Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
TAR AND FEATHERS NO JOKE.
A Case That Took Five Days to Re
lieve the Man of the Coat.

A Case That Took Five Days to Re-
Iieve the Man of the Coat.
From the New Orleans Times Democrat.
Several hotel guests were sitting in the
cozy corner of the lobby the other day
reading the papers and exchanging desul-
tory comments 'Ha! ha!' chuckled one
of the party, ct see they tarred and feath
cred a couple Of Mormon elders up the
country last night. Served 'em right. by
jove! They must have looked funny saun-
tering out Of town dressed in pitch and
plumage!'
Ibid you ever see anybody tarred and
feathered?" asked red-bearded man in
the next chair. mo? Well. let me assure
you it's pretty serious thing. I saw one
case, and I'll never forget it in my life. 1t
was in the fall of 49," he continued, in
response to a general request for the
story, land 1 was running Turkish bath
house at Pittsburg. Pa One morning
ed In and ordered a hot bath. A little
later he rang the bell and sent for me,
and when I entered the room was so as
tonished 1 nearly toppled over. From his
feet to his neck he looked like half-pick-
ed black chicken. AS 1t afterward turned
out he had been waylaid by party Of
men at a place called Sheldon. right in the
heart of the district where the coal strike
of tar and feathers. He was supposed to
be a private detective who had been sent to
pry into the secrets of one OF the miners
societies, and l guess the supposition was
correct. Anyhow. they did very thor
ough job and evidently stopped at his
neck to give him a chance to get out of
| the district without attracting attention.
which was really a pretty shrewd move.
1.-THE question before the house was how
| to get the stuff off, and a more difficult
problem 1 never tackled He had ridden
! over 100 miles in the cars. and the tar
had become perfectly dry. In hardening
millions OF the minute hairs with which
| all human beings are covered. which, of
| course, caused him intense agony. More
| over II had choked up all the pores and
sique I'm satisfied that he would have
| succumbed before he reached the city.
Well, 1 put him in hot bath to begin
WITH and set a couple Of massage operators
to scrubbing him with flesh brushes and
| carbolfc soap. In little while we saw
that wouldn't do. They got of a few
small pieces. but the skin came off along
with them, and I stopped the faying and
| tried sponging with benzine. That had
| about much effect as spring water on
| Krupp armor plate.
"Then 1 sent for doctor. who had to
| admit himself puzzled. He said he had
| had very few cases Of tarring and feather
| ing In his practice. but something had to
be done quick 30 he tried soaking in warm
turpentine. That proved to be the correct
| thing, but 1t was desperately slow work
| and meanwhile the man had to be kept up
on stimulants, for he was getting very
weak. Eventually the turpentine dissolved
the tar, and we got 1t OF with soft
sponges. but how long do you think II
took7 Five dayS-workinG ON and OF, al
he could stand It.. When we got through
he was laid up for q month. got SIX
for the Job. No gentlemen, there IN moth.
i ing numerous about tar and feathers whe1
seem at close range"