The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-16
lSPALLBEARERS
POSE AS JURORS
NFAKECORTEGE
Seven Thousand Hooded
Knights Cheer Funeral
March
is BURIED
BENEATH PLATFORM
Ceremony Follows Natu-
ralizatiOn Of One
Thousand

Seven thousand Birmlng-
ham Klansmen cheered Justify
Wednesday night when ap-
proximately 20 of their num-
Der marched around the field
at Redwood park with a cas-
ket containing in effigy the
body of United States Senator
Oscar w. Underwood, which
later was buried" beneath
the platform of a speakers
stage erected in the center OF
the field.
Heading the funeral march were two
members of the klan in full regalia, fol-
lowed by the casket and IS honorary
pail bearers representing the recently
discharged Jefferson county grand jury,
charged by Judge William E. Fort to
investigate the senator's Maine cam
paiSn speeches in which he pictured the
state of Alabama as being terrOrized by
the activities of the Ku Klux Khan.
The Ceremony followed a natural
WHICH AsVOO
new members were initiated; one of
the most elaborate khan programs ever
held in the Birmingham district.
Caslxet Bears Streamer
Bringing up the rear of, the funeral
procession was the minister driving a
couple Of goats to a small wagon, one
goat bearing Senator UnderwoOd's
named and the other AL Smith.
The casket bore streamer contain
ing the name oscar Underwood and
was laid upon the speakers platform
while a klansman inquired if there was
anyone who cared to preach the fu-
neral sermon. He was answered by
deafening applause from the grand
stand which was filled to capacity. But
there were no volunteers.
Underwood was laid to rest"
through a trap door and the procession
slowly wound its way back to the
stands and disbanded.
Witnessing the burial" besides the
klansmen, were approximately 10000
spectators who had gathered for the
naturalization ceremonies.
Women Stage Drill
The park was opened at 8 o'clock
in the afternoon and from 4 to
o'clock a barbecue lunch was served
with drills by various rObed teams as
part of the program. The khan band
gave a program.
The. formalities started at Z o'clock
when the women of the Ku Klux Khan
staged an elaborate drill in the field.
This was followed by mass singing of
America. After a flashlight picture of
more than 1900 rObed knights was
taken, NJ. ID. /. Van Over, imperial
lecturer from the Imperial Palace at
Atlanta, gave n short address on the
principles and Purposes of the Khan"
This was followed by the initiation
under the direction of the
Grand Dragon of the Realm of Ala
bama, when the candidates were in
Quoted into the order. The celebration
was staged under the auspices of the
NJ. B. Forest Khan No. go, it was an
nOunced, although candidates from the
II. L. Lee Khan No. 1, the Industrial
Cities Khan No. 81, the AvOndale Park
Khan No. SO and the Bessemer Khan
No. 2 were initiated at the same time.
Every available seat in the grand
stand and football bleachers at Rick
wood park was filled and the crowd
was estimated to be in excess of ., 600
persons. Roads leading to the park
were cOngested and automobile were
parked at a distance of several blocks
from the park. Following the initiation
program, an elaborate fireworks dis
play, featuring several special khan
pieces, was set off.