Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-05
THE CMLAXSMAMX:
An Historical Romance Of the
Ku KluX Klan.
BY THOMAS DIXON, JR.
thor and Published by Doubleday, Page Co.
Copyright by the Author and Publish
Book lII--The Reign Of Terror.
CHAPTER w.
AT THE POINT OF THE BAYoNET.


ter, he was arrested without warrant
by the military commandant, hand
cuffed, and placed on the train for Co
lumbia, more than a hundred miles
distant. The first purpose OF sending
him in charge Of negro guard was
abandoned for fear of riot. A squad
OF white troops accompanied him.
Elsie was waiting at the gate, watch
ing for his coming, her heart aglow
with happiness.
When Marion and little Hugh ran
to tell the exciting news, she thought
II a Joke and refused to believe 1t.
Come dear, don't tease me; you
know it's not true" -,
II wish l may die II 'taint so!"
Hugh solemnly declared. He run Gus
away cause he scared Aunt Margaret so.
They come and put handcuffs on him
and took him to Columbia. l tell you
Grandpa and Grandma and Aunt Mar
garet are mad!"
Elsie called Phil and begged him to
see what had happened.
When Phil reported Ben's arrest
without a warrant, and the indignity to
which he had been subjected on the
amazing charge Of resisting military
authority, Elsie hurried with Marion
and Hugh to the hotel to express her
Indignation, and sent Phil to Columbia
on Their train to fight for his re-
lease.
BY the use OF a bribe Phil discover
ed that a special inquisition had been
hastily organized to procure perjured
testimony against Ben on the charge or
completely In the murder Of carpet
bag adYenturer named Ashburn, who
had been killed at Columbia in row In
disreputable resort. This murder had
occurred the week Ben Cameron was
In Nashville. The enormous reward OF
$4,000 had been offered for the con-
yiction Of any man who could be i'm
plicated In the killing. Scores OF venal
wretches, eager for this blood money.
were using every device OF military
tyranny 10 secure evidence on which 10
convict-no matter who the man might
be. Within six hours OF his arr'Va'
they had pounced on Ben.
They arrested as q witness an old
negro named John Stapler, noted Tor
his loyalty to the Camerons. The doc
tor had saved his life once In dan
gerous illness. They were going to
put him to torture and force him to
swear that Ben Cameron had tried TO
bribe him to kill Ashburn. General
Howle the commandant Of the Colum-
bia district was in Charleston on a
visit to headquarters.
Phil resorted to the ruse OF pretend
ing, as Yankee, the deepest sympathy
for Ashburn, and by the payment OF
a fee Of twenty dollars to the captain,
was admitted to the fort to witness
the torture.
They led the old man trembling into
the presence of the captain, who sat on
an improvised throne in full uniform.
Have you ordered barber to shave
this mans head?" sternly asked the
judge.
Please master fer de Lawd's sake
l ain done nutting-doan' shave my
head. Dat ha'r been wropped lax dat
fur ten years! l die sho' eff lose my
ha'r."
Bring the barber, and take him back
until he comes" was the order. In
an hour they led him again into the
room, blindfolded, and placed him in
a chair.
Have you let him see a preacher
before putting him through?" the cap
tain asked. II have an order from the
general In Charleston to put him
through today"
For Gods sake. Mars;er. doan put
me froo-I amt done nuttin en- l doan
know nuttin'!"
The old negro slipped to his knees,
trembling from head to foot.
The guards caught him by the shoul-
6ers and threw him back into the
chair. The bandage was removed. and
lust in front Of him stood brass can
non pointing at his head, a soldier
beside 1T holding the string ready to
pull. John threw himself backward,
yelling:
"Goddermighty"
When he scrambled to his feet and
started to run, another cannon swung
on him from the rear. He dropped TO
his knees and began to pray:
"Yas' LaWd Use er comm. | haint
ready-but, Lawd, I got ter come!
Save mel"
shave him." the captain ordered.
While the old man sat moaning, they
lathered his head with two scrubbing-
brushes and shaved II clean.
Now sand him up by the wall and
measure him for his cOffin." was the
order.
They snatched him from the chair
pushed him against the wall and meas
ured him. While they were taking his
measure, the man next to him whis-
pered:
."Now's the time to save your hide
tell all about Ben Cameron trying to
hire you to kill Ashburn."
Give him a few minutes" said the
captain, land maybe we can hear what
Mr.. Cameron said about Ashburn."
~ doan' know nuttin', general
pleaded the old darkey. II amt heard
nuttin'-I amt seed Marse Ben for two
monts."
You needn't lie to us. The rebels
have been posting you. But it's no use
Wen get it out Of you"
"'Fo' Gawd Marster. Use er telling
de truf!"
Put him in the dark cell and keep
him there the balance Of his life unless
he tells" was the order.
At the end of four days, Phil was
summoned again to witness the show
John was carried to another part OF
the fort and shown the sweat-boX.
Now tell all you know or in you
go!" said his tormentor.
The negro looked at the engine OF
torture in abject terror-a closet in the
walls Of the fort just big enough tC
admit the body, with an adjustable tor
to press down too low for the head to
be held erect. The door closed tight
against the breast Of the victim. The
only air admitted was through an au-
ger-hole in the door.
The old mans lips moved in prayer
will you tell?" growled the captain
II cain't tell ye nuttin' 'ceptn lie!'
he moaned.
They thrust him in. slammed the
door, and In a loud voice the captain
said
Keep him there for thirty days un-
less he tells"
He was left in the agony of the
sweat-box for thirty-three hours anc
taken out. His limbs were swollen, anC
when he attempted to walk he totterec
and fell.
The guard jerked him to his feet
and the captain said:
I'm afraid we've taken him out toC
soon, but If he don't tell he can &c
back and finish the month out."
The poor old negro dropped In q
faint and they carried him back TO his
cell.
Phil determined to spare no means
fair or foul. to secure Ben's release
from the clutches of these devils. He
had as yet been unable to loca:e hi'
place of confinement
He continued his ruse OF friendlS
curiosity kept in touch with the cap
tain, and the captain in touch with MS
pocket-book.
Summoned to witness another inter
esting ceremony, he hurried to ths
fort
The officer winked at him conhden'
TALLY. and took him out to a row o.
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