The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-11-25
REMINDER or Ixu-KLux DAYs.
how the British Government saved
Dr. Dratton OF south Carolina.

thrilling incident OF Ku-Klux times In
South Carolina was recalled al Yorkville
last week during the trial OF the ntat,on
brothers. John and Paul for murder
Great grandsons OF Col william Bratton
a dashinE and distinguished officer ia the
Revolutionary war. whose family since
that time has stood high IN cultured So
c!ey and always possessed wealth. they
never were expected 10 be inmates Of a
jail Yet. So was recalled that their faith.
20 had once been confined in tho same old
jail la Yorkviae. probably in the same
cell, where his peril was greater than
theirs, although they we're charged with
murder. and the charge against him was
one that is now known no more Co the
law-bciuE a leader Of Ku- klux And no
was released from that Jan neither by the
law, mob nor nccidsut the bars were
drawn and the doors came open when the
British lion eroWiel II was only "a gen
uc growl but displeasure was evident.
and ia 1871 This government was not dis
posed TO quarrel with England especially
as tho facts We're against a.
The country had been stirred up By the
operations OF the Ku-Klux An tho acts
laid To the door OF this organization Ice
menibers we're not responsible for In
fact. most or the more serious ofenses
were committed By parties who assumed
the methods Of the ku-Khx Ia order 10
commit grimes with lmpunlty The Ku-
KluX as originally organized was COM
posed OF serious men. sonse Of the best IN
the state. who devised that method Of
striking terror 20 superstitious negroes.
The negroes had protection and much lb-
crty under the law and secure OF protec-
ton and encouraged by leaders. they be-
came iniolerable to The whites IN Middle
ani Upper Carolina. The ku-Kiux were
organized 20 strike the negro on his SD.
pcrvutious side and. u he was not amen.
able TO that treatment. then In a more
VIAL point Numbers Of tho leaders we're
put out ~ the way" when they were
heesilsss 90 warnings, others left the
country while yet others resigned their
Leadership. Tho Ku-Klux aign was q
skull and bones ana when this was
found painted on door or carved on tree
about house % indicated that AFFAIRS
within were w % serious condition and
needed prompt change. The hands rode
over the country al night wrapped IN
white. Never word was spoken but
occasionally skull with candle burning
within was exhibited
n is singular that these parties were
never ambushed by negroes and the raid
BY soldiers were never etccessful. The
members Of the "klans' kept remarkably
well posted about movements OF the
United States soldiers. and always got
out OF their way.
u Is said that while there we're many
who were not Free Masons 10 the Ku-
kmX organization. that an che Masons
iu the localities where there were "Klans''
belonged 90 them. and this was one rea-
son why the oath Of secrecy was 80 well
kept and there were no hetrayale.
Dr j Rufus Hratton Of Yorkviile.
trlrty-third degree Mason. was generally
believed in political circles TO be the chief
Of the Ku-KiuN 10 that section Of the
state. where there wns the greatest ac-
tivitv by che "<lnus'
Although Maj Merrcl. with a nattalion
Of soldiers was stationed az Norkville.
raids by tie white riders" with che
frightening skull ana bones painted on
their garments. were frequent All the
evidence obtainahle was secured against
DR. Brsuon. ana n WAS decided 20 make
nm example 81 one so high ia the order
Pollcal leaders everywhere we're de-
maudinF action. ana Maj Mcrrell went %
work with doterminadon lie held his Sc
crot closely. but 81 must have come into
the possession or btsthsr Mason close
~ the commnnder-perhaps an officer.
moned 20 his door IN the dead of night
by stranger. he was given a sign that
an IN the great ordet knew, and told 20
n.
ThcFe we're days OF peril for such men,
their liberty aud lives were never secure
from night ull morning. and they were
prepared a sad1ied horse was waiting
len the stable. a wallet Of money reserved
for such emergencies was IN tho houHc.
So He
doctor 20 dress. kiss his wife and chill
dren rood-byo aud throw himself into
M. rsdd.e. lie had hardly reached the
outskirts Of the town before . company
% soldiers surrounded HE residence. a
onK search followed before the officers
acknowledged themselves beaten. AMI
then pursuit was made but Without sue
cess To due time Or. Brattoh made his
way 20 the Canada border. crossed 70 safe
g. ana fettled IN Montreal Then he sent
for bis family. in the CANADIAN city he
established himself and began the prse-
ice Of medicine. meeting with great sue
cess.
Or nratiou felt secure from further
molcstation knowing that the offenas8
CHARGED against him were OF 2 political
nature not covered IN extraditiou freat-
les BUT he misiu5gcd the zeal OF the
United States officers. who had tracked
MIN 10 AAN1Aat attu TOW watched MS eN-
cry movement After he had been IN
Montreal for six or seven months. the on
GERS received authority 20 attempt q boid
move. ard they executed g. promptly ami
successfully. man IN carriage called
one evening at Or Bratt0n's residence
There were two men on tho box. Tile
services q the American surgeon we're
required Immediately ln another part 81
the city. o. wus . case OF life and death.
ard there was no time to drive in his
own cafrinEe. The unsuFpectlua doctor
rot into their carriage ana vas taken Of
ai a Faliop when ho reached the sub
uths he was made acquainted with the
fnct That he was "a prisoner lu the hands
Of American officers A few hours laler
having been Gu.c.iy ferTird across the
river Ia q small boat no WIS again with
'n the jurisdiction II the courts he had
fed from
Dr Bratton was taken back 70 York
vile and confined ~ the jail while The
cour to tty him was summoned But his
TRIAL was never began A. soon e. the
facts of the kidnapping were made known
20 some Of his Influential friends. they
were iHid before the Canadian aud British
governments. Time VAS precious % Brat
ton ana his fympathlzers. but there was
no delay The demand from London lame
promptly Or. Bratton must be released
immed lately and escorted safely through
rhe United states and back 20 his nome
in Caunda. Compliance wlsh these de-
mands was quickly given. and the Kid
mapped ku-Klux chief Was back in Brit
HMH DO.