HIGH JINKS OF TERRORS.
_______

    "Teddy's Terrors" have entered the campaign, and the Republican State ticket is as good as elected.
    Forty-five grizzled veterans, who have seen two years' service in the famous organization of stimulators of political enthusiasm hied themselves to the woods yesterday morning, properly "busted" four novitiates, ate their fill of barbecued meat, and formally inaugurated the campaign.
    All the axes and hammers that had been used so industriously prior to the State convention were buried, and there was no trace of the bitterness that a few weeks ago was so marked, even among the members of the "Busters" aggregation.
    With a chorus of "Hi's" a dozen times repeated, the "Terrors" boarded a special train at Arcade depot at 10 o'clock in the morning, and were off for the day. They had gathered half an hour earlier at the Nadeau Hotel headquarters, clad in their cowboy uniforms, blue shirt, khaki trousers, bandana neckerchief and sombrero. No arms were carried, with the exception of four toy guns that were placed in the hands of the candidates for initiation.
    Headed by Chief Buster Diss, and with the Stars and Stripes carried by E. H. Hutchinson, "Big Hutch," the standard-bearer, they marched quietly down Spring street to Third, and took a Traction car for the railroad station.
    Only a few of the officers knew the destination of the party. Busters J. G. Mott, J. F. Hughes and E. F. Sullivan composed the Arrangement Committee, and they guarded well their secret.

    The first "jinks" was pulled off in front of Arcade station, together with the shirt of "Tom" Vigus, one of the tyros. Vigus would be darned if he'd march through town with the crowd. He was afraid they would make him ride the goat in the streets, and he had a reputation to sustain as president of a lumber company. But he lost his reputation, and all of his glad clothes at the depot. When he was discovered, he was pounced on by the Initiation Committee, headed by Harry Trowbridge and M. C. Adler, and in a jiffy he was stripped and as quickly clothed in the regalia of the order. Then the four candidates for honors were handcuffed in pairs, W. W. Lovett and W. J. Rouse, and Vigus and Archie Lovelace.
    It was around these four that the fun centered on the train. A quartette of marshals, Will A. White, Frank D. Hudson, Frank Thomas and A. C. Brode, with Senator Fred Smith as Pooh Bah, corralled the candidates in the baggage car and put them through the preliminary paces. Each was dressed in a short white skirt that fastened with a drawstring and that reached about to the knees, and on the head was placed a dinky Tam o' Shanter. Senator Smith wore a small Napoleon hat and a fierce black moustache that combined to make him look like Bismarck on a tour of France. The ferocity of the marshals was emphasized by heavy black moustaches.
    No "Terrors" were permitted to leave the train until Bassett, a little station near Puente, was reached, when orders were given to fall off, and the march began across country to a grove about a mile distant.
    At the first convenient tree the four candidates were formed in a circle about the trunk, securely handcuffed and left in the sun to meditate, while the caravan proceeded with the commissary wagon to the grove.

    Tables had been set under the trees, a large pot of beans was cooking over a hot fire, and over on a hill not far away a band of Mexicans was engaged in disinterring four bulls' heads and 200 pounds of meat that had been roasting since 10 o'clock the night before. As the savory flesh was uncovered a number of buzzards soared hungrily in the air, awaiting the time when the bones and scraps should be committed to their talons.
    Several dark kegs on ice were guarded by big Bob Wilkinson of the Nadeau, who kept going a stream of amber between them and the dining table as the meal progressed, and as the meat was cut from the ox heads it was devoured with gusto by the hungry horde.

    At high noon, Buster Fred Smith mounted his throne and the four candidates were brought before him for further purging before being admitted to the organization. Someone had released them from their prison at the tree, and it was in humble submission that they bowed at the throne. With their white skirts and with bath towels about their shoulders they looked like nuns at a shrine, and as they repeated the solemn oath that was administered a hush came over the company that could hardly be detected.
    Later there was a trial of Buster Gillen, who was accused of releasing the candidates from their outdoor prison. Buster Frank Thomas was judge; Buster Kleckner acted as prosecuting attorney, and Buster Ben Ward tried to plead the cause of the defendant, who was found guilty, and tied to a tree and swatted with a large soft baseball.

    A band of negro musicians furnished music at intervals during the afternoon; but the real musical event of the day was when "Schnitzelbank" was sung by Busters Lovett, Pfaffinger, Kinney, Hines, Lovett, Brode, and others. This is the song that made the Shriners famous at San Francisco, and it was rendered with a feeling that would arouse the envy of its composer.
    Ball games in the clearing near the grove furnished the greatest amusement, and developed some extraordinary qualities in the ordinarily staid business and professional men who took part. It is probable that the honors were divided between Police Commissioner James Keeney as third baseman, and Ferd Rule, as umpire. They deserved everything they got. Keeney was captain of the "Sloppy" nine, and Buster Brode led the "Lobsters," who floundered around on the slippery turf like their namesakes on cakes of ice.
    A touching feature of the trip that was not forgotten through the day was the presentation to Buster Sullivan of a large bunch of carnations as the train left Arcade station. It was accompanied by a perfumed note, addressed in a feminine hand, and Sullivan's chief concern was that the public might learn of it.
    The "Terrors" returned to Los Angeles at 6 o'clock, having had a most enjoyable outing, and one that was not marred by the rowdyism that sometimes characterizes occasions similar in kind.

    Those who compoeed the party, in addition to the candidates named, were Chief Buster Diss, Second Buster Frank Thomas, Treasurer J. F. Hughes, Arthur Kinney, Ferd K. Rule, Fred Smith, Ed Sullivan and John G. Mott, composing the Executive Committee; C. E. Gillen, Charles B. Mahone, W. H. Booth, A. W. Francisco, Roy McKeon, M. G. Willard, R. D. Bronson, M. C. Adler, Fred A. Hines, A. C. Brode, L. J. C. Spruance, Ira Herrington, Dr. Ralph G. Skillen, Will A. White, Leo Youngworth, George P. Adams, F. E. Davis, E. H. Hutchinson, James A. Keeney, William Wincup, W. Kleckner, F. X. Pfaffinger, Harry J. Lelande, A. C. Sittle, Harry Trowbridge, H. B. Ferris, S. F. Sheldon, E. B. Thomas, Ben Ward, Frank D. Hudson, F. G. Henderson, B. N. Smith, Jr., Mark G. Jones, Sherman Peace, O. R. W. Robinson, Irving Smith and James A. Bradbeer.

Source:

Unknown, "High Jinks of Terrors..., Annual Outing of 'Rough Riders' Affords Much Amusement," Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Sunday, 14 September, 1902, p. B1.