New-York tribune., 1880-04-07
OUTRAGE AT VEST POINT.
4. coLoRED CADET MUTILATED.

ASSAULTED IN THE BARRACKS BY MASKED MEN AMI
HIS EAR CuT-THE WORK or CADETs-AN IN
vRsTIGATION BY GENERAL scHoFIHLD.
TFROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
WEST POINT April G.-Ihere is much excitement
here over the brutal attack on cOlOred Cadet John
son G. Whitaker. This morning at o O'clock "hel
reveile was sounded. Cadet Whitaker did moi
make his appearance. and the oincer OF tn'
day sent one Of the guard to his room II
the cadets, barracks to ascertain the cause
When tho guard entered the room every
thing Law in confusion. and Cadet Whitaker, nearly
unconscious and covered with blood Law on the
floor with his feet tied to his iron bedstead, MS
hands bound and his head resting on pillow. Inc
pillow was saturated with blood, and there were
pools Of blood on the floor and the night clOtnihl
of the cadet was also covered with blood.
The guard gave an alarm. when the officer OF tho
day came to the room, and the wounded cadet was
released from his fastcnngs and laid upon the bed.
He talked incohcrcntly. and was much frightened
and IN considerable pain.
The hospital surgeon was sent for. and General
Schofeld. Superintendent of the Academy, ana
Commandant Lazelle. of the corps. were lniormeu
of the outrage General Schofeld and Commandant
Lazellc went to Cadet Whittakers room and took q
hastS view of the surroundings. and heard brief
statement from the cadet and immediately began
Wien Cadet Whittakcr's condition improved. ana
hc was able to talk freely, be told plain straight
forward story in the following words;
Last night immediately after tattoo, / retired.
and had been t. sleep some time when L was
awakened, l think shortly after two a. Ill., Dy Ihe
moving of the latch on the door Of my room. Inc
,loar is never locked. Az first thought the noise
Inight have been uccasiOned by the wind against
the hall window. lstened for moment and then
tell into dOhe. when l was again suddenly
awakened by some one jumping right on me. |
looked sharp and there were three men III al. Two
of them were attiIcd In dark clothing ana the
third had on q light gray suit, and all wore Dihck
drew back my arm to strike the man who had
juultd on me. aud partially raised IN thc
ned III the struggle when was seized BY the
throat and chOked till was almost suhOcateh; and
was also struck heavy blow on the left temnle
and also on the nose with something hard. The
man who dealt the blow shouted 10 me. :" If You
don't be still you will be- dead man don't you
hJller." W as completely oveIpowered. -,
One Of the niCti then said, " Let's mark him like
they do hogs down South" And then, with what
think was Il knife, they cut off the lower end OF nv
LETT ear, and slit the lobe of my right ear once or
twice. Next they hogan 10 ne my feet, and
kicket as hard as | could. when one exclaimed,
e Don't You kick. or l will cut you;' aud he did
stick my fest twic".
one of the Others. Look ont, don't hurt lnn ; SEE
how he bicc,is take my handkerchief and pnt II
around his wounds" and the hnndkcrchirt was
taken and applied aS suggested but after Sarl taken
away. They then tied my feet aud my hands with
strips of white belts and then laid ne on the
floor with my feet toward the bed in tie i'ttle
alcove Won there. and MY head toward the wall.
Next they tied my feet 10 the iron hrdsteAd.
asked them If they would place pillow under
my head aud they did. Again they told me not 20
boiler and one said, "NOw let's leave" and thev
passed quietly out of the room. After they left
tried hard 10 gndw the straps from my hands. with
INV teeth, without success. cried. but not very
loud, " "Ilelpl help!" but got no answer. | did not
dare to shout loud for fear Of more harm frOA them.
think ! must have laid there three hours before
don't know who could have done this thing. l
didn't know that had an enemy. | think could
recognize at least one the men by his clos hug.
tired to pull his mask of but he jcrked b8ck.
About year ear , acc ~ S, rSt note. note on which was
from. Last sunday found a sealed envelope in my
room, and. opening II, found Il note INSIDE which
read as follows:
Look out; keep awake; you will be lxcd.
paid no attention to the first note of a year ago.
nor did pay any attention TO thf-WaTnrng of sun
day. Ifelt bad this morning but AIN better now.
guess Will come out all right.
While the cadet was talking the writer noticed
an Indian club stained with blood lying near the
bed, and asked Cadet Whitaker about 1t. He
didn't know whether he had been struck with il or
not. but he had certainly been hit with something
equally as hard, for his head was bruised.
An interview WAS had with General Schohcld
in regard TO the matter. lie seemed to feel much
aRgrieyed. and talked with great determination as
to the Investigation. In reply to questions abont
the cadet. the General said ho was in every
way modest, unassumlng young man. IIc came
{ the Academy from Charleston. S. c., IN 1876.
ana was to have graduated the coming juno. Last
year. however. lie was little deficient in his
stndies. and II was thought he would have 10 be-
sent home; but al tho urgent request of General
Schoiicd he was only set back one year in his
standing. 80 that he could be gwen anOt her chance
Slmce then he has VTca ~ improved, and Will gradu-
NE with honor IN 1881; When the co,"red Cndrt
for Fiipper helped HIM considerably, but after Flip
per lift he was compelled to 20 alOic
The mcinbrrs OF the Corps of Cadets openly ex-
press the greatest Indignation over he matter. To-
Lazelle. ana each questioned sharply about tho
matter.
One Of tho professors sald This thing has
passed beyond tie di unified charge of hazng' This
j. an offence equaed only by the acts Of masked
burglars and robbers from the Sums Of Ncw-YOrk
CITY"
Another professor stated that year or 81 AGO
WHITAKER was officer OF the dny and renorted -
pelled. He sent back, however, shortly after
Another timo cadet nsulted Whitaker, and the
latter responded with a blow
There is no doubt whatever that the three
nssailauts were cadets and General Schon, III feels
furc that he will detect them. There is Il belief
that they are SCIthrrnrrs because Ot the eycam,-
ON made by one of them, Let's mark hIn the way
they do hogs down South" The plaln fnCfs of the
rasc have been forwarded to the Secretary of War
for bis action.
Cadet Whitaker is about twenty-five years Of
lgc with complexion 30 light that he could not be
identified rs cUlUrcd man willie paradiuV with the
corps. His hair IS not very knky, but his face IL
covered with frccklcs. He has handsome eyes and
IS ve;y retiring IN his manner lie reported as 10
lemeanOT, lcsB than any other cadet in the CORPS.
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