The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-10-29
PAC|F|ST IS
STRIPPED AND
HORS[WH|PP[D
H. S. Bifelow, head of Cincinnati
Peoples Church Arouses
Mob Fury
IS TAKEN TO KENTUCKY
WOODS BY MASKED POSSE
Naked, he Staggers to Nearby
Church and Secures Medical
Attention

Cincinnati, Ohio; Oct 29.-Herbert
S. Bigelow, head of the Peoples church
here, one of the leaders of the Peo.
pies Council for Democracy and Terms
of Peace, socialist and pacifst, was
taken into dense wood near Flor
ence, KY, shortly before midnight
last night, tied to a tree, and horse
whipped by men who wore long robes
and hoods similar to those described
as worn by the widely known ku klux
Klan," according to report received
today from Florence.
The report stated the posse, with
Bigelow as prisoner, gagged and hand
cuffed, worked it's way to the center
of the woods. There they removed
the handouts long enough to disrobe
him and tie him to tree. One of
the leaders of the party then read
from a piece of paper by the light of
a lantern held by an associate. The
reader said:
Give Him IL Lashes.
'In the name Of the poor men and
children Of Belgium, this man should
be whipped"
At given signal another man, clad
from head to foot in white, stepped
out of a circle that had been formed,
and with "blacksnake' whip deliv-
cred IL lashes upon the back of Bige-
low. The ropes were then cut, Bige-
low was warned TO- stay away from
Cincinnati and he was released, while
the party made their way back to
waiting automobiles and disappeared
Finds Church.
.Rigelow wandered an hour in the
woods and seeing a church spire in
the distance, he made his way toward
it and found himself in Florence, KY,
about 20 miles from this city. He
was taken to the home of DR.. H. X
Grant, where he received medical at
tention, and then, according to his
own statement, he stayed up the re-
mainder of the night writing in de-
tail his experience of the evening. II
was not until late in the morning that
he notified his friends in this city
where he was. Bigelow was taken in.
to custody by five men as he was
entering a hall in Newport, KY, short.
ly before o'clock last night. He was
scheduled to address meeting Of So
cialists. At the time of his apprehen-
sion handouts were put Ion him and
he was hurriedly thrust into an auto
mobile and spirited away.
Recently federal authorities con-
Quoted raid on Bigelow's office in
Cincinnati, where documents concern
ing the local Peoples Council Of Amer
ica were seized. Sunday afternoon
at his Peoples church services Bige-
low prayer for "the repose of the soul
of Emperor Wilhelm and proud men
surrounding hip."
Poured oil on Head.
Bigelows own statement, written
last night in Florence, Ky, bears out
the early story Of abduction and whip
ping He added, however that oil was
poured over his head after the lashes
were administered.
In a statement this morning, Bige-
low stated that owing to the mon
wearing "long white robes" he was un-
able to recognize any of his abduc-
tors and that because of the darkness
he could not give an accurate guess
as to how many were in the party.
Residents along the Lexington pike
state that they noticed line of %
pass on the way to Flor
ence, KY, last night, some of which
were carrying men upon the running
boards.
Bigelow was democratic candidate
for secretary of state in 1902. and was
a delegate from Hamilton county to
the constitutional convention in 1912.
He was elected by this convention as
it's president For the last several
years, however, he has been actively
associated with the socialist party.
Bigelow was removed to hospital
in this city shortly after his arrival.
His friends said they did not believe
he was in a serious condition.