New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-16
VEST POINT LIFE.

SHOOTING WITH LARGE GUNs-PRoGREsS OF THE
EXAMINATION.
WEST POINT, June 15-The first class have
finished their examinations and are now enjoying
taste Of freedom from academic thral having aDso-
utely nothing do but to entertain their friends ana
try on their uniforms, ordered and delivered days
and weeks ahead of the bssfu hour which gives them
the right to them. No one Is aware now much
time is spent in crcisng these garments which are to
the cadet like the wings of the butterfly whereby he
ufrs himself from his chrysalis. They incomplete
wings as yet for stripes and shouderstraps cannot be
put on until Wednesday, when each cadet VIII know
which branch of the service he Will adorn 30 to-day
they have been really omnipreseDt, and the young
ladies' as O corolary to proposition, naturally In &C.
stacies solitary man, tired OF the noise ana hghts
and odors Of hotel and seeking quiet place where
he could smoke O cigar and watch the sunset as the
light faded I'D the river. searched in vain last evening
EVERYWHERE were cadets and girls In couples and quar-
tetes along the bluff and the Irritation walk. 1t could
not have been confined to the first class then.
The examinations are being pushed along as fast
a. thoroughness will allow. The first class finished
early Saturday morning The third class have shown
progress in French and the second aud third classes In
drawing The second class ia being examined in Chem
istry aud will finish its aborsi tomorrow when the
FOURTH class will be tested in Mathematics. long
process when 1t Ia remembered that Is minutes are
given 10 each cadet although there 90 In the class
their standing will be given at dress parade to- morrow
evening The diplomas will be presented on Wednesday
morning by Gen. Ruger, aud the new officers Will DC
addressed by the Hon, Francis Wayland The grand
hop will take place tomorrow evening IN the mess n
A very fine exhibition OF cadet craftsmanship was
given this afternoon. The seacoast battery on Tue Ne'
side almost directly under the hotel. WAS manned py
number OF cadets belonging to the Second Glass; uhder
the command Of Lieut. Davis. In this battery there are
Radn yuu.
aud four smaller pieces. Long before the cadets came
upon the scene spectators began TO gather on the
above and themselves anong re roSs,
and target could be had Tie latter was the usual
place. against the hillside about l,ioo yafus away
seemed from the spectators perch good honest work to
manage these guns the balls or shells had 10 pe a.
mons nom p mouth pushed In little way. ana then two
cadets braced themselves against the wah and ranmed
then with "Sow altogether boys" the gun run
forward until Its mouth projected beyond the si1e
who held the lsnyards grouped themselves at tle
ends Of the battery to watch the shots The command
the big shot easily seen through its whole course until
1t struck the groand directly under the target Two;
Three. Four aud Five followed but the target remained
untouched The smoke 0bscured the discharge OF NO.
but when cleared away the target had but about
added an nsgnicsnt rent though the shot and shei ~
~ IL
third round was fired Number One went right usdet
| H. NUMBERS Two ana Inrce missed IL. NunDtT Iou,
hit square and when the dust settled there remained
only the seIabance OF deserted Indian wigwan' WIN
| the hanging In strips. The who alIneu
that gun rewarded immediately by the applause OF
| the ladies' Then No thred land his aim was
true Also for what left looked like antiquateu
suushade, with its ribs sticking all naked and bare
| poor chance had No. g. but the sunshade re-
sembed a discarded dishclOtb and there nothing
lett to fire a. Three fired, but the marx
this time hr tree growing close to the shore THIS
time the guns aimed that the shot struck the
water FIRST and bounding aud skipping the surface
struck close to the roots Of the tree and hurled them
6elyes into the bank This finished The display and the
cadet In their white Jackets and pantAoons marched
back " their quarters, whe the spectators pushed up
| the ball w The hotel ...