the officers wearing MASKS
made OF broken canteens with the mighty
Lobcnguia In the center wearing an iron
mask with rams horns and with a pom
derous battieax In his right hand Amidst
this giittering throng the recruit was in
log:
To become one of our members Won
must be bound TO US by an obligation from
which naught but death can release you.
ana the penalty for violation OF your OBJ
LEGATION. when once taken, is death.
In this obligation there Is nothing
that can conflict with the duty you owe
TO your God. your neighbour or yourself;
but on the contrary, II is to assist ali
good citizens to gain and enjoy that free
dom for which our fcrefathsrs fought.
We now give you few moments to
decide whether or not you are willing TO
become one OF our number. Think care
fully, and deliberate well, and remember
that after You have once advanced there
can be no retreat but you will be bound
to us for iife.'
Here the candidate states what hs will
do. II he decides 10 become a member OF
the Battery Ram the following obligation
Is administered in a manner most Inn
pressive:
"'You VIII pronounce your Elm full
and repeat after me:
hereby, upon my Bonded knees with
my left hand supporting the constitution
or the United states and my right hand
supporting the stars and stripes. and sur
rounded by whom know not. do. OF my
own free VIII and accord. without any
hesitation or mental reservation, most
soieniny promise. declare and swear upon
my honor as man and by ell hold
sacred IN this life, and By all the hopes
that may have In the life which may
be 10 come. that viii never reveal any
OF the secrets of this order 20 any one ex-
cept q true and lawful member who ear
convince and fully satisfy me that he or
they are as lawfully entitled to them az
] am. ard even then ! will use great eau
ton and discretion.
p" L furthermore promise and swear that
! VIII ever allow any one who by hts
religious affiliations cannot become a true
American citizen TO become a member of
this order; and before soliciting the ap-
piication OF any one win investigate A.
thoroughly as ! can 70 ascertain whether
ecclesiastical power.
!" Z furthermore promise and swear that
I viii protect tbs honor ~ a brofhsr's
wife. sister. daughter or mother as
KealouHiy sc though they we're my own,
and I viii promptly. IL within nv power
notify a brother Of all threatening danger
10 himself or family.
~ furthermore swear that should I
ever heooms a candidate for public once.
whether salected. nominated or elected
by this order. or any political party or
independent OF any party. that viii
never cease In orking.
Turtharrnore. that / VIII never sneak
Of anything reiatfvs 70 this Organization
AZ any time or any place In the known
world IN the presence OF more than one
man besides myself. and TO him only after
thorough satisfaction that / am not IN
position 10 Dc overheard or understood
IN any way or manner. so help me- God
" That I viii use my influence 70 have
laws legislatsd that VIII save our gev-
eminent from me pressure OF any fore.xa
power Of Whatsoever kla1
That 7 will, under no csrcu-nstances
6svulgs or make known IN any way TO
any ore not true sailor n our fee. or
an of1icer OF this Ran tie name Of any
member OF this CT any other vessel in
this feet Tor star. or any other star. who
may 5ecome q sailor or marine IN our
ranks: ana should I ever sever ny con-
nectiaa with tbs order sor starr. I win
s&,rediy retain. locked IN ny bosom, any
sna al instructions | have received
II furthermore ~Ill use my influence