The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-08

From he 81. Louis Globe. Democrat.
ATLANTA. Ga. June 2S.-One of the most res
mnrkable reunions ever projected is being
quietly arranged for among the survivors OF
tho famous kuklux Khan, to be held in this city
during the summer. The affair has been made
public to only II few outside the survivors, and
those engaged in getting up the gathering
have not made their object known to the press
this being the first published notice of it.
The kukluX Khan was the most formidable
organization ever formed in this country 70,
the purpose OF furnishing crime outside the
courts. ana the frequent lynchnes that have
recently occurred have revived the memories
of the reign OF terror which existed from
about 1850 to the early seventies. In the
brotherhood were included the names of many
of the leading men Of tho State. and such wa.
its widespread influence that national legisla.
ton was required to break up the Khan and
put stop to lawless deeds.
When first organized the object was to pro-
tect life and property among tho law-abidina
class from the ruthless depredations OF the
outlaws who infested the country. Such was
the chaotic condition Of affairs that nobody
felt secure. so the originatorS OF the Khan dc.
termined to administer swift and speedy jus.
ttce to such criminals as deserved punishment
and the penalty was graduated according Il
the character Of the crime. Sometimes IL wal
simpIy n warning to Ioave tn" community
Wltnln u given tlMe, AT Others thG IaSn was ad.
mlnlstered, and in extreme cases death wal
melted out to the offender.
While at the beginning it undoubtedly cx'
erted salutnry influence in queiling the law.
less element and In the protection ~ life and
property. still by degrees INSCRIPTIONS men
reputation OF the KukluX Khan toavonEc IN!
solves upon those for whom they had con,
gang Of d"speradOcs that were worse than tht
element which it sought to punish.
1t was no infrequent occurrence during the
latter days or the hlln for some pplCpful ritiZan
to be taken from his HON" and mai treated 10y q
d"ded thai It would be V or his pers l MD r nfa
that tn" citizen should be made to leave me
community. Many were the deeds of violence
cloak of the kuklux Khan long after the mort
Tespect2 bic class that originally belonged to h
effort to atone for past errors by assisting ID
putting down tho Khan and bringing the perpe,
traitors of such deeds to Justice.
The influence OF the Khan was widespread
and the members were bound by. the most
Of the order, with the penalty OF speedy AID
dreadful punishment for violation of thir
TSw ie and Ts smTS WneI m not as
member of the Khan unless he happened tc be
himself q member Their meetings were hid
had its own rendezvous. whore the members
would gather for consultation before taxing
offender or after the deed had been don, 10
take steps to conceal the identity OF suchas
Der who had been apprehendcd and was lik,ly
to suffer the CONSEQUENCES.
When on some visitation the members H.
ways went disguised il favorite method hai1
10 clotho the upper portions OF their hodicsin
white. with eyehoes and breathing places tut
IN the hcaddrcsS, ana, mounted on horses often
painted in picturesqu" cOlOrS. they would ride
s9lemnly pnst the plantations at the, dead Of
night. striking terror into all who bcheld them,
and especially the SupprstitiOuS nag rOcs VINO
had not been emancpnted from slavery aud
ignorance long enough to be able to take q
logical view Of matters
by means OF tn" exaggerated fears that theft
appearance excited. their numbers were Oft"1
maGniilcd. and crowd Of ten or a dozen men
would ha magnliicd into nifty or a hundred,
They were always well armed. and unless thd
victim received timely notice OF their comind
so as 20 seek safety in flight, the case wal
At first punishment was only inflicted on thu
male population who had laid themselves liahla
by some serious offence. hut toward the last
even women. who had become Objectionable
to some party, were stripped and beaten III
unprncip'ed mon and forced 10 leave theii
humhl" homes and seek refuge in some othef
community.
the others having met with violent deaths
They were Jul!n Lawrence. in the western part
of tho State, the most notorious man in the
entire Khan; John Goman. in the easteri
portion and Berry Daniel and Jim Gay in thj
southern portion. John Lawrence is the Onl|
on" who romans alive, and ia" is II deputi
visited his old home AZ West Point a short
tim" ago. his identity being known onlT 10
few who hhi been well a"G Ialnted AMI nAso
clatcd with him in bygone DAYS
survivors Of IN" - X. X. k there will he mani
"reminiscences given ont To- tn" public, as TN
anhr il being mhraGed very quietly. but Il
will b" novel gathering. and those whO pan
tinpate might t"ll some thrilling stories hnt
they mind to reveal the episodes OF the PAST