Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-21
How the might Riders" Do II.

An Eddyville, KY, correspondent OF
the Louisville Courier-Journal sends
that paper a detailed account of the
recent might rider" outrages in that
town which have been briefly
chronicled in our telegraph columns
The story gives a vivid picture of the
Iawlessncss which is making the name
of Kentucky reproach of every
American. 1t is plain that the law is
being trampled and Knocked with an
impunity which is fast sending sections
of the State into anarchy, while the
governor is given little or no support
by the officers in his attempt to
preserve order and save Kentucky
from further disgrace and humiliation.
Eddyville was awakened by a volley
Of 100 rifle shots in the early hours of
last Sunday. The 800 night riders
wore the now familiar homemade
black masks and white shoulder scarfs
They were perfectly Offered and
thoroughly drilled. as usual" Most of
them rode in from the direction Of
Trigg county; about 60 of the 800 were
ferried across the Cumberland River.
They hitched their horses half mile
out, entered the town very quietly,
posted their sentineis, and then fired
the volIey. The whips used upon the
fo, 1,,hi nd CT
commanded at an Eddyville store.
The victims were taken down 10 the
river bank for their whipping. Police
Judge Rucker seems to have owed his
to his tongue. The correspondent
mentions that he has had the name OF
being a bad man about fighting" and
has told what he would do if the riders
molested him. They surrounded mis-
house Sunday morning. riddlcd it with
shot, tore off the window shutters,
burst in the doors. got him, logged
him. took his guns apart. and then
made him promise to leave those
weapons permanently in that dis
located condition. County Judge
CrumbauSh, who was told that even
his white hairs wouldn't save him
another time if he continued to tax
about enforcing the law, is a man of
"A. The night riders were moral night
riders, it appears On their way to
Judge Crumbaugh's they halted to tell
o friend Of theirs that he must shut up
his pool-room at once and get into some
more virtuous business. The cor
respondent writes:-
THE town was completely in pos
session of the raiders for three hours
The sheriff and city marshal were
warned that it would be best for them
to stay in and both firmly concurred in
that view. The visitors We're I'M
able to complete the work planned and
departed at 4 o'clock as quietly as they
had come, with n promise to return in
the near future and finish their work
After the victims had one after another
been whipped. they We're marched be-
yond the city limits and given leave
to return to their families, while the
simultaneous firing of a hundred guns
in obedience to the captains order
Guns in air. closed the most hideous
and appalling experience this COM
munity ever passed through"
Governor Wilson seems to be about
the only high-up responsible public
| officer of Kentucky who is in resolute
earnest about putting stop to these
night riders and Furnishing the riders.
The legislators are in session, but those
of them who are not in patent
sympathy with the riders appear indif-
ferent, ratified, or scared. They are
giving the governor no help. He is
also getting little help so far from the
sheriffs and other sworn officers of the
law. The Courier Journal says that
government in Kentucky is today a
farce. This unrestrained madness
has reached such a stage in Kentucky
is says, that further protests or APP
peals by the press seem useless"