Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-05
"INITIATING- IN KANSAS CITY.

Boys Suspended From the Top of n
Hotel by High school Students.
From tie Kansas City Star
From the sixth story of the Auditorium
Hotel, at about o'clock last night, just
under the cornice, a human form dangled
on the end of rope half way down to the
fifth-story window, while a half dozen
heads projected over the edge of the roof
and set up blood-curdlfng shrieks The
live body, blindfolded and wrapped in
white bandages, swung to and fro in the
wind like corpse on an ancient gallows
dangling from its chains. A crowd way
down in the street below set up yell of
delight and approval It was 4 high school
fraternity initiating one of its members.
The body was dropped on a little project
ing balcony united and brought in through
the window. Then the bandages were
tghtened and the boy allowed to stand
mot1oniess In a corner while his companion
was treated with the same experience
Next the victims were dragged roughly
down the dim-lighted stairs in an old part
OF the building, where coffin had been
prepared, rented the day before from an
undertaken
Eight boys seized the two victims. threw
them across a bed and wrapped them
round and round in white bandages until
they looked like white mummies. Then
they seized one stiffened form and after
lifting the bandageS for a moment from
his eyes to let him see the coffin, dumped
him into it. The lid was nailed fast and
the coffin carried out On the street to the
wagon prepared for it. The other mum.
my" was quickly carried to the wagon and
seated upright on the coffin. Four boys
dressed in long, black gowns and cowls
with black masks. took their places at the
four corners of the wagon, two carrying
ropes. one a pick and shovel. The
driver took his seat on the box, two assist
ants climbed into the wagon and helped
keep the corpse upright. Then the CHASTITY
procession moved on.
Down 9th street 1t went until 1t reached
Grand avenue, then 1t turned south to 18th
street, then up to Main street. The mourn.
ers walked solemnly along, with their pick
shovel and ropes over their shoulders
sion reached Main street crowd was fol
lowing 1t, and curious people came out OF
the stores and watched it pass down the
street.
The procession filed down Main street to
18th street, thence to Troost avenue, where
it turned south. AT oath street the wagon
stopped, for the boys had become weary
at the silence of the boy.
Say, you." shouted one Of the mourners
through the air-hole in the lid, wake up
therei How're you feelin'?'
IF you don't let me out o here ZIP
Just here one Of the boys let handful OF
dust fall through the air hole and dropped
a stone on the lid, and the voice inside
was drowned in a tremendous coughing.
The mourners held consultation and de-
cided to bury the corpse" They took him
in the rear of Haake & Sections shop and
read the burial rites over him. The mourn
ers dropped the first clods on the coffin and
the rest fired few vol,eys at the wooden
sides. just to !'wake up Lazarus" The
coftin was stood on its head, wrong end up,
against tree. The lid opened and Laza-
rus was called on to arise. He toppled
slowly out and was picked up half dead.
The other corpse" was substituted in the
coffin and the wagon drove on.
When it reached the home of one of the
boys the lid was again unfastened and the
two victims were unbound and forced to
climb trees, sing songs and stand on their
heads. Then the final oath was admins
tered. the new members solemnly shook
hands with the rest and the whole party
went to luncheon.