Connecticut western news., 1880-01-14
The Cadets Loose.
A MIDNIGHT SCENE AT WEST POINT ON THE
 OPENING OF THE NEW YEAR.

MIDNIGHT SCENE AT WEST POINT ON THE
 OPENING OF THE NEW YEAR.
 The cadets at West Point are again in trouble. They are not allowed by the authorities to make any demonstra- tion on New Years eve, but they did 1t. The cadets had ball in the Academic building New Years eve that wound up about ten o'clock, after which, in their usual gallant style, they escorted the ladies home, and all was quiet. At l2 o'clock loud toot on fish horn was the signal for the carnival to begin, and on the dead stiffness of the midnight air "bang, boom, bang went gun after gun in the siege battery, looking north up the Hudson, while all the surround ing mountains-Oro' Nest, Storm King and far off Dunderberg back the rolling thunder in multiplied sound, and the startled ears of the awakened residents of the post heard what resem- bled the cannonade of battle. One lady exclaimed, as she heard the first gun: sThere! I knew it. The cadets are loose The cadets are loose On, l know they're loose l" The cadets who manned the guns (thirty pound Parrotts) and many of those engaged in the nights performance wore masks, so that no one knew his neighbor. The firingo the battery was skilful and daring exploit. The gunners worked hard and fast, for time was precious, as every explosion made the danger of discovery and cap ture greater. When their work, occupy ing the brief space of five or seven min utes, was done the gunners started at a wild run across the snow-covered plain for their barracks, where, according to the code of the post, they should have been in bed sharp at ton o'clock. As they ran for shelter and safety they dodged in and out among the trees that skirt the plains of Abraham, fearful lest the awakened eye of some officer of the post might detect them.
 While the artillery was waking up the slumberers of the mountains display of fireworks was made from the windows of the cadet barracks, and rockets were sent flying through the air in all direc- tions with the finest possible effect. It | is said nothing was ever seen like it at West Point before, and no place seems better adapted for pyrotechnic display, the towering hills making 8 splendid background and the wide plain an ad- mirable post of observation. By this time General Schoield, Superintendent of the Post, who thought the barracks had caught fire, his staff and all the off, cers attached to the Academy, had turned out of their beds, and in undress and half dress uniform hastened to the scene of Ievelry. The tactical officers in charge of the cadets rushed to put stop tc the racket, but the cadets were prepared for this contingency and had taken of the handles of the outer doors so tha
 none of the officers could enter. They
 had also locked up in their rooms cade
 officers on whom authority is conferred to preserve order within the barracks itself and arrest any who violate it
 Secure from interruption and with thei
 faces masked they piled the work at thu
 windows of firing rockets, the light iron
 which revealed below the forms of Gen
 eral Schofeld and throng of officers.
 The cadets took field piece on top o
 the barracks and discharged it, adding
 much to the excitement. In retaliation promptly after breakfast hour an orde
 from the Superintendent was issued
 prohibiting the cadets from making an. New Years calls on the ladies at tn
 post, and few can realize what depriya tion this meant unless they have beer cadets themselves or placed in 8 simila situation. Two cadets to whom tn evidence of implication in the affair o New Years Eve pointed were place' under arrest. One cadet captain ant seven cadet lieutenants were promptl, reduced to the ranks for allowing tn
 disorder to occur. Eight new tactica
 officers were put on as monitors, and th cadets found themselves in very un
 pleasant position. Only five men ou of the whole battalion applied for tn privileges withdrawn by admitting tha they were not engaged in the escapade