The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-26
TRoUBLEINsE STEPHENS COLLEGE
Violence that Followed = Day. Carou.ai-
A Vacation OF Two Weeks Ordered.

PoUGHKEEPsIE, Feb. 25-At Annandale-
on-the-Hudson. two miles north OF Barrytown.
Is an Episcopal institution known as st.
Stephens College. where young men are edu-
Gated for tho ministry. and over which the Rev.
DIR. Fairbairn. LII D.. presidos as warden. For
the past woek the neighborhood has been in
state OF excitement over violent scenes that have
occurred within the college walls and which
have resulted in an abrupt vacation OF two
weeks. 1t seems that several days ago fifteen
or twenty OF the students went to Rhinebeck on
a lark. unbcknown to the warden or faculty.
and had high old timo drinking and carous-
ing. Soon aiterward the faculty heard OF the
affair and an investigation followed. 1t was
claimed that a student named Walter Wickes OF
Fort Edward N. Y. had "tattled" about tho
Rhinobcck carousal to the warden. As some Of
the excursionists were mombers OF ono OF tho
societies OF the college, 1t was made society
affair. and W. S. Parkerson. a student from
Louisiana led movement for revenge on
Wickes. Last Thursday morning. whom all the
students were at breakfast In the large dining
hall Of the college. Parkerson suddenly rose.
called them to order. and addressed them. con-
demnng Wickes. saying that they proposed to
punish him. Wickes sat near q rear door. out
side OF which was the college pump. Parker
son. II is said. gave signal and twenty five or
thirty students rushed upon Wckes. who is
about 10 years old. Half dozen OF them took
him up in their arms and carried him out to
the pump. while the remainder Of the Parker
son party stood at and about the door to pre-
vent any OF Wickess friends from getting out
| Wickes was held under the pump nozzle. and
was completely deluged and nearly sunocated
When the first scufile occurred in the dining
| hall. PaLkerson charged student from Canada.
| one OF Wickes's friends. with either hitting or
pushing him. and the Canadian went up stairs.
| II is claimed that Parkerson and his friends
followed him, and while two or three held hi m,
othors beat him about the head and face In a
| shocking manner.
| The greatest excitement followed the collision
| between the students. and Warden Fairbairn
| was sent for He soon appeared among the
belgerents. and announced that a faculty
| meeting would be held at once. The result was
| that poth sides were condemned as being too
hasty. and the faculty. required all TO resume
| studies and order. The friends OF Wickes
some thirty or forty in number. were indignant
| over the decision. and organized meeting and
| sent committee to the faculty, who informed
them that they were to hold another meeting
the result of which would be announced the
next morning FRIDAY last. A report was cir.
or thirty OF his friends would go with him, and
Wickes and twenty Of his friends snid they
would 90 IL parkcrson was not expelled.
Friday morning. after the usual sermon. War,
den Fairbarn leit the chapel and appeared
among the students. He said that the faculty
read OF u list Of the names OF those who hac
participated in the disgracetul affair and I'D
party, and they held another meeting. and re
solved that unless Parkerson was expelled thu
Nickes students would leave the college in
| body. About thirty were present at the meeting
and all were in favor OF leaving. They ap
pointed a committee and sent notification o
the decision to the faculty. Once more the fac
uty met. and after earnestly discussing th'
whole question. Il was decided that a vacation
should be ordered for two weeks and the orde
was promulgated. the faculty hoping that in tn
interim the bitter feeling might be allayed. an,
the students come back to work with renewe'
ygor. This unusual course surprised ALL an,
when Saturday morning arrived preparation
for leaving for home were visible ON all sides
At the breakfast table the Parkerson men wer
In the majority. and they laughed derisively a
the Wickes men, who were At tho same table
In little squads OF twos and threes the boys lei
the college for Barrytown railway station. Par
kerson being among the number. As he passe
the chapel Warden Fairbairn motioned to Par
kerson 10 step inside and he did. Soon after
ward he came out. ran ike n deer toward tn
college and disappeared. when he reappeare
again about twenty nye OF his friends wer
with him. and they marched from the ground
} in single file. Then 1t WAS reported that he In
. bean expelled and his friends left with him tn
last OF the students some eighty In all. left tn
college yesterday on their two weeks vacation
IL Is believed that the trouble 10 not yet owe