The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-06-16
WESLEYAN STUDENTS
On 4 WILD ORGY

SAYBROOK, CONN-Special.-
than one hundred SOphOmOres of Wes-
leyan University, the devils own as
they style themselves, members of the
Theta Nu Epsilon fraternity, stormed
Saybrook Friday night to initiate
twelve members They held sacrelig-
ious reVelS, destroyed property, stole
whatever they saw, assaulted one of
the leading citizens of the town, and
eVeryone got even drunken than he
was before he arrived.
About sixty more of the devils own
went to Lyme, taking. with them to
that dry" town all the beer, and things
more potent, that they could carry in
did Saybrook. because those who went
there got so drunk early in the evening
that they could not do any mischief.
The degree team of the SaybrOok
arch demons" "fends" and devil
ings.' The latter were the novitiates,
and some of them lost consciousness
rough house" was over, and will be in
bed for several days.
The twelve novitiates were strapped
IN the aiSieS of the cars, face down.
and they had to ride this way the en-
tire distance. They were ducked at
frequent intervals with beer.
Every time the train stopped at n
station a detail of Sophomores got of
and stole everything they could lug
back on the train. Several OF them
made a specially OF stealing the signal
lanterns, thus endangering the lives of
everybody on other trains These Ian
terms were tied on a rope and dragged
along the tracks behind the train. The
noise this made tickled the students
When Saybrook was reached the no
vltiates-sOme of them were hardly
able to walk by. this time-were un-
strapped and taken from the train
biindfoIded. Then the "heliish" pro
cession started. The march led down
Ferry street, which was abandoned en-
Methodist Episcopal Church the pro
cesSion palted and number of them
broke INTO the editice and stole the pull
PIT furniture. These sacred chairs were
loaded into a pushcart with a barrel OF
beer and the parade was resumed.
The first thing done there vas to nil
down as many tombstones as possible
and lift all the slabs that could be lifted
them.
Judge Houston Landen was told of
what was going on, and he went to
Ihe cemetery TO prevent the further
desecrat ton OF the graves. When he ar
rived the noVitiates were on their knees
At the edges of the graves with their
heads stuck in the ground and pals of
water were being thrown. on them
several swooned under this water cure.
Ihe students We're asked to go away
and leave the cemetery, and were told
OF the law against desecrating graves.
a rush was made for the Judge and in
SultinB remarks were hurled at him.
Then the crowd went TO Fairview
Hotel, where splendid dinner had been
ordered and was ready. That dinner
lasted until midnight, and when il was
over there was not a whole dish or
piece of furniture in the dining room
FINALLY things got so bad that Depu-
~ Sherin MORROW organized a posse of
the citizens and went after the drunken
coilegiat@s, but the youngsters senti-
nelS warned them and they all got to
the train before the posse arrived
Those OF the novitiates who were over
come by the initiation and the initia-
tors who were too drunk TO walk were
carried.
Warrants have been. sworn out. and
as many boys as Judge I.anden can
recognize will be arrested. The town
authorities Will insist upon a thorough
investigation and upon prosecution.