New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-02
DISSATISFIED CADETS.
PETITIONING GENERAL MERRITT.
WEST POINT EXCITED OVER THE DISMISSAL OF
CADET HARTIGAN.
lFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.l

| CADET HARTIGAN.
iFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
WEST POINT, Aug 1.-The cadets here are
In state OF great excitement over the dismissal Of
Cadet Thomas Hartigan member Of the present first
class. Though they have done nothing yet except
petition the superintendent General Merritt, the
subject, there is telling what they will do
next Hartigan dismissed for having.
! in West Point slang, "deviling" fourth class
| named AcuR The affair occurred the night of July
81 but the excitement is just at its height Acu
sentinel the night of July 81, and walking
his lonely post down No. 3, secluded spot the
grassy slopes OF Fort Clinton. party OF
| cadets who had been attending hop
at the hotel took 1t into their heads they
ing to the camp to have little sport the expense OF
the pebe" sentinel, who was that night making his
first tour or guard duty. 1t is q custom old the
Academy to devil" the unucky plebe" who does his
first guard duty post and the place offers every
facility for such proceedings the party coming home
from the hop determined to keep up the old So
they wrapped themselves in sheets and fitted In a
ghostly around Aeuf Then HartigaD, who was
officer Of the battalion and who red sash. put
on sword and approached the post Acun naturally
msook him for the officer OF the guard and sang out
"Who goes there 7" To which Hartigan replied
Friend with the countersign." Advance officer OF
the guard" returned Acuf " L am not officer of the
guarj-advance me properly" SAID Hartigan, and he
went away.
SENTINEL SURPRISED.
few minutes later midnight struck from the clock
tower the plain and the musical cry OF the cadet
sentines calling the hour around the
camp. post No. L, IL o'clock, and alls we'll" Post
No. q IL O'Clock and alls welL" "Post No. g." began
Acuf, bringing his piece to port. Just then he
seized from behind and rolled down the slope into
the ditch OF Fort Clinton.
When the corporal OF the guard in
response to Acuf's call. the sentinel told
the story OF his woes but said that he unable
recognize his assaants. The next morning ne said the
thing. At parade that day the commandant OF
cadets noticed that AcuG's bayonet bent. This
led to investigation aud the gongs of the previous
night reported to the superintendent Several
cadets placed under arrest suspicion OF
having been concerned IN the affair, but AcuI
BILE to recognize any them his assaants. On the
fol owing day, which was Monday az the cadets were
falling IN TO go to dinner, he pointed out
inIo the diich Hartgan was arrested thereupon
and taken before General Merritt He charged VITA
personang the oi FER OF the gnari making use OF the
counIcrsgn. and aiding and abclting the abuse OF a
sentinel He refused to answer questions put TO him by
he was dismissed by order OF the Secretary
Of War upon the recommendation of General Merritt.
Two oner cadets, F. H. CLARKE of the first class and
Williams Of the third were thongh' by Acuf 10 have
been among those who "deyed" him on post No. 3,
aud they were both proppty arrested, Clarke
has been sentenced to the loss OF all pnyi-
goes into barracks, and then confinement to
barracks 9nti! Decen6er Williams has similar
"a
which he would have been entitled next summer.
THE CADETS DECLARE HARTGGAN INNOCENT.
Hartlgan left the Academy last Saturday and then
began tempest the souls the cadets. rney know
who the man was threw Acuf into the ditch. and
they all declare that 1t not Hartgan They that
they mad abundant testimony excuI ate him II he ha
been granted trial, they xpected he would be- On
Monday petition presented to the supernt endcnt
signed by all members OF the frat and hiri classes.
The second class did not sign, they are away on u
Through. and although memoirs OF the fourth class
willingness To sign II deemed best by those
having the charge that only the first and third
classes should ax their to il. The petition after
reciung the which had called 1t forth continued
as follows:
Whereas, The offence OF refusing to answer questions
was committed by nine others and nothing has been pro-
duced 10 show that they could have answered them
without terminating themselves and
Whereas Tue only testimony introduced Is that OF the
Whereas. He, the entiue made the Orporal of the
gu ri otic al statements directly contradictory 10
those which he made TO the authorities, aud upon
which ~ a basis Cadet Hartgan placed
In arrest and dismissed without trial. and
Whereas We are prepared TO sulntantlate these
be granted a court martial or That his case
be treated In the same manner rs tnat OF
the others implicated in the affair We further ask that
the superintendent give this petition MS earliest c0nsd
Grafton, ard bis recommendation TO the Pres-
dent by telegraph as We are informed that the Pres
dent leaves Washington Tomorrow Tor an extended
Western tour. .,. .....
General Merritt refused 10 accede the wishes or the
petitioners, aud yesterday aud the day before nothing
talked the cadets out tue OF the dis
missed cadet and what should be the step In tue
matter They say tat they vii! have have
as the Annapolis cadets INDUCED in recently |
but they indicate what they Will do. General
Merritt said that Iarigan had refused TO answer any
questions and the only thing 10 be done was TO dismiss
him. lie thought that would decrease haZlng though
OF course 1t wodd not sop IL entirely.
Acun into the hospital day two after his adj
Ngftff IFa M as Nh z