The New York herald., 1869-06-09
WEST POIgE.

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Close Of the Examination Of the Gradu.
ariug CIass->A P0ntesIn Drill-A Question
for the Beard Of Visitors to Work Up
Remarkable Hal storm.
WEST POINT, June 8, 1869.
The examination Of the graduating class in ord
nance and gunnerY was continues and completed
ths morning, wheC cavalry tactics was taken up,
and by three oIl ock all the sections had passed
and the examination was at an end, much to the
satisfaction Bath OF the class itself and the Board
OF Examiners, who 10 say the least, have had a
rather hard task Of 1t for the past week. The
Academic ssaf win tomorrow set TO work to make
up the general standing preparatory to awarding
the diplomas, and then the class will be freed from
the restraint which has been imposed upon them
during the past four years. 1t Is thought that
when the standing will have been declared
the cfEss Will not come up to the "merit" standard
OF the class which graduated last June although 1t
hasDassed an excellent examination IN every branch
which the members had studied since they lett the
ranks OF the second class OF last year. There are
many reasons why it Is expected that II VIII not Dc
equal poiEt OF general merit to its immediate pre-
Secessor; but may add that Of these reasons is
not that the material OF the class is inferior to that
of any class which ever left the Academy gradu
ates but what the really may be told at
some future time.
A QUESTION OF FOOD.
While referring to this subject it may not be out OF
place to make mention OF certain occurrence
which took place here few months ago and for
which the first class was made TO suffer IN
the persons OF several OF its members and which
should be an nducement for the Board OF Visitors TO
look into certain departments OF the Academy
with something more effective than a pleasure trip
scrutiny believe the occurrence which have re-
ferred to took place in the mess hall some hve or
six months ago. and was nothing more nor less than
a violent demonstration against quantity OF bad
butter which laid before the cadets at meal time
As understand the case the furnishing or butter OF
an inferior quality had been IN operation for some
time and the cadets finally determined ~ show the
authorizes their dislike for the article. This they
did one fine morning by throwing the Objectionable
stun out OF the windows. Nhen this atrocous
crime was reported TO headquarters with but two
exceptions every one OF the officers OF the cadet
corps-members OF the first class OF course-to the
number Of fourteen were reduced TO the ranks The
two who escaped the general onslaught did SO SIM
t5s rise in Butter took place There IS no question
about the fact that the holding OF the officers to an
account for the conduct OF their classmates tempo
rarily under their command was strictly in accord
ance with true military discipline; but the question
Is could the fault of somebody which gave rise to
a breach of discipline been avoldedY And 1t is to
this question the present Board of Visitors should
devote much Of their attention-much more, indeed,
than they devote TO other and less important things.
The public press several years ago were more than
know OF what they affirmed to denounce the quality
OF certain articles OF food furnished the cauets but
upon Investigations being made no foundation for
the complaints was discovered. The proof OF
the pudding is II the eating, however and this
butter affair showed quite plainly that sometimes
there are foundations Tor charges made against the
supplying Of the cadet mess. The Board or Visitors
OF last year. in their annual report state that they
found 'the food excellent" about which there can
be no doubt but whose fault was 1t that four FIVE
months arter the report was published certain arti
Gle OF food was found so bad IN the opinion OF the
cadets that it could not be touched. IL cannot be
that excellent food" prevails only when official
visitors come about else the thing would be ex-
m fla ranls
be more frequent for allowing the path In front OF the
mess hall TO be strewn with rejected bread and but
ter or something apparently more substantial. Be
that the food furnished the the 0 cadets i'fSSS now
undoubtedly was when the Board Of Visitors
examined 1t last June; but the present Board should
ascertain how any article offered could have at any
time been supplied in bad condition, and after
finding that out, If the system for supplying the
Is very easy thing to have the mess supplies
properly inspected every day, and then, II anything
goes wrong. the authorities VIII know who TO hold
responsible, and there will be necessity for
reducing cadet officers to the ranks for throwing OBJ
Jectonable food into the roadway In Justice to the
butter thrown out by the cadets was Of the same
quality they themselves were using at their own
tables and with which they found no fault.
General Schiver, Inspector OF the Academy, and
General Meyer, Of the signal corps, viii arrive here
tonight.
The graduating class had pontoon drill this
afternoon, which drew together very large gather.
ing OF spectators principally visitors from the
hotels The drill took place from the shore just
westward OF the Cemetery grounds, and was a
practical illustration OF how rapidly q pontoon
bridge can be thrown across a stream and made
strong enough 10 bear the weight Of the heaviest
ordnance. The work OF constructing the bridge was
very simple, and was as folows:-Four not very
heavy sticks OF wood about fifteen feet In length,
Joined together so as TO make sort OF frame
work, with an open space between each OF
two strips which formed one side or the frame,
first selected and then the frame was placed on a
piece OF waterproof canvas sufficiently large 10
cover the whole WOODWORK The canvas was then
tied tightly with ropes over the strips to make
o sort OF air-tght compartment OF the whole thing,
when 1t was launched into the river. several OF
these affairs. which called pontoon boats, were
joined together during the drill, thus forming COM
puatvey safe bridge To test II O piece OF ordnance
was drawn over the boats quite successfully. Each
boat was constructed IN less than ten minutes,
although the wind was blowing fercely and the
waves very high at the time which naturally
impeded the progress OF the drill TO great extent
HAIL STORM.
One OF the most remarkable storms that ever
visited these parts broke over the mountains this
forenoon. The day opened rather cloudy, but about
nlne O'Clock the sun broke through the mists, and
the sky remained clear up 10 eleven O'Clock, when,
a. II by magic, sudden darkness supervened and a
hal storm, accompanied by perfect hurricane Of
wind followed For two or three minutes hail s;Ones
every one the size Of ordinary marbles, pelted down
cold rain supervened. and overcoats were II demand
during the remainder OF the day.