The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-12-06

from head to heel, and making no
sound, save the tramp Of the horses
hoofs, sent night prowlers scamping TO
their cabins. The signs of skull and
crossed bones on fence or door carried
warning to the occupants Of the
house that required them to mend
their ways. When the supernatural
, failed, then other plans were resorted
to and more drastic measures used till
the object was attained. For it must
oe bOrne in mind, these were not boys
Or Idle mer, they were serious and
sober and realized that under the pre-
vailing conditions they carried their
lives in their hands.
ut can be readily understood that
with such risks to encounter, the or
ganization had to have the best dis
cipline and the most reliable nom bers
They were bound by terrible Oaths,
but rewards for information against
them would have tempted ordinary
men. 1t Is notable that the leaders
werc Free Masons OF high standing,
and 1t is probable that every member
OF that order in the smaller towns and
rural districts whore the Ku-Klux
were most active were on it's rolls
With complain Is from many quar-
ters and demands that the Kuklux
organization be suppressed by the
military authorities then in South
Carolina, 1T Ia not surprising that
strenuous efforts were made to capture
and convict members OF the organiza.
tion, particularly the leaders. 1t was
known In general way that DR.. j.
Rufus BrattOn was the head Of the Xu-
kluX organization In upper South
Carolina, and his brother, John S.
BrattOn, Was also supposed to belong
to the secret order. They were singled
out for arrest by Major Merrill, then
commanding the United States forces
In York district.
DR.. Bratton was thirty-third de-
gree Mason and there Is no doubt tn ia
fact caused him to be aroused at the
dead Of night at his homo in Yorkville
by an unknown horseman, whose steed
was spent, and given an important
military secret. Thirty minutes later
the Ku.Klux leader was riding out OF
town, headed nOrthward and leaving
his wife and threN little children be-
hind. Later in the night detach-
ment OF cavalry surrounded the Brat.
ton home. Pursuit was made in every
direction, but with a good horse, ample
funds and the friends he could COM
mand wherever the secrets Of Masonry
were known, the fugitive made his
way safely into Canada, taking up his
residence in Montreal in the fall of
1871.
Dr.. Bratton opened an Office in tn o
Canadian city, whore he began the
practice OF medicine. His whereabouts
became known as soon as he wrote to
his family in Y0rkville, and he was
soon being shadowed by agents OF this
government. He was joined by his
family few months after reaching
Canada and they arranged to make
that country their home until their
native State became safer. But they
were not to remain In security.
No offense on which DR.. Bratton
could be extradited was charged, go
he anticipated no further trouble from
the military authorities in this State
VINO had been on his track, and the
IDEA OF being kidnapped mover occurred
W nlm. hut ono evening, in the early
eprlhR or 1917, the doctor was called
Prolesslonatly. He was gotten into a
carriage and driven hurriedly ont of
the city. Three men had him i'm IN IN
charge and during the night thev got
MIN into q boat and across tho 81,
Lawrence river. The captors imme.
dlately brought their prisoner beck n
the old jail at Yorkville, where he
was 1ncarcerated, pending the conven.
tion OF o court specially arranged n
try k-u klux cases. But the dortor 70 a >
fortunate In having powerful friends
In all quarters OF the country, The
facts OF his forcibIe abduction for an
alleged political offense were promnt.
ly laid before the British governme Mt.
and this wac followed by demand bv
the government that he be released