Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-10-29
Herbert 5. BigeIOw, Of Ciucin-
nati, Kidnapped As He Was
Entering Hall
HAND CUFFED IS TAKEN
OVER INTO KENTUCKY
Tied to a Tree, Is Stripped and
Given Dozen Lashes On
Bare Back

CINCINNATI o., Oct. 29.--Htripped of
his clothing and beaten numerically.
Herbert s. Bigelow, pacifist leader and
pastor of the Peoples church here, was
found at Florence, KY, today. He had
been kidnapped by band Of men in
u automobiles, who turned him loose
after dipping his head in crude petrol
cum.
All evidence indicates that he was
the victim of an oath-bound orcaniza-
tion, sworn to 'wreak vengeance on pa-
elfists and others not in accord with the
government war policies.
Bigelow was president of the recent
Ohio constitutional convention.
Bigelow was kidnapped at 8 d. M.
Sunday as he was about to enter a hall
to address a meeting Of socialists.
Forced Into Auto.
With him were Professor Edward !.
Cantrell, Minneapolis, and Vernon Rose
Kansas City, Two men approached Bige-
low, seized him, handcuffed him and
thrust him into waiting automobile.
Ihose with Bigelow supposed he had
been taken by federal officers.
| The kidnapers were traced to I,atonia
where they had rendezvous with an
other posse.
Farmers say q strange procession of
automobiles winding through the Ken
lucky hills and counted 81 machines.
The kidnapers returned from the
scene Of the whitecapping singly. Auto
mobile parties of searchers were unable
to apprehend them.
Bigelow has received vague threats
! recently, but refused to he'd them. There
were tumors that a secret organization
has been formed in Kentucky to "teach
lesson to pacifists. - Sunday Bigeiow
automobile was followed about OIncin-
matt by another machine.
Tells His Experiences.
Bigelow was able to tell of his ex-
periences. He had entered physician g
office in Florence at 1880 a. M, and re-
manned there until mvrning.
His back and legs were lacerated and
a portion of his hair had been cut off.
After he had been stripped, his hands
were tied around a tree. Then the Lead
er of the vigilants sald:
In the name of the women and
children of Belgium and France, strike"
Then the first blow fell.
Seven more lashes fell across his back.
Then there was pause, said Bigelow.
Apparently the man with the whip
was waiting for ORDERS" he said. Then
the whip came down on my back again.
believe there were ten or a dozen
lashes
"The men were masked and wore
white aprons. They reminded me of the
Ku Klux figures L saw in The Birth
of Nation.
"After ! had been. seized and hand
cuffed, was taken out into the coun-
try.
GA sack was thrown over my head
My feet were tied. l had no notion of
either time or distance. l could tell
only that we were going over rough
roads and smooth ones. Nothing was
said.
Stripped and Whipped.
cat last we came to a stop. / was
lifted out of the automobile and the
sack was taken off my head.
"They led me up hill to a school
house and took me to a tree to which
tey tied me.
H'Off with his clothesl' somebody ex-
claimed. My clothes were taken off my
back"
linen IOllOWeu DlSStOW uehcIlptlOn
of the lashing as told above.
They cut off some of my hair,'
said BiHelow, "and then poured some
thing oAt of bottle over my head.
judged it was crude oil.
"The men then left me, except two,
who remained to guard me. One had
revolver.
"When the others were gone con-
siderable time, my guards also left me,
after telling me not to go away for ten
minutes.
"They instructed me to go to GER
tain house, where l would get directions
cit occurred to me that the oil had
been poured on my head SO that might
be identified at the house to which
had been directed.
''I feared something more was in
store for me there, so l walked awoy in
the opposite direction and finally reach
ed Florence"
Bigelow said that in parting, his kid
napers told him he must leave Cincin-
natl within SO hours and stay away
from there during the rest Of the war.
He said today he would stay in Cin-
cinnati If given proper protection oy
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