Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-05

But the colored boy takes it exceed
ingly hard He in fact takes everything
hard, as we predicted he would when he
first entered the Military Academy. Nor
is il unnatural that no should take things
harder than the white boys do. II is in
the nature of the case for him to think
that disGgreeable matters which are put
upon him are put upon him simply be-
cause he is a colored boy, and for the
purpose OF annoying and degrading bin.
Consequently he is sullen, inclined to be
disobedient, and quick to quarrel The
latter tendency has at last got him into
serious difficulty.
HOW THE FRACAs OCCURRED.
The other day, while he was on guard
duty, he went to the tank for water for
the guard, and there found other cadets
ahead of him. 1t is customary for each
cadet to take his turn at the tank, and
when many meet there at the same time
line is formed for that purpose. When
Smith came up, he attempted to push
away a cadet who was ahead of him, At
the same time exclaiming;
want water for the guard"
Take your turn, said the cadet thus
addressed, little fellow named Wilson,
not near so large as Smith,
The oQlQped boy again attempted to
crowd Wilson out of his turn, whereupon
Wilson struck at him Smith then
struck Wilson on the head with his dip
per, so hard as to break the cup portion
from the handle. Then, with the handle,
he struck him again, cutting cash over
his eye, Wilson was removed to the hos
pital and his wound dressed, and then he
was placed under arrest. Smith was
also placed under arrest and q court of
inquiry Is TO investigate the matter.
This account of the ffaeas We gathered
from the cadets. We were not allowed
to see Smith, although we made special
application to do so to Gen. Upton, the
officer in charge, who has succeeded Col.
Black.
GENERAL UPTON S VIEW or HIS DUTY.
On being conducted to the front of
General Upton's tent by an orderly de-
tailed for that purpose by the officer of
the guard-eyerything is on a war foot
ing in the camp-that gentleman came
out to meet rs, and we at once said:
" General, so many conflicting reports
about the recent fraoas between the col
ored cadet aud a eomrade have been sent
down to New York, that Mr. Dana, not
wishing to publish anything in the Sun
but the exact truth, has sent me up here
on purpose to get the precise facts of the
matter
That is praiseworthy course for
Mr.. Dane to take, most certainly" said
General Upton. Mr. Dana is a friend
of mine, aid should be glad to obige
him; but cannot hold official communi-
cation with any one ON this subject
Whenever the court Of inquiry snail fin
ISL its Investigations, its proceedings will
probably be published, But | can give
no information, nor hazard any conjec-
lures on the subject, in advance"
Can you direct me, General, to any
one who can and will give me the infor-
nation seek?"
"No, sir no one can.give it to you?"
"Where is Smith ?"
lie Is under arrest"
Can | see him
GENERAL UPTON THINKS PUBLICITY WILL |
INJURE SMITH.
"No, sir; nobody can be allowed to
;ep him; nor would j be 10 his interest
for yon to see him. It will not promote
mis- interest to have anything published
about him in the papers.
"That may be, General. | am not
lere in the interests of Smith, but in
hose Of the public aud of the Sun The
public want TO know the truth about this
natter, and the Sun will do its best to
rive it to them"
"Yes, | understand. But everything
hats said about Smith in the peYspa-
,ers hurts him with his comrades, and
makes matters worse.
We'll, General, ! shall have to do the
,est | can then among the cadets, and
ret as near the truth as possible under
he circumstances.
'Ii you publish anything il will be al
most sure 10 make 1t worse for Smith
Imong his commades; it would be better
o say nothing about it. ;"
We left General Upton, and did the
,est we could among the cadets, and
leard the story OF the fray as We have
old it. We think it essentially correct,
nut would have preferred to have Smiths
lwn statement of the case in addition.
General Grant, Mrs Grant, and Nellie
re at the West Point Hotel The Gen
raj went TO dinner al Mr.. Pierreponts
across the river, and Mrs.
irant went to church with Gen. Pitcher.
To-day the cadets break camp, and in
he evening the grand hop Of the season
omes off Scores of pretty girls are on
END fer iha occasion, and IL is expected
o be an exceedingly brilliant affair.