Scared by "Black Caps."
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Submitted by: Gigimo
Article Title:Kansas City Star
Article Date:February 21 1889
Article Description:Scared by "Black Caps."Missouri Farmers Ordered to Leave
Their Farms by Men in Somber Masks.
Article Text:
St. Joseph, MO., Feb. 21.--The little town of Osborne in DeKalb county is wild with
excitement to-day over the appearance of "Black Caps."Last night about 11 o'clock
a band of men, supposed to number 150 and wearing black masks rode up to the door of
a respectable farmer named Edward SPRAGUE.After rousing the household they rode
away and Mr. SPRAGUE found a notice written in red ink on foolscap, giving him
warning to leave the farm upon which he lived, on or before the 10th of March next, or he
would be dealt with according to the rules of the "I.O.B.C."--Independent Order of
Black Caps.The notice was signed "Black Caps," and the concluding warning was to
the effect that if Mr. SPRAGUE wasn't absent on the date given, they would call
prepared to move him.
Later the same night a similar hand or the same one called upon Wood LAMB and
Willard WELLS, both reputable farmers and members of the community, and gave them verbal
notice to leave within twenty days.Mr. LAMB has already packed up his chattels
ready to move.The cause given by the "Black Caps" for their action was dislike of the
owners of the farms on which the warned men live.They stated further that no
families would be allowed to live on the farms "until justice was done."
Mr. W. Homer BROWN, postmaster at Stewartsville, saw them pass through his place
about midnight, riding at a rapid gait.He did not think there were more than fifteen
in the party.The three men who were visited have repeated the same story until the
number of night riders has grown from the original to 150 to 300 or 400.