The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-08-22
ANOTHER COLORED ClDEE
Charles Minnie Wins the West Point An
pointment-Who He IL.

II was after o'clock yesterday morning
when the committee appointed to select the sue
cessfu candidate for the Muller West Point
cadctship finished their labors. The examina-
ton papers wero all carefully inspected and
the colored applicant. Charles A. Minnie was
declared to have gained the honors His gen
eral average was %. Ahcrn's IS. and Goodwin's
and McGraths. each. a. OF "a questions In
grammar Minnie had answered 80 correctly.
Minnie was born near Troy. and next month
will be 20 years old. His father died when he
was an infant. and his widowed mother. with
other children to support, placed him in the
Half Orphan ASYLUM. whore he remained until
he was II years old From this time. till he was
49, he had no schooling. but did what work he
could obtain to aid his mother. Two years ago
having n strong desire to obtain nm education
he entered Mr.. Rcasoner's rolOrcd school in
Forty first street. where he made rapid advance
mcnt. finishing two years course in twelve
months. He then became pupil in Grammar
School 20, and after a. year 9 hard work went
out with high honura. When the schools closed
for the summer vacation he sought and obtained
employment ~ waiter in n hotel NJ Newport II.
I. hut when he heard OF the Offer made 10y Mr..
York TO compete for the coveted cadetshp
Minnie is n hright-looklng young fellow Of
about i've ieet four In height weighs i25
pounds, and is blessed with "A strong constitu-
ton Early Yesterday morning he was met on
broadway and in answer to congratulations on
hi success he said:
=" iccl proud; q course; and intend to show
10y my conduct that there hns been no mistake
max" in sclrcting me. When ] 20 90 West
Point shall act Ike man. aud ! am SURE that
| shall bc Judged not 10y my color but by my
conduct. II / do not bear myself ike a gentle,
man there | shall find no fault If am not
Mr. Bryan Principal OF Grammar School 30
says Of Minnie: " He WAS the first colored boy
~ the school When he applied for admission.
| learned that for months he had walked every
day from Broad 10 Forty street to attend
school. This fact gave me good opinion " the
boy and entered him upon the roll but with
many mlsgivlngs lest his presence among the
white boys Of the First Ward might make
trouble. Within three days Minnie had gained
a ioothold among his fellows and to-day there
Is no member OF the class more respected and
more aferionately regarded than he. He was
heard that he had entered as n competitor in
the race for the Muller appointment | came
down from Saratoga ON purpose 90 be- present ut
good boy and gentleman. and risk nothing
in saying that he will reflect ms much credit
upon his class Ct West Point us he did in Gram
His aunt, with whom he has been living says
Of him; Charlie IL good boy. He has always
been obcdlent docle studous. and thought
ful, and feel very proud OF him. He spends
all his leisure time at home with his books. and
rarely goes out nj night. except to visit the
Young Mems Christian Association"
l,r Merrill trustee OF the First Ward schools
Mul"rs announcement WAS made several Of
the boys OF school 20 came to him for infOrma-
ton in regard TO the examination. When asked
which member Of the class would best repre-
sent IT,. they all named Charlie Minnie: and
when they learned that he was about to enter
the lists. they said il was useless for any one
els" To enter ngains'Slim
1t was reported Yesterday afternoon that Mr..
Muller had declared hs intention TO refuse 10
sgn Mlmnes certificate. on the ground Of his
color. This has been denied: but IL Is well
known in the First Ward that several pot-housc
politicians have strongly urged this course up
on Mr; Muller. Intelligent gentlemen acQuaint-
ed with Mr.. Muller say that no amount Of pres
sur" Will induce him to act So unlustly. The
competition WAS open To all pupils Of grammar
nnl Inro.hlAl SCHOOLS in the Fith Senatorial
he won the appointment fairly. and he is enti-
tied To- II.
The Hon. Nicholas Muller said last night:
. The reports in regard to my intention to re-
iuse certiflcat to Charles Minnie are untrue
As soon IA the papers Of the committee are pre-
scented. showing that Minnie is entitled to the
appointinent, l shall make the appointment