How the Ku Klux Made Impressions.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 66, 6 September 1884, Page 5

How the Ku Klux Made Impressions.

The Klan had a large membership; it exerted a vast and terrifying power ; but its£infiueuce was never at any time dependent on, or proportioned to, its membership. It wasin the mystery in which the comparatively few enshrouded themselves. It is an error to suppose that the entire male population of the South were Ku Klux, or even a majority of the people were privy to its secrets and in sympathy with its extremest measures. To many of them, perhaps to a majority, the Ku Klu Klan was as vague, impersonal, and mysterious as to the people of the North, or of England ; they did— do to this dayattribute to it great good. One or two incidents will illustrate the methods resorted to to play upon the superstitious fears of the negroes and others. At the parade in Pulaski, while the procession was passing a corner on which a negro man was standing, a tall horseman in hideous garb turned aside from the line, dismounted, and stretched out his bridlerein toward the negro as if he desired him to hold his horse. Not daring to refuse, the frightened African extended his hand to grasp the rein. As he did so, the Ku Klux took his own head from his shoulders and offered to place that also in the outstretched hand. The negro stood not upon the order of his going, but departed with a yell of terror. To this day he will tell you : "He done it, suah, boss. I seed him do it." The gown was fastened by a drawstring over the top of wearer's head. Over this was worn an artificial skull, made of a large gourd or of pasteboard. This, with the hat, could be readily removed, and the man would then appear to be headless. Such tricks gave rise to the belief— still prevalent among the negroes — that the Ku Klux could take themselves to pieces whenever they wanted to. Some of the Ku Klux carried skeleton hands. These were made of bone or wood, with a wrist or handle loner enough to be held in the hand, which was concealed by the sleeve of the gown. The possessor of one of these was invariably of a friendly turn, and offered to shake hands with all he met, with what effect may be readily imagined. A trick of frequent perpetration in the country was for a horseman, spectral and ghostly-look-ing, to stop before the cabin of some negro needing a wholesome impression, and call for a bucket of water. If a dipper or gourd was brought it was declined, and the bucketful of water demanded. As if consumed by raging thirst, the horseman grasped it and pressed it to his lips. He held it there till every drop of the water was poured into a gum or oiled sack, concealed beneath the Ku Klux robe. Then the empty bucket was returned to the amazed negro, with the remark : "That is good. It is the first drink of water I have had since I was killed at Shiloh." Then a few words of counsel as to future behaviour made an impression not easily forgotten or likely to be disregarded,—" The Century " for July,