New Britain herald., 1922-10-30
KLANSMEN KLUCK
 ON BRISTOL HILL
300 NeophyteS Reported Initiated
 in Big Ceremonial

Bristol. Oct S0.-under the starry and moonlit skies of Chippenn Hill that oNerlooks the city, several hun dred members of the Ku klux Kan gathered Saturday night at midnight for one of the largest and most spec tacular ceremonials ever conducted by the klansmen in this region. For hours automobiles literally poured out onto the high plateau They came slowly and in groups. none of which were larger than 2H at time.
 More than 800 neophytes took the obligations that made them members of the klan. The fiery cross. famed symbol of the klan, hlazed out In lurid flames that lighted ur the arena and made itself clearly visible for miles to those who happened to be out at that late hour, Klansmen in hooded regaia stood about to watch the ceremony.
 Mysterious Scene
 The scene was mysterious and col orful with it's hustle of activities in the dark. Situated IS it is one eighth of a mile from the highway in an open 10-acre clearing invisible from the road the place whete the meet ing took place gave little indication 10 the natives of the great gathering of the klan. By previous arrange ment autos laden with members came in from all directions in small groups. When the field was reached all lights were doused and only the moon and -,~ light gave any indicat ton that cor don of automobiles was gradually forming 10 surround the big field.
 Entrances Guarded
 Al all points of approach guards were placed, each sentinel challeng- ing the newcomer and receiving in turn the triple pass word. In fact, guards were stationed at points as far as 25 miles away and these di- rected the traffic and regulated the array of automobiles so that too large a group would not go through the town at once to arouse sus- picion.
 Within the barrier formed by auto mobiles stood smaller square con-
  accurate estimate could be obtained | as to the number who attended but | in the moonlight the human figures appeared to be legion. Just before the ceremony began the klansmen brought forth their regalia tucked | in neat bundles under their arms and donned them. Hoods were drawn over the heads and the candidates for initiation, 300 of them were led into the enclosure.
 A secret and impressive celemonial was enacted. The neophytes took the oath and immediately the torch was applied to the fiery cross. The cross stood 20 feet high and was coated with paraffin so that it burned bright i ly, lighting up the entire region for several minutes. At the same time a fireworks setpieces of large Am erican flag was fired off a few feet | from the cross. This burned for sev- eral minutes and proved a significant and stirring feature of the ceremony As the flag died down and the fiery cross turned to embers the klansmen gathered inside the enclosure and | passed by to congratulate the ini- tiates.
 No lights, only the whirring of motors and a few suhdued voices | told of the departure of the klansmen from the scene of the ceremonial. l The hour was early in the morning, | and scarcely farmer by the road side realized that the traffic marked the departure of the klan.
 While most of the Klansmen who