The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1912-05-16

tBy United Press Issssd VIE,
LOS ANGELES. May 1e.--Ex
hausted BY his long tramp, Ben
Reitman, seIf.styied king OF hoboes
and avo~ed anarchist. who was tar.
red and festhercd BY a party of Wig
ilantes IN San Diego, 10 recovering
from HE experiences today IN Los
Angeles.
Heifman arrived from Escondido
late yesterday. lie was met al the
railway station By more than 100
Industrial Workers OF the World
and anarchists and escorted 70 bis
lodgings
Burned Letters on His Back.
According 10 Heiiman. IA men
comprised the party that took him
from a San Diego hotel and coated
him with tar and feathers. HE also
alleges that he was subjected TO
various indignitieE. and that the
letters H. W W.. were branded
on his back with lighted cigar.
Rsltfnan told sensational story
OF his treatment by the San Diego
yigllantes. He said.
Taken From Hotel.
The men who captured me IN the
hotel were respectable appearing
They looked like business men.
When ] refused to go with them
they clapped reyolyers to my body
and placed their hands over my
mouth. and dragged me TO the auto.
mobile they had waiting. The po-
ice cleared the way for them.
While they we're taking me 10
place IN the desert. about 30 miles
from San Diego. ms caytors thrust
pencils In my nostrils and ears.
They stuffed Nth into my mouth
and struck me with their fists and
with clubs throughout the whole ter.
ribie trip Continuously they called
me the vilezt names ever have
heard.
Had Fire Built.
When we reached the desert We
found another party waiting. In
the light OF a fire they had burning
they stripped me and then began
such fiendish and lnhuman torture
that the details are not III TO be pub
lished, ! begged them 70 XIII me
and end the pain. but they replied
they wanted me 10 20 away and tell
hos San Diego treated my kind
They said N they bad Emma Gold.
man there they would give her the
same dose.
My own cane was used. too. as
an instrument OF torture. Being un.
usually strong. I Was able 10 stand
What they did. even when my in.
tcstincs we're iacerated by one OF
their devices
After amusing themselves for
half an hour. the men ran about
me In a circle. The whole thing
was turned into a sort OF game for
them. Then they made me >in
the gauntlet They beat me with
'billics as ! ran through the lines
they formed.
Stuck Thorns In His Ears.
Just before they put the hot tar
on my body. their torture became
terrible. Each man would come
forward and ask me a question. II
the answer did not please him,
was struck In the face. Finally /
was throsn TO the ground aud
smeared with filth. A small Amer
lean flag Was stuck down my
throat until was almost strangied.
While some OF the men held me,
others stuck desert thorns into my
ears.
"At last they decided that they
would pass up for the time the
question OF depriving me OF my
sight.
Just before the tar was applied
they held me and burned my back
with red hot cigars. Then. while
lay there, they plastered on the tar
and covered Il with cactus and des.
ert grass. was then stoned into
the desert. the men following me
until they were tired OF IL all. After
walking long distance, ! reached
Barendo. naked. and bought the
oyeralls ar Jumper / wore into
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