Ellsworth American., 1880-04-15
Outrage at West Point.

Outrage at West Point.
On Tuesday morning April 9Th. it was
discovered that an outrage had been perpe-
rated on Johnson c. Whitaker, colorcd
cadet at West Point
As he did not make his appearance at
reveille, search vas made for him and he
was discovered on the floor of his sleeping
apartment, in q semi-conscious condition.
his hands and feet bound and his feet tied
to his iron bedstead. One Of his ears had
been slit in two or three places and one half
of the other ear cut of He had also re-
ceived a severe blow on the side Of his head
and pools of blood were on the floor.
Medical aid being sen, for he vas soon re-
vived and tells the following story:
"Las; nigh; immediately after tattoo. I
retired, and had been TO sleep some time
when vas awakened. | think shortly after
two a. m, by the moving OF the latch on the
door of nv room. The door is never locked.
NJ first thought the noise might have been
occasioned by the wind against the hall
window. ! listened for moment and then
fell into a doze, when | was again suddenly
awakened by some one jumping right on me.
l looked sharp and there were three men in
all. Two of them were attired in dark
clothing and the third had on a light gray
suit, and all wore black masks.
drew back my arm to strike the man
who had jumped on me. and | partially
raised in the bed in the struggle when va.
setxel hx .b.. throat a,xl okDaL.l al 7
almost suifocsted; and was also struck a
heavy blow on the left temple and also on
the nose with something hard The man
who dealt the blow shouted TO me. III YOU
don't be still YOU will be a dead man; don,
you holler." Twas completely overpow cred.
One Of the men then said, Let's mark
him like they do hogs down South" And
then, with what | think was knife, they
Gu, off the lower end of nv left ear, and slii,
the lobe Of my righ, ear once or twice.
Next they began TO tie my feet. and kicked
as hard as ! could. when one exclaimed.
''Don't YOU kick. or will Gu; :" and he
did stick my feet twice.
Al this time the small man dressed in
gray said TO one Of the others. look out.
don't hurt him see how he bleeds; take nv
handkerchief and put it around his wounds, =
and the handkerchief was taken and applied
as suggested. but afterward taken a~ay.
They then tied my feet and my hands with
strips Of white oross-belts. and then laid me
on the floor with my fee; toward the bed in
the little aleoye YOU see there. and nv head
toward the wall. Mex, they tied nv fee, to
the iron beds;ead
! asked them if they would place pillow
under my head and they did. Again they
told me not TO hollcr. and one said. Now
lets leave. and they passed quietly ou, Of
the room. After they left tried hard To
gnaw the straps from my hands. with nv
teeth. without success oTied. but not
very loud. Help. help" but got no answer.
did not dare TO shout loud for fear OF more
harm from them. think | must have laid
there three hours before revcille. and was in
stupor from blows received don't know
who could have done this thing didn't
know that had all enemy think could
recognize at least one OF the men by his
clothing. tired TO pull his mask otI bu,
he jerked back
was written: Look out ! don't know
where !, came from. Las; Sunday found
sealed envelope in my room. and. opening
II. found note inside which read a. fol
lows:
Look out; keep ava axe YOU will be fixed =
"A FRIEND"
paid no attention to the srst note Of
year ago. nor did | pay any attention to the
warning Of SUNDAY ! ,eii bad this morn
ing but am better now. ] guess will come
out all right"
An investigation so far. fails 10 show ;ha,
the brutal outrage was committed by any Of
his fellow cadets. but the matter should and.
no doubt. will be sifted thoroughly and the
guilty ones punished
On FRIDAY. Senator Logan submitted
resolution to the Senate calling on the Pres
iden; for information relative TO the outrage.
During the discussion Of the resolution Sen
a;or Hoar said
"iiazing occurs in the fir, year. no, in
the third year, in our colleges. The colored
boy who enters West Polnt-unless the
practice there has changed within a wear or
two-i- in as complete solitude from the
time he enters until his graduation. a. Rob
inson Crusoe was on hi. desolate island.
he boy is leit absolutely without an associ-
ate. Nobody speaks TO him. nobody calls
upon him in his room, nobody affords any
sympathy 10 him in sickness or sorrow
When he enters the recitation or examina-
ton room and tales his seat on the bench.
that bench : vacant. Now. who would not
rather aght his way through dozen at
tehpts a, hazing than spend four year, Of
his growing boyhood in such a solitude Is
that am afraid the instructors at wes,
Point have no; tried TO impress on the classes
there that the basest thing the, can do is to
,rea; young colored youth as person to
be eNiled from all the sympathy and associ-
atoms Of humanity on account Of the cole.
Of his skin. This American Republi,, will
grind tha, institution 10 powder p;,-es, ,hi.
abuse is cured"
The investigation is no.. poine on a, We.,
Point