Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-31

ties Not until these had been entirely
destroyed did they vanish into the dark
ness as mysteriousiy as they had come.
Following this in close sequence came
the news that band of masked and
armed ho-semen had burned the barns of
a farmer near Hopknsville. Immediately
came reports from all sections that the
. crops of other independents had been
Sailed or ruined by dragging. and
that their barns had likewise been burned
by bands of mounted men.
These outbreaks. as serious as they
WERE were only credited over the state to
bands of ruffians and hirelinSs. and not
until the tobacco interests outside Of the
association were greeted with thu uncan-
ny and impressive skull and crossbones on
their property. barns and very doors did
| they realize the true significance and
gravity Of the situation.
Mysterious letters. threatening the dc
struction OF property. whipping and even
the penalty of death. We're scattered
everywhere and a well-organiZed cam
paign OF intimidation was waged.
Prominent lawyers or those in any
way hostile to the movement We're i'm
pressivey warned to Leave the country.
and to leave quickly.
The following note sent to an indie
pendent farmer of Galloway county tied
up with cartridge and matches will
serve 10 reveal the very impressive
character of the night riders warning:
Sam Pace
IF you deliver your tobacco outside of
| the association we will tend to you in a
rough way for we don't aim for such
scrubs you to impose on the people
any longer. Now we watching ycu.
and if you sell this tobacco we will get
you and your barlN for we are tired Of
being fooled with your kind.
might RIDERS"
Accompanying the cartrdge and the
matches were these warning words. This
will be Your portion If yoI sell your to-
nacco." The next morning Mr. Pace pub
!icly confessed the error Of his way,
pooled his tobacco and join d Tie asso-
citation.
j, At midnight the night riders invaded
Dawson Springs and. after completely
terrifying the citizens by perfect hail
| Of bullets took John Heath from his
loom a, The Arcadia Hotel and severely
| horsewhipped him They accused Heath
| If buying pooled tobacco. and lift him
with the pleasant expectation OF a rope
il another visit were necessary.
Hopkinsville las ALWAYS heen considered
hrtuehGut the tcnt as the strong old
CO sentiment hostile 10 tn" association
/ and recently was mad. thu point If at
/ tack. The inhabitants of this modern lit
! tie city were peacefully slumbaring VIII IN
the rattle Of buckshot and clattar Of
speeding Eoofs gave them the first warm
ing Of the dreaded band.
| Quickly arousing themselves. the men
| of the city. armed with all kinds of
weapons ventured from their homes to
defend their property. Composed Of all
classes and vCcaticns. they assembled
| rapidly and pitched battle easued with
| the marauders.
/ The bloody scene of fellow Kentucki IN MS
! shooting to kill was onlyS r,ide NOR.
/ terrible by the cries Of tie terror-S rick an
women and the red flames of tho burning
warehouses. Slowly con'estng ever foot
the night riders were driven to the out
skirts. and. after making one last de-
/ termined stand. in which they secured
heir fallen comrades. they ret..a:ed with
| 4 threat to return again
| Previous TO this time there lad existed
! a doubt rs to tho real identity of the
night rider. Officially. the assoc alton
/ condemned rim. claiming that the night
/ riders were net working 60: the associa-
| ton. tut against 1t. In addition. they
| claimed that those not in sympathy with
the American Society &C Equity had ex-
] cited him to do his lHwlass work with the
express purpose of destroying and annul-
\ ling the usefulness of the associa ton. In
] proof Of this they produc ID the evidence
/ that tie only parties yet punished a
white man and negro have confessed
/ that they I, hired to do SO by anti-as-
ISOLATION interests.
! However the last shadow of doubt and