Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-28

II RANDED on the foreheads, the
X anystic letters of their secret or
~ ganization burned SO deep into
the skin that their parents fear the
youths will be dishgured for Ire, W. IVY
students of the Los Angeles hlen
school bear evidence Of initiation in
a Greek letter fraternity that mas
caused a sensation at the big institu-
tion on the hill.
The students are Edgar Lusk and
Frank Ritchie, and, according 10 tnelr
parents. the ordeal of an Initiation INTO
sn orpanization known as the Kappa
Delta. is an experience that tries the
souls of the novitiates. AS q result
of the weird rites the two students
are wearing on their foreheads the
initials TX. D." and the mothers OF
the boys are near state OF collapse
brought on by the fear that their sons
will carry the marks to their graves.
The Darents of the boys We're under
the impression that the Kappa Delta
society was composed entirely OF stu
dents of the Los Angeles high schooi,
from which fraternities are barred,
and complained to the officials of the
institution 1t was stated last night
that Lusk ana Ritchie were the only
high school students who belong TO
the frat" The other members are
students of the Polytechnic high school
with the exception of two one OF
whom is employed by the Santa Fe
railroad and another has a position
with the Salt Lake road and formerly
attended the Polytechnic school.
The boys meet regularly at their
frat house. which is owned by the
father of one of the members. ana
they are at all times under his watch
fui eye.
Insk and Ritchie were initiated
Thursday night. The proceedings con-
sisted of visit to the house of Ches-
ter Crank, one of the members OF the
fraternity who lives at Pico ana
Flower streets The two candidates
money and watches were taken away
with the understanding that they were
to return to the house later and pro-
cure their valuables The boys board
ed car and proceeded to Westlake
park and were obliged to undergo a
bath ia the pond, after which tney re,
ceived a brisk rub-down and donned
klry clothes, which had been provided
bv the members. Another ride brought
The party TO a haunted house near
the Bimini baths. Here the candidates
we're handcuffed together their feet
bound with wire, and after being
blindfolded the initials *. D." were
drawn on their foreheads with caustic
soda.
Boys Try to Escape
Young Ritchie lives at 513 California
street, and Edgar Lusk, who is con-
nected with his father 10. w. Lusk,
in the grocery business at S24 Temple
street lives with his parents at 4l5
North Grand avenue Both lads are
about II years of age. They say that
when they found themselves in such
condition Thursday night they
worked and struggled for some time
before they could get separated from
each other. so tightly and securely
we're they bound
When the wires at last broke, young
Ritchie went to Il house near by ana
borrowed file, with which he cut All
the wires that bound their legs ana
arms and then they returned the hle
and borrowed 10. cents from an inmate
of the house, with which to pay their
car fare back to town. While the boys
state that the joining OF the organiza-
tion was their own choice they uld not
dream that the limitation" into the
order would mean such maltreatlnehl
from the members.
The father of one of the members
said last night: MY boy connded in
me regarding the whole affair and
am sure that ii was merely boylsh
prank The letters may show for
few days, but after that they will dis
appear My own boys forehead was
disfigured the same way when he
Joined the fraternity, but within
week there was not even blemish
to show that he had been burned. AS
far as I can learn the parents of the
students who We're initiated last
Thursday night are rather Mustered
as any mother would be, but can
assure them that everything will turn
out all right"
Mothers Anxious
Monday morning Mrs. Ritchie and
Mrs Lusk, mothers of the two young
men, went to the high school to see
Prof. j. W. Henry and complained that
their sons had been treated in man
ner which they had not thought would
have been allowed by the faculty of
the school They told Mr.. Henry that
they intended to make trouble fdf the
school over the affair and that they
thought it a shame ON civilization that
such ''frats" We're permitted in the
schools.
Mr.. Henry the mothers said, replied
that he regretted that the limitation"
had taken place. but that 1t was not
his fault and told his two callers that
he had no desire to pry deeply into the
matter. as such action on his part
might necessitate the expulsion of the
two young men from school. Mr..
Henry stated to reporter for The
Herald that Mrs Lusk admitted that
she had talked the matter over with
her son concerning his desire to join
the society and that while not ex-
actly encouraging him, she had tacitly
given her permission for him to join.
Father Indignant
r. w. Lusk was highly incensed over
the action of the club and said that
he thought the young men had carried
their joke too far Mr.. Lusk says he
fears the scars, the letters *. d."
which were burned in acid into the
forehead of his son, will remain for
life.
When questioned about the treatment
that was practiced in the haunted
house," Mr.. Henry said that he did not
know who the students were who had
taken the boys to the house.
"The two young men admit" said
Mr.. Henry, that some of the boys
were high school students, although
f they have not seemed anxious to di-
vulge their names. The faculty has
absolutely no jurisdiction over the stu
dents after they leave the school. I
tUoptinued on Page TwOJ