Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 June 1883 — WORSE THAR APACHES. [ARTICLE]

WORSE THAR APACHES.

Particulars of a Horrible College Outrage at Earlville, Near . Syracuse. - ■ “ Two Victims Inclosed In Barrels, the Inner Surface of Which Had Been Spiked. The Barrels Rolled Around the Hall and Down Stairs—The Town Terrorised.

(Telegram from Syracuse, N. Y.] The Madison University and the Baptist Theological Seminary, where Baptist ministers are turned out annually, is located at Hamilton, a village about twenty miles south of this city. The institutions have always been known as among the moral Hazing has become a very infrequent occurrence, which makes the crqpl and barbarous treatment of two of tke students, last night, all the-more to be deprecated. Early In the day it was decided by several of the students to haze two of their number belonging to the Sophomore olosa About fifty students were let into the secret, and a full line of procedure was determined on. Two young men drove to Earlville, a village six miles distant, and secured Felt Hall, assuring the owner that they were to have some nafml ess exercises, common in college life, and would not require any fire or The keys were therefore placed in their charge. Suppers for fifty werejdso engaged at the hotel, to be served at 2 a. m. After the two students who were to be hazed had retired their rooms were broken open. They were then'ruthlessly compelled to dress, and were bound hand and foot and gagged. A cloae carriage was in waiting, and into this they were thrust, and the horses’ heads turned toward Earlville. The larger part of the participants had gone m advance by carriages. They arrived at their destination about midnight, and immediately took charge of Felt Hall Two large barrels had previously been prepared for the occasion. Sharpened nails haa been driven into them from the outside, so that they protruded nearly an inch on the interior. The two viotims were placed in these barrels after the gags had been removed from their mouths. The ■barrels were then headed up. The floor of the hall was wet down, and a small fire built in the oenter. Tne barrels were then rolled from one end of the hall to the other, and several times around and over the fire. Revolvers were fired and fire-crackers exploded. The terrible din had aroused several of the villagers, who assembled about the hail. The cries of the imprisoned young men oould be heard above all the confusion. A constable demanded admission to the hall, but was threatened with violence He ungallantly retreated. The barrels were finally rolled down the stairs and into the street The heads were knocked in and the two students liberated. They were more dead than alive, and presented a pitiable sight. When the citizens offered to lend aid and call for a physician the firing of revolvers began a seoona time, and all were glad to retreat The young men’s clothing was nearly torn from their bodies, and the blood flowed from the wounds caused by their coming in contact with the sharpened noils, The hazegs were indignant over the interference of the villagers, broke every streetlamp In town, and destroyed other valuable property. “It is alleged that pearly all of them were intoxicated. They left the town at 3a m, Without eating the supper. The young men who were so cruelly tortured wese taken with them. Both are very iIL The faculty will hold a thorough investlSation. They will also settle the damage one at Earlville. The whole affair has caused just Indignation. The names of the students who were hazed are withheld for the present No such treatment has ever been heard of in this State. The high character of the institution makes the night’s work all the more astonishing.