CHAPTER II.
PLAN OF WORK.
After a regular organization has been effected in the county the White-caps felt that they were now much more secure, if not entirely protected, in their midnight work. The whipping of men and women became more common. The order grew in popularity and membership until it had invaded several of the districts and sections of the county, chief among these places were the Flat Creek section, in the northern part of the county, Catlettsburg vicinity, Pigeon Forge community, and especially much of the county surrounding Sevierville, the county seat. This territory includes some of the richest portions of the county whose citizens hitherto had been known to be not only the most prosperous and comfortable in their homes, but the most law-abiding in their walks. Even the little town of Sevierville located in the very heart of the county at the junction of the two Pigeon rivers, surrounded by the wealth and culture of the county, became the very hot-bed of White-capism before its decline and disintegration. Some of the leading spirits of this faith and order lived in that quiet little town, and it was at their homes that many of the most noted raids were planned. It seems that in the organization of the White-cappers, and in planning and laying out the work it was designed to do, there were two classes formed: one known as the raiders and the other the “supporters.” Members of the former class, as the term implies, were to make all raids, do the whipping, and perform all the duties attended with danger. While members of the latter class who were often men of property and standing in their community, were to make bonds for those who got into trouble and hire counsel to defend them in the courts. In this class it is said and generally admitted, that many of the wealthiest and best known citizens of the county were included. There is one thing certain and that is, not one who was arrested and arraigned on the charge of White-capping ever failed to give bail. Bondsmen were always present and waiting to give aid and comfort to the White-capper in his hour of extremity; no matter how poor the prisoner or what his character, the bond was forth coming. Another interesting feature in the history of White-cap prosecutions in Sevier County is that no case is ever known where a White-cap ever deserted his bondsmen. Some who feared detection fled the country to avoid arrest, but when once charged and put under bond the White-capper was true to his backers and true to his oath. The purposes and plans above outlined strengthened White-capism and gained for it a foot-hold which has given Sevier county an unenviable notoriety; and which for strength of organization and boldness in the execution of its purposes, and perpetration of crime, has had no parallel perhaps in the United States. It is the purpose of this book, in the succeeding chapters, to give some of the history and workings of this organization. But as it is a secret organization, as the writer is not and has never been, a member of the order, and as no member of the order has yet exhibited a willingness to reveal the secrets of the order to us, we have not in our possession as much information in detail as we would like to have nor as much as is necessary to give an entirely accurate history; yet we can safely vouch for most of the facts herein related, as being substantially true; as much so indeed as the ordinary history. |