The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1913-01-10
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BeMN IRON hundreds of friends, including
many of the members of the Loyal
League. Even A. c. Hill, the captain Of
file E. Davis police, came around and eX-
ended his hand in the midst of the host OF
iiends who were congratuating him. But Geers
pht his hands in his pockets and declined to
Snake hands with him, saying, Il will draw the
Inc right here Hill became furious at the
seeming insult. He was so exasperated that he
proceeded to express his opinion OF the court
and of the citizens. citizen by the name OF
Howden Baker cutched him by the throat and
choked him until his tongue came out bystand
trs had to interfere and unloosen one finger at
time in order to release the Captains throat
from Bakers iron grip Then IT was that Hill
resigned his commission and returned to Con
tales county, where he mysterously disappeared
while out on a hunt with some of his ostenslble
Friends" | was told by Mr. Pegram, an edi-
tor Of that county, that for years inquiry was
made of his whereabouts, but like the ship that
never returned" he had sunk in the ocean OF OBJ
livion His continued absence was a relief to
the people of Tarrant, Wise and other counties
They breathed more freely and went about their
occupations with greater feeling OF safety.
The twelve men who were sent to Tyler undef
bond were acquitted Of any connection with the
ku klux Kan and returned home to their wives
and children rejoicing. OF the thirteen men ar
rested but one a member OF the Invisible
Empire The rest had connection with It,
But they were classed as members just the same,
especially by the negroes, some of whom had
renorted them as such 1t was regretted that
these innocent men and their families were put
TO so much trouble, suspense and expense. II was
hard on them But the effect was magical Tor
good. Nearly every negro hunted job ana went
10 work-rnale and iemale-and from that time
forward abundant crops were raised, when the
seasons permitted But in those times the seas
ons were irregular and the roads were so bad, and
the creeks at times so swollen, that often II
would be six weeks between mails. When the
settlers would get newspaper they would Keep
it, and pass il around from hand 10 hand until
they could get another. The editor of the Denton
Monitor filed away every paper that he received
and thus accumulated hundreds OF copies OF the
GAINESVILLE Standard and Dallas Herad-the
former by Charles DeMore and the latter by Mr.
Swindells
Farmers and stockmen now had plenty OF help
the talk Of forty acres OF land and a mule had
ceased and the ghosts disappeared IRON those
counties constituting the Peters Colony. II IS
true that some of the Khan were unruy and did
harm but the good overshadowed the evil The
Klans protected the homes. the women and emil
dren. and meted out Justice in many instances
where Justice was needed. Women and children
isolated in the country, were now imbued WIN
sense of security, even while their husbands
mi fathers were in the fields or selling their
nroducts in the towns The people thanked God
Tor The change for the better and took renewed
courage Farm houses and fences were repaired
and prosperity again began TO smile over the land
New settlers came in droves, but the stockmcn
beqap 10 resist the entertainments OF the agricu-
urists They circulated the false report that
thcre was no water in the country and that you
MIGHT dip thousand feet and not get drop
Bui wells were dug and an abundance OF water
obtained at from twenty TO thirty feet Even
some OF the negroes rented land and began 10
farm on their own hook, and eventually became
the owners of their homes.
BIC religious mes :ings were held throughout
most Of the colony, attended by both the whites
and the blacks and in many instances the negroes
held camp meetings OF their own
Perhaps, in this final story Of the ku hiuN
Klan. il would be important to the reader 10 know
that am acquainted with the history OF the In,
visible Empire only in those counties embrace
IN what is known as the Peters Colony which
colony was headed by w. ). Peters, d. , Gar
ali and about eighteen Others. The point oil
beginninp of this colony was IN what IS no"
Crsvson county, where Big Mineral Creek IONS
red River. The line then extended due SCUM
100 miles 10 a point in the eastern part OF EIiis
UNITY Thence due west 100 miles, thence
18th 70 Red River. This stream formed the
northern boundary TO the place OF beginning
,rb;s included in whole or in part the ioloWihs
covnt;es. Grayson. Collin, Dallas, Elhs' yonh-
on Tarrant. Denton, Cooke, Montague, w ise
parker Hood. Erath, Pao Pinto, Jack, WicnIia'
Arcber Young. Stephens, Eastland' Calian ,ai,
Sbackieford. Throckmorton, Baylor ana WI"
barger. -. .f,;.;,t az
;s,ence 10 this colony in IS4I. The custom Oh