The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-06-21
,Ku Klux Khan Startles Ke-
nOsha Saturday Night
With Initiation.
ROBES AND TORCHES
Motorists on the State Line
Road Startled by Appear
ance of Klansmen.

Kenosha got an inkling of how the
Klu Klux Khan carries on it's meet
ings on Saturday night when a great
gathering of clansmen from Illinois
was held in the woods just south Of
the state line road about eight niles
southwest of Kenosha. Motorists,
happening to pass that way, got real
thrills when they were halted by robed
clansmen, who sought only to give aid
to members of the order.
More than 5000 members of the
khan were declared to have made the
gathering place their mecca and thou
sands of automobiles were drawn up in
a monster circle to furnish light by
which the ceremonies were carried on
in the heart of the woods by the mem
bers of the order.
Came as a Surprise.
The fact that the khan from Illinois
was gathering near Kenosa came as a
surprise to Kenosha people and many
were attracted to the scene of the
ceremony as the news spread that the
klansmen in full regalia were meeting
near Kenosha. The first news of the
gathering to reach Kenosha came from
the fact that guide of the khan was
stationed at the intersection Of the
state line road with the Sheridan Road
to point the way to klansmen from
whatever direction they might come.
He used flag as a standard.
The cars of the klahsmen were all
marked with large red circles. Passing
motorists who halted were treated with
all courtesy.
"You are welcome to go down the
road and watch whatever you desire, -
he told one motorist. "There will be
nothing to offend you and you will
find out no secrets"
"Where are they all coming from %
asked the motorist.
"Illinois, Indiana, maybe Wisconsin, ?
was the answer.
Robes but no Masks.
Several Kenoshans were bold enough
to drive out to the scene after the news
flashed through Kenosha that the khan
was gathering near this city. These
turned at the state line road and pro-
ceeding for several miles found moth
ing out of the ordinary other than an
occasional flag to point the way. AS
they neared the scene of the rem
devious, a robed klansman was seen
standing at the side Of the road.
Farther along, two klansmen, robed
but not masked, halted all who APP
preached. If they were members of the
khan, directions were given them
where to park their ears. If they were
not members of the khan they were al
lowed to drive through unmolested.
Ceremonies Last All Night.
There was no effort made to make a
secret out of the meeting. Some adj
venturesome Kenoshans went into the
gathering place but did not proceed
far enough to learn anything of the
nature of the ceremonies.
The flash of torches, coupled with the
moving about of the white-robed klans-
men, gave the scene a most pic
turesque appearance even before the
ceremonies were started, and it was
open to the public.
Topping the knoll in the center Of
the initiation field was a wooden cross
sevepty-five high wrapped with burlap
and saturated with alcohol, shooting
flames almost two hundred feet in the
air when it. was lighted during the
initiation rites.
The gathering lasted until an early
hour of the morning. It was said that
a large class of candidates was initiated
into the khan during the night.