The Ocala evening star., 1915-02-05
INTERESTING EXPERIENCES
New Members of the knights of
KhOrassan Had a Hot Time
Last Night

invaded the quietude of our city yes
terday afternoon, left on the early
train for the big town on the
St. Johns river.
In response to the order of R. "
Hewlett, published in yesterdays
Star, a vast aggregation of the elect
Of the Knights of Pythias of this and
several other cities met at Castle
Hall last evening to accompany the
advance guard of the Dramatic Order
of Knights of Khorassan across the
desert to the promised oasis on the
east side.
Promptly at the announced hour
the sword of the outer guard was un-
sheathed and roll call showed all pres
ent or accounted for. Those SAC
counted for" were under heavy guard
on the outside of the corral, as it was
feared that on account of the chilli
ness of the. night air they might get
cold feet and abscond.
In a short time the order was given
for Mahedi Muriel to lead his prison
ers into the presence of the court.
Knight D. w. Tompkins, on account
of his position in the local lodge was
given the seat of honor in the march
across the hot sands of the desert.
Closely following him afoot with It's
sue paper sandals were Knights Col
bert, Strunk, Olin, Thompson, Perry,
Brannon and Mobley of the Ocala
tribe, Knight Hatcher of Swainsboro,
Ga, and Knight Gordon of Jackson
vile. "Buck" McGahagin, night op-
orator at the Atlantic Coast Line
passenger station, brought up the
rear astride the Moharrum Temple
Billy, very much trained animal of
the Angora variety.
The march proceeded very COM
fortably until the Khorassan- midday
scene when the sands of the desert
began to warm up. The sandals be-
ing of light material and the sands
very warm and jagged, these novices
set up much complaint over the dis
tance of the march. Many were their
experiences of the ways of the des-
ert before they reached the oasis. The
night policeman in the vicinity of the
Seaboard depot became excited at
times when unearth1y noises escaped
from the third story of Castle Hall,
but upon being assured that it was
only the howls of the tourists cross
ing the hot sands, he returned to his
slumbers.
The twenty-one-roun bout between
two of the local lodges pugilists was
a spectacle to behold, and betting on
the result was even money up to the
time of the final "lighting up"
Neither of the contestants has yet an
nounced himself as the "white hope"
who will wrest the pugilistic honors
from Frenchman Jack johnson, tho
a challenge may be forthcoming be-
fore the week is out.
Zookeeper Frank who had charge
Of Moharrum's goat during the cere-
monies, lost his position on account
of having starved said animal to the
extent of making him real rough all
evening.
Arthur Olin, who halls from the
wilds of Marion, got his wires cross
ed and imagined that he was entering
the camp of hostile Indian tribe in
stead of a peaceful temple Of the
Khorassans, and let out such war
whoops as many present had never
heard before. 1t was some time be-
fore he was restored to a normal con-
dition, and then only after his sand
worn feet had been bathed in the
pellucid waters of the jool just inside
the temple occupied by the Queen of
Peace on the east side OF the desert.
The team of Moharrun Temple
who came down to administer" the
D. 0. K. K. degree made many friends
among the people Of Ocala during
their short stay among US.
All Hid Out
The parade of the faithful and
their caravan around the public
square and principal streets yester-
day afternoon caused great admira-
ton and awe. The stately enlirs Of
the desert in their gorgeous array
impressed the ordinary citizen with
awe and created authorization in the
hearts of the ladies. Charlie Goddard,
who is rapidly advancing toward the
head Of the order, was grand mar
shsl. The candidates for initiation,
draped in penitential robes, were
dragged in chains by their naughty
conquerors. Owing to the playful
habit the Khorassans have of round
ing UP any stray brother who comes