The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-01-20
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LAST NIGHT WAS IMITATION
MONT, AND ONE FRAT
GOT WRONG MAN.

GOT WRONG MAN.
Made victim o. mistaken
Identity, bound gagged, blind.
folded and thrown Into an auto.
mobile, driven for miles, and
then subjected 10 the torturcs
OF being branded on the back,
after iylnu helpless for over
an hour IN a darkcned room, ln
the experience OF Star 70.
porter last night, who reported
AZ a late hour this morning, Al.
most exhausted from the trying
ordeal, but none the worse
physically.
Last night was initiation night
among the frata al the state uni
veralty Almost a score OF college
youths, and one who wasn't We're
put through the PAGES Tho one
who wasn't, was reporter for The
Star mistaken for some other vic
tim. lie got the experience. and
bears the scars, but L. SHY on The
privileges 81 frat members
IL Kidnapped.
Just after dark last evening the
reporter was walking down West
lake az when an automobile pulled
zap at the side OF the street and
two iarge men Jumped from the
back seat The two men threw a
blanket over his head. lifted him
into the automobile and grabbed biz
wrists aud tied them behind him.
After being driven around IA this
speeding raj FOR over an hour. the
victim was lifted out and carried
bodily into u house Tn two flights
~ steps was the next trip The
blanket Was removed nt this time.
the victim WAS uHheggd Into q
pitch daFk room aud admunlHhed
that every attempt TO make an out
cry or explanation would be pun
iahed hY severe fortunes.
A table and chair were all that
could be seen Ia the room. On the
table. barely diaccfuible. was a
cracked pitcher and one piece Of
moldy bread Tho chair collapsed
with a crash whom the reporter aat
down on a.
After waiting what seemed an
endless time. the bolts which had
occurred fhe door were slipped and
three figures rushed into the room,
The victim was ordered 90 rise %
his feet. aud waa once more gag
ged bound and biindfoided Az far
a. he could see. before being blind
folded. the tofturvfr we're all dress
ed ln long black robes. with small
skull caps drawn tight over their
heads. and fun black masks hans
inE ever their faces,
Branded for Life.
The reporter was a. a loss 20 VA
deFsiand what tho affair was an
aboat he knew. he said. Of 40
nne who would have any reason 10
take vengeance on him In any such
manner. and was sure that robbery
waa not the motive. FOR the oppof
tuuisy 70 search him waa houra old
b. then
4 protest OF explanation now was
impossible he WAS led down stairs
into another room Or hall dark a.
the flfst except Tor bzhta shining
through eye and nose holes Ia q
skull a. the far end ~ The room
Al bis side we're immense black cur
tAins hshlhd which there VAS con
siderable moving about
A bass hnoruus voice from BE-
hind the curtain began = chant.
and a long FILE 81 black clad "a
uFeH marched lnfo the Feom When
they had formed On a circle around
him. be waa stripped 10 the waist
by The three gaArda and the brand
iuN iron vas ordered A nearly
whltc hot irom stick VAS produced
the victim waa bvns over and then
the ioftufes ~ being branded alive
Nere experienced The stencil 81
scared flesh reached hia noatrils.
mystic outlines wcrr traced on HE
back with a pleec o. ice and then
the room was flooded with light
Caught THE Wrong Man.
Horror 81 horrors. the wrong
man had been branded The ghosts
discovered their error. and IN the
lwlukllng Of 81 eye the MKhts Wcrc
pat out again
The reporter WAS again blind
folded and rushed ~ the attic room.
from which he waA taken. after a
short DELAY. and carried % the
auto. and. after being driven over
apparently the same road. was set
down. completely exhausted. az the
very spot where he Was picked up
some seven or eight hours before.