Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-09
PUGILISTIC CADETS.


West Point Special to the New York Herald.
The mopotony of routine life at the mill
tary post, West Point, has Just been varied
by genuine prize-hght between two cadets,
with seconds and referee. The mill occurred
on Wednesday morning between 10 and IL
O'Clock, and the principals were Cadets Frank
A. Cook, eighteen years old, and Edward A.
Scudder, tWenty-one years old. Scudder was
knocked out in true Sullivan style, and was
carried to the hospital in an iDsensibfe con-
dition. Scudder was appointed from Missis-
sippi, and Cook from Rhode Island. The
former is fourth-ciass plebe, and Cook is a
third-class man. The referee was Alfred ID.
Jackson, who belongs TO next years gradual
ing class, and is from Massachusetts,. There
are two reports regarding the difficulty out
OF which spfaug the fight. Ons ia that Scud-
der got into trouble with an officer of his
company who cursed him. This he would
not submit to; said that he could do any
thing else, but he would not stand that; con-
sequently he challenged the officer to fight,
but the latter refused, and, according TO pre-
EaIling custom, got another to do the fight
ing for him. To this Scudder assented and
the mill followed.
Another report says that Scudder smicably
settled the dispute between himself and the
officer, and that the trouble between him and
Cook, with whem he fought, was an entirely
different difficulty, the nature of which is
not yet revealed. Whichever or whatever
the difficulty, certain it is that the fight took
place in artistic prize-ring style on Wednes-
day morning. Scudder and Cook, accom-
panied by Referee Jackson and two cadets as
seconds, whose names the reporter could not
ascertain, went up the back road to near an
old blacksmith shop, all prepared for the
fight. Everything had apparently been pre-
arranged, and when The five reached green
ON ard 4 ha1 do IF fha hat ha
new observatory building and Fort Putnam,
the ring was struck and the belligerents went
10 work. The result of the fight was that
Scudder was completely knocked out, al
though ne is not only the osdest but much
the largest of the two. One report has it
that Scudder stood the terrific punching for
three-quarters OF an hour before he gave up,
while another says he succumbed to Cooks
batteries in three or four rounds. He is
badly bruised and marked up, while Cook is
said 10 be comparatively uninjured. While
Seudder was lying insensible, Jake Foster, OF
Highland Falls, drove along and was hailed
and asked to take him to the hospital, which
he did.
Hospital Steward Hill says that when
Foster drove up to the hospital Scudder
was piled on boxes in an insensible condi-
tim, with cadet on each side of him. Six
men, three besides Foster and the two cadets,
CdIAlcu HiLu H. Illii says tudt OCuuuer was
such a horrible sight he took him for an in
jured West shore laborer, and first said to
the party: Stake him away; I don't want
him at the cadet hospital" As soon as be
was laid out on the bed he was taken with a
sudden spell, which enabled the other cadets
to escape before Hill identified them, his at
teniion being given to the sick and injured
man. He is now attended by DR.. Alex
ander, the post surgeon. The affair is the
only topic of conversation now at the post,
as it is the first fight since General Howard
was appointed. A rigid investigation is to
be made. The officers are not inclined to
talk, but it is known that the two seconds,
Cook and the referee, Jackson, are all under
arrest, and will be held to await the investi-
CATION. This is already in progress by
Judge-Advocate Woods, and will, of course,
atrial and probably dis
missal from the academy of all connected
with the mill.