The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-13
ORDER OF HoO-HOo.
Quaint and Curious Organization OF
Lumbermen and others.
Chicago Times-Herald.


Unquestionably the Hoc-Hoo is the most
quaint and curious organization that exists
in this or any other country. The very name
of the order suggests weirdness, uncannl-
ness and grotesqueneSs. 1t is all of these.
Brethren are known as kittens. The symbol
of the order is a black cat with it's tail
curved so as to make the figure 80 and was
chos because Of its traditional nine lives.
I'll membership is limited to 1899, which
may suggest to the reader that the Hoo-Hoo
are a fancful lot, and that their existence
does not add to the sobriety of the Nation.
But such an idea would be unjust to the
order s chief mission on earth is to intel
lig nd logically solve the most mys-
ter md intricate subjects affecting the
mi Of mortal men. They are bound to
on another by an oath that is strong; they
love each other as brothers. Each member
verse, who is none other than W. e. Barns,
Of St Louis. He is the commander Of the
order, just as William Mckinley is COM
mander of the army and navy Under him
are twenty-four vice-regent sharks. The
house of SeerS is composed Of three men and
likewise the same number constitutes the
house of ancientS. At the head of both OF
these is B. Arthur Johnson, the man who
was never known to write his name so that
anyone could read it. He is a Chicago boy
and is responsible for the formation Of the
order. 1t was his mind that formulated the
ritual, and it was he who first suggested the
organization and the name of Hoo-Hoo.
This was at a little lumber town in the State
of Arkansas about six years ago. He and
fve other travelling men were forced to wait
was dark and around it were about forty
cats that made the evening hideouS. Before
the train had arrived Johnson had conceived
the plan of a new fraternal order Nine
weeks later the six travelling men met at the
Coates House, Kansas City, and Hoo-Hoo
was baptized in about hundred gallons OF
beer.
In Hoo-Hoo vernacular the secretary is
known as the Scrivenator, and his position
is one OF great responsibility. Next in line
is the bandersnatch, and he takes care OF
Whatever money may fly Hoo-Hooward.
Then comes the arcanopener The function
or this official Is to carefully guard the Sc
crets of his order, which every Hoo-Hoo
III the land hopes to at some time or other
find out. In their aggregate capacity the
nine general officers of the body are known
as the supreme nine. Membership is re-
stricted to newspaper men, lumber men and
railroad men. The official title is Concate-
mated Order of Hoo-Hoo, and it's corporate
existence is the free gift Of the State OF
Kansas. The ritual transcends in beauty
the loftiest conceptions of the sublimest
poets The fact is substantiated by the
Hoo-HoO manual, which makes the state
ment positive. When the kittens meet they
make themselves known by a series OF cat
calls and mysterious signals. There isn't
a Hoo-Hoo lodgeroom in the country. The
secretary lives at Nashville, and all OFF,
cal business is transacted from his office.
When one wishes to become a member he
makes his wishes known to some local
HOo-Hoo, and then there is a meeting
called that his application may be passed
upon Nine members can hold a concate-
nation and initiate candidates. Any old
go through three hours of thrilling ex-
periences before he is entitled to wear the
button. While going through the ordeal
his greatest wish is that he might don a
wooden overcoat and be done with it.
In the spring of 1892 there was 81 meet
ing of lumbermen at West Superior, Wis.
There were more than 500 present. All be-
longed to the Hoo-Hoo. There was a ban
quet, at which Ex-Governor Swineford, of
Alaska, welcomed the guests. b. Arthur
Johnson responded. While he was speak
ing nine men who had hid themselves be-
in the image of black ca. Each had u
genuine black cat concealed in bag, and
these were thrown on the table. In mo-
ment the lights We're put out, ana In q III
tie while the banquet broke up IN confu-
sion Those present who did not UNDER
paralyzed with fright Miss Pauline Hall
was playing engagement at the opera
house which was located just across the
street from the banquet hall. The lumber
men had previously engaged half the seats
in the house. Miss Hall was singing one
the play. when the lumbermen marched in.
single file She had been appraised of the
fact that a number of Hoo-hoo We're TO
he present She didn't know what a Hoo
Hoo was but knowing that many of thdm
were lumberrnen, she rather expected to
see a crowd of men with broadaxes on their
shoulders and wearing red flannel shirts.
So surprised was she 20 see two hundred
men in evening dress take their seats that
she was dumfounded. She wrapped her
skirts about her feet and sat down in the
middle of the stage. In less than min
ute's time a monster black cat lazily
walked across the stage 10 where she was
sitting and quietly coiled himself up in her
lap. And that broke up her play for that
night Great is Hoo-Hoo.