The consternation of the freedmen was so great upon the receipt of the
above warning that not a colored preacher dared to show himself in the
vicinity for months afterwards.
The Klan oppressed everyone not members of or in sympathy with their
organization, and sought to over-ride all law and equity, upon the
principle that might made right. To this end they issued warnings to
business men who had come into their vicinity from the North, and who were
disposed to invest capital and establish trade, but who were not of the
right stripe politically--and this meant who were not sound Democrats.
Numerous instances of this kind are on record.
Two enterprising business men--Messrs. Gottschalk and Hughes--purchased a
mill property in Atalla, Ala., belonging to one J. B. Spitzer, and made
their arrangements to get out lumber. Messrs. Gottschalk and Hughes were
under suspicion of not sympathizing with the Klan, politically, and a
pretence was made that Mr. Spitzer, from whom they had purchased the saw
mill, was indebted to persons, whom the new firm were politely requested
to accept as their creditors. This they refused to do, and the following
warning was sent them.
"DEN OF THE GREAT GRAND HIGH CYCLOPS OF ETOWAH COUNTY, ALA.
To Messrs. Gottschalk & Hughes:
His royal highness, your great, grand high worthy master, notices
with much pleasure that you have purchased and become the owners of
the saw mill, lately owned by Mr. J. B. Spitzer. He understands very
well, everything connected with that mill transaction, and it is his
great pleasure that you call on the creditors of J. B. Spitzer in the
morning, and approve of the debts of Mr. Spitzer. He wishes an
answer to-night what you will do in the matter.
By order of his royal highness,
_The Great grand Cyclops of Etowah County, Ala._"
Messrs. Gottschalk & Hughes paid no heed to this missive, and on the night
of the 13th of November, 1871, the Klan assembled and set fire to the
mill, destroying it entirely, and compelling its new proprietors to leave
the place.
Mr. William Gober, residing in Dade County, Georgia, was an avowed
Unionist and Republican. He was active in politics and expressed his
sentiments with great freedom, and was consequently classed by the Ku Klux
as a carpet-bagger and a scallawag, and warned to leave the country, in
the following terms:--
"DEATH. K. K. K. DEATH.
Take heed for the pale horse is coming. His step is terrible;
lightning is in his nostrils. He looks for a rider. Now this is to
warn you William Gober, that carpet-baggers and scallawags cannot
live in this country. If you are not gone in ten days, we shall come
to you, and the pale horse shall have his rider.