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Show HIGH JINKS AT GOAT RIDING. Some Reminiscences of the Ancient Order of "Sons of Malta." (Terre Haute Express.) When Ed Johnson was asked the pricu of oysters the other day, somehow he switched off to the "Sons of Malta." Perhaps Per-haps an association of ideas made him think of how the Sons made a clam of him. The Sons of Malta were a secret organization or-ganization in Terre Haute about thirty-five thirty-five to forty years ago that played "High Jinks" in their hall on Third street, and many old settlers still laugh as they remember re-member their initiation ceremonies, which they coula not forget if they Would, according ac-cording to Mr. Johnson's experience. He told about his iniatiation, which he would not have dared to do when the order was alive and Inokinsr for fresh victims. He was about 18 when he was decoyed into joining by J. C. McGregor, a well known doctor, and others of similar standing. He said he wouldn't join if tno iniatiation was at all rough. They assured him they would have him put in under a "dispensation." He was conducted into the grand hall with a string of neophytes. Among the members of that time were many of our departed worthies B. W. Hanna. D. Yv. Voorhees, Grafton Cooker-ly, Cooker-ly, C. D Wood, Thomas H. Nelson, Joseph Jo-seph H. Blake, L. A. Smith and others as well known. The candidates were airily attired and blindfolded. Mr. Johnson was then a clerk for Mr. Doughty, keeper of a saloon and cafe, the most popular place on Main I street. A solemn party asked him ques-; ques-; tions: "Tour occupation?" "Clerk." "Clerk in what?" Vln a cafe." "It is recorded re-corded that you sell intoxicating liquors." Mr. Cookerly's voice arose from the rear of the hall, saying: "He is a poisoner!" and the whole order repeated in reproachful reproach-ful chorus, "He is a poisoner." The applicant ap-plicant began to think he wouldn't pass. Further questions of a most searching and impudent character were asked, as every member -who knew anything of a candidate had previously passed it in. The worse it was the more' sure it was to be thundered out in that hall. When the victims tried to be smart or defend themselves, them-selves, Lyn Smith, or some one, would call out solemnly, "There is too much levity is the grand council of ten present? pres-ent? Let them come forward." The grand council of ten, led by Captain Wood, marched up and surrounded the neophyte and grounded arms with a bang. After the victim had been well terrified, terri-fied, he was set upon a revolving chain, such as was used in old horse powers, and it wsa started. He was still blindfolded, and when he thought he was up about thirty feet a voice called: "How much water is there in the grand tank?" and the answer came: "Six fathoms, mark twain." Another voice solicitously asked him if he could swim, and bade him goodbye, good-bye, as he Was going to cross a stream from which few returned Tirna shnverl off and fell into a sheet and was vigorously vigor-ously tossed. When he landed, he was walked around to get warm, although he was sweating great drops, and then was jammed down on a block of ice, his clothing cloth-ing was very thin, and then led to a very hot chair, under which a lamp was burning, burn-ing, a piece of ice was drawn across his chest, feeling like a sharp knife, and if he was still alive he was at last a Sun of Malta. . When Mr. Cookerly was sworn in he was told the order was really a military organization, whose purpose was the annexation an-nexation of Cuba. How did he feel about it? He was opposed to it. D. W. Voorhees Voor-hees talked beautifully to him on the wrongs of Cuba, and Mr. Hanna followed, fol-lowed, till Mr. Cookerly consented to the annexation of Cuba. "Would you. sir, be willing to lie in ambush and attack the tyrants of Cuba?" For the good o the order, he would. "Would you be willing will-ing to steal upon the enemy and attack him?" For the good of the order, he would, said Mr. Cookerly. "Let it be recorded re-corded that the candidate says he would be willing to lie and steal" and the whole order chanted the same, while the candidate candi-date insisted that what he really said should be entered, and a loud voice called "There is too much levity among the candidates. can-didates. Ts the grand council of ten In conclave?" and so on. "There never has been such times since, as our respected predecessors used to have in the hall of the Sons of Malta. |
