Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-02-08
NAVAL ACADEMY TROUBLE.



ANNAPOLIS, February There is perfect
quiet at the Naval Academy, wich no indi-
cation of recurrence OF the disorder which
characterized last week. The recitations
progress as heretofore but II is evident
that the recent exciting scenes at the
academy are more fully impressed upon
the minds OF the students than are their
studies. The sentence OF seven days soil.
tary confinement imposed upon seven OF
the cadets for their participation in the in
subordinate conduct com planned OF expires
tomorrow afternoon, but no orders have
been issued in regard to releasing them at
that time.
In view of the numerous contradictory
reports circulated respecting the recent
difficulty between the cadets and the su-
perintendent, the former have furnished
statement for publication which they pro.
nounce the only authentic and accurate
account given Of the disturbance. The al.
legged
Mutinous Conduct,
they say, is but molehll magnifed into
the proportions Of a mountain. They de-
clare that Cadet Woodruff was not guilty.
either morally or technically, Of falsehood.
He was report for dishonorable conduct
on the charge OF subscribing upon his
honor to falsehood, bat, the cadets claim,
made statement of the facts surrounding
the case. Notwithstanding this he was en-.
tered upon the records Of the academy as
guilty Of dishonorable conduct, and given
20 dement's, when his previous reputation
for honesty and uprightness was well
known. In Justice to Mr. Woodruff, ii Is
stated that every cadet believes him inno-
cent OF the charge, and they desire that
the country at large should know this, that
il may have its weight in righting in the
public mind the great wrong that they be-
leve has been done their comrade, though
unintentionally perhaps, by the press.
II is denied that there was any disorder
exhibited by the battalion on the publica-
tiOn OF Cadet WoOdrutfS punishment, and
the cadets cay nothing was further from
their thoughts.
They also state that although they
sympathzed with
Cadet Woodruff In His Disgrace,
il was not because Of his attempt 10 give
assistance at an examination, but because
Mr.. Woodruff, standing as he does at the
head Of his class, had generously risked
everything in order TO help classmate in
need. II is also stated he would not have
been cheered at all, even though his pun.
ishment had been double what IL was, nan
il not been an and never. before questioned
custom to cheer cadet officer when de-
prived OF his cadet rank. The cheering Of
Cadet Woodruff, which the cadets say was
the immediate cause OF the trouble, took
place ritter dinner on the day on which the
punishment was published, and was par.
ticipated in by twothirds OF the members
Of the academy.
The cheering, it is said consisted OF
three hearty cheers, and then the partici-
pants quickly went about their duties as
though nothing had happened.
Thus, the cadets claim, with the eIcep-
ton of twenty-five or thirty that cheered
the first.class as they were marched 10 the
Santee supper, the alleged mutinous con.
duct OF the naval cadets ended where 1t be-
gan, in cheering; and they state that 9th
erwise not q single cadet disobeyed orders:
that drills, recitations and formations
went on without any interruption what
ever: that this alleged nutinous conduct
began in cheering, consisted OF cheering
and ended in cheering. a right which has
often been INDUCED in in tue past aud
never before questioned in the history OF
the academy.