EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1918, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY OUTRAGE.

PACIFIST PARSON STRIPPED AND FLOGGED. It was tTiought that the pacifist propaganda in America, had been successfully squelched, but it has broken out momentarily again in the State of Kentucky, with an extraordinary sequel, which has served as a warning' to other jpeacemongers in the United States. Stripped of his clothing and beaten unmercifully, Mr Herbert S. BTgclow, the pacifist, leader and pastor of the People's' Church of Cincinnati, Ohio, was found* at Florence, Kentucky, in a dying condition. lie had been kidnapped by a band of men in 21 automobiles, who turned him loose after dipping his head in thick crude petroleum. All the evidence indicated that he was the victim of an oath-hound organisation, sworn to wreak vengeance on pacifists and others not in accord with* the United State's Government's war policy. A black-snake whip was used on Bigelow. whose condition was serious when picked up later. He was president of the recent Ohio constitutional convention, and was

kulnappof! at S rj.rii. on Sunday as he was about to enter a hall to address a meeting of Socialists in Cincinnati. With him were Professor Edward ,T. Cantrell (Minneapolis), and Vernon Rose (Kansas City). Two men approached Kigelow, seized him, handcuffed him. and thrust him into 11 waiting automobile. Those with Bigelow supposed that he had been taken hy Federal authorities. The kidnappers were traced with another posse. Winners saw a strange procession of motor ears winding through the Kentucky hills, and counted 21 machines. The kidnappers returned from- the scene of whipping singly. Automobile parties of searchers were unable to apprehend them. Bigelow had received vague

threats recently, but. refused to heed them. There were rumors that a secret organisation had been formed in Kentucky to "teach a lesson to pacifists." On Sunday I'.igelow's motor was followed about, Cincinnati bv another auto. Kigelow was able to tell of his experience. He had entered a physician's office in Florance at 1.30 a.m.,'and remained until morning. His hack and legs were lacerated and a. portion of his •ip.ir hail been cut off. After he had been stripped his bands were tied around a tree. Then the leader of the Vigilantes said: "In the name of the women and children of Belgium and France, Strike." Ibe first blow fell. Seven more lashes fell across his back. Then there was a pause, said Bigclow. •'Apparently the man with the whip was waiting Ifttr orders," he said. "Then the whip tamo down on my back again. 1 believe ther«w were ten or a dozen lashes. The men were masked and wore white aprons They reminded me of the Kn Klux \Vurep I saw in 'The ,Birth of a Xfttion' After 1 had been seized and handeuffe., .1 was taken out into tho coitntrv. A sack was thrown over my head Mv root were tied. I Imd no notion of either time or diist.-m»'e. 1 could tell only ,

Hint we \v<>re going over roads uul smooth fines. Nothin* was last we came to o stop, \ was lifted out <>r the n.utomobile and the sack was taken nfl heart. They fed „p to a "11 In a scM-li*, and loo!Tn.« to a .100 i.o wftK-l) they tied me. 'Off with i'iis clothes!' somebody exclaimed. M v !'laiti(s svere taken oil' mv hack." Then followed Pigelow's description 0 f the ashing. -They w „ ff sotm , of hair said liigolmv. "ami then po,,^; ,M 7 ««t «r n bottle over my hair! I judged ft *as crude oil. The men idT otV pxw 'P t remained to o'llßVd me. One had a revolver. When tr>r> others were gone a considerable time my guards also left me after telling me not to «o away for ten minutes. They instructed me to go to a certain house, v.heve T would get directions. It, occur - I o(i (o nu that the oil had been poured on my head so that I might lie ident.l- - ''""W to which I had been directed. I feared something more was' in store for me there, so 1 walked away > U i ", °l'P osile direction, and finally reached Florance." Bigelow was a member of the local brane.i of the People's Council for ])eliiwracy and Terms of Peace-opposed to the L'mted States Administration-

. , •awvu several weeks prevouslv by UTiited States Federal agents and much seditious literature >va; seized there. As pastor of the People's Church and m campaign speeches for the Socia,<list ticket lie had criticised America's I'litvaticff into the war. and urged peace by negotiation with Germany. At the. People s Church a few hours before 3ie was kidnapped, instead of offering prav or for the success of the war, in accordance with President Wilson's proclaimtl0 "' lll > off ered prayer for immediate peace. This so enraged the citizens of Cincinnati that they considered his activities as a pro-German should he. lemptorily closured. The usual "tn&ss" meeting or protest was held by the paei . fists, but nooody appeared to be worrying much about'tJieiv attitude.