Northern Historically

Ashland Daily Press

April 1, 1916

Professor of Northland Tarred and Feathered - Taken From Room by a Mob

Masked Men Take Him Half Mile From The City, Give Him a Coat of Tar and Feathers and Let Him Walk Home.

  Professor E. A. Schimler, teacher of languages at Northland College, was taken from his room last night about midnight by nearly a dozen masked men, taken to a lonely spot about a half a mile from the city, stripped of his clothing and given a substantial coat of tar and feathers.

  After treating him to the coat of tar and feathers, the men in the party jumped into awaiting automobiles and sped back to the city. They were very orderly. No one knew of the plot and it was carried out with such dispatch, hardly anyone in the city, except the parties interested, knew of the affair until everything was over.

  Schimler, when left by the mob, found his undergarments and walked back to his boarding house. The police were then called and the police auto was sent at once to pick him up. He was taken to City Hall and then to the Y.M.C.A. where he was given an opportunity to clean up.

  When he arrived at the City Hall he was in such a condition that there was no question in anyone's mind that the mob were very liberal in the use of tar and also had on hand lots of feathers.

  Schimler could give absolutely no clue as to the parties who forcibly took him from his boarding house and the police have no clues to work on as they were not notified until the affair was all over, said Chief of Police

Says He was Robbed
  Schimler made claim to the police this morning not only treated him to a coat of tar and feathers but also to his watch and other valuables taken from his person. He had not retired when the mob arrived at his boarding place, but was sitting in his room with his shoes off reading

An American Citizen
  Professor Schimler is an American citizen. He came to this country with his parents when he was 14 years of age and received his education in this country, being a graduate of Boy's Latin School of Boston and of Dartmouth College. After leaving college he taught school in this country and then went to Germany were he taught for six years, returning to this country in 1913. He taught school in Carlisle Pennsylvania and Chicago, and came to Northland last September to teach the languages. The college authorities say that Professor Schimler has been a very efficient teacher and there is absolutely no evidence that he was disloyal in words or actions.

City Offers Reward
  Mayor Dennis called at the Daily Press office this afternoon and stated that city authorities would do all in their powers to apprehend the guilty parties and in furtherance of this object will give a reward of $100 for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of any of the members of the mob that tar and feathered Professor Schimler.

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