The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1901-05-29
Reign Of
Terror
Inausurated
In Eastern
Kentucky
-
New
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Kuklux
Khan
:

The Kuklux Khan, that dreaded or
ranization of murderers and house
burners that fourished a few years
ago. has again commenced its depreda-
tons, this time in Kentucky.
Two years ago the Khan was organic
ed by Blaine Coombs, fearless young
mountain fighter, now in the Philip
pines. The object of the khan was to
whip lewd women and drive them from
the county. Camp Branch and Rock
house Creek, in the western part of
Letcher county, contributed the first
members and in those settlements
number of loose characters were whip
ned. The membership of the khan rap
idly increased, however, and in short
time 100 men were sworn to carry out
the DEGREES Of the order In many
cases the DEGREES commanded that
death be done.
The serious depredations of the gang
began IS months ago. At that time "a
members of the klan masked, marched
at dead of night to the home of john L.
Craft, a respected citizen, living near
Boone's Fork. and in his absence took
his wife from her bed, stripped her to
the waist and beat her brutally with
hickory clubs. After that they whip
ped her servant, Sarah Cleek, in the
same manner The women barely es-
capped with their lives.
This outrage threw the county into
fever of excitement. few weeks later
law abiding citizens headed by w. 5.
Wright. the most prominent man in the
county, attacked a band of the khan at
the mouth of Boones Fork on their way
10 a scene of disorder. Shots were ex-
changed and a fierce battle waged.
Two Of the desperadoes had their
horses shot under them. Lewis Lucas,
one of the gang, was killed, and Will
lie Johnson, another member was seri-
ously wounded
After this event the lawlessness of
the gang ceased for two months. But
in the six weeks following II law abid-
ing citizens were horribly whipped in
On one occasion the gang fired into
the home of Postmaster Rowlet Hale
of Rockhouse, and his family narrowly
escaped death.
On successive nights within one
week many residences were fired.
But their defeat by the band of citi-
Zens headed by w. s. Wright was a
sore spot with the members of the
khan. Him they singled out as victim.
On Jan. so, 1900, while riding along the
public road on Boone's Fork be was
shot from ambush and killed instantly.
Soon hundreds were searching the adj
iacent hills for the murderers, but no
trace could be found.
The following day John and Noah
Reynolds. brothers, walked into Magis-
trate Quillin's office and said:
I'VE want to give ourselves up. We
killed Mr.. Wright" The Reynoldses
were not Kuklux members at that
time, but were friends Of the outlaws.
For some reason the Kuklux organi-
cation increased rapidly after that on
Boones Fork. John and Morgan Reyn-
Olds, Greed and Isaac Potter, Jr.;
George and "Son" Newsome, Lige and
Sol Fleming, lack and Josh Bentley,
Martin and John Wright, Jr; Mack
Youtz, George Cook and Joe Johnson
became members. and then lawlessness
broke out anew.
Night after night the homes on
Boones Fork were pierced with bull
lets. In July the large steam and
grist mill operated up to his death by
W. S. Wright was burned to the
ground. In August the public school
building on Boone's Fork was burned
because the Kuklux did not like
George Venters. the teacher. During
the interval of the next two months
several respectable women were whip