"Whitecaps" were illegal, vigilante night riders, even lynch mobs, that attempted to drive from a community and off the property they owned by threat or intimidation those members of the community who the "whitecaps" thought were undesirable. The name came from the caps they wore. In many respects, they were the same as the Ku Klux Klan, although, in Indiana, not always driven by racial hatred. ----- Original Message ----- From: "M Nickless" <unicorn1950@comcast.net> To: <INLAWREN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 4:17 PM Subject: Re: [INLAWREN] PLEASANT MEADOWS VISITED BY WHITECAPS > Can anyone explain just who or what a "whitecap" was? > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Diana S Flynn > To: INLAWREN-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2005 12:26 PM > Subject: [INLAWREN] PLEASANT MEADOWS VISITED BY WHITECAPS > > > BEDFORD WEEKLY MAIL > BEDFORD, INDIANA > FRIDAY, AUG. 24, 1900 > > Pleasant MEADOWS, an aged farmer northwest of Bloomington, has had a > second visit from whitecaps. The whipping took place last Saturday > night, and MEADOWS was severely beaten. MEADOWS states that the > whitecaps burst in his door with a rail and took him from his house in > his night clothes, and whipped him until he was scarcely able to crawl > back to his bed. The cause of the assault is quite a mystery to the > friends of MEADOWS, but he claims that the midnight callers ordered him > to sell his farm and give the money to his children. His farm is in fair > condition, and is said to be worth $4000. It contains 278 acres and is > located on the Bethel church road at the junction of the Unionville pike. > MEADOWS has since moved to Bloomington. He claims to have recognized > the whitecaps and will give the information to the grand jury at the > proper time. > > > > > ==== INLAWREN Mailing List ==== > to unsubscibe from this list, send an e-mail to > INLAWREN-L-Request@rootsweb.cm. type the word, "unsubscribe" as both the > subject and the body of the message. hit send and you are off. allen > murray >