Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-24
CHANDLER On HAZING.
HE Is BENT ON BREAKING UP
THE PRACTICE.
All Manner of Men Eager to Go to
the Arctic after GreeleY-ScandaIou
NaSai Life on China-COloneI Hges'
Fatal Passion for Gambling His
Worst Enemy and Fault.

up the practice of hazing at the Naval
Academy. If he does not wholly eradi-
cate that evil, he will certainly do much
good work to that end. just as soon as
he receives a recommendation from An
napOlis that cadet found guilty ofhazing
be dismissed, he looks into the case. His
looking into the case is speedily followed
by an order dismissng the young man
from the service, if guilty. This has been
done frequently, but not as promptly by
preceding Secretaries of the Navy. But
his predecessors have very seldom insisted
on making dismissal for haZing a final
disposition Of the case. The majority of
the young men who enter Annapolis are
from influential families. As soon
as one of them has been
the influence of his family and friends
was set to work to procure his reinstate-
ment. 1t, except in rare cases, was sue
cesSful. The young man went back to
Annapolis, and was given some light
punishment. That such was the order
OF things was one of the principal reasons
why haZing has gone on for wears.
despite the strenuous laws enacted to
suppress it. Things are somewhat
changed now. Some of the cadets recently
tried, by putting the wheels of influence
in motion, to regain their places in the
navy. But they have not been success
iul. Their influence has not amounted to
any more than if they had none. Secre-
tary Chandler has refused most emphati-
cally to reopen the case of any cadet dis
missed for hazing. He takes the ground
that before beng recommended for dsmis-
sal they all had a fair trial. The verdict
of that trial is final with him. He will
not allow any one to 20 back to AnnanO-
lis who has been dismissed for violation
of such plain and well-known law as
that against haZing. No amount of in
iluence, he says, either social or political.
can make him change this determination.
The hazing young man must go.
IT Is SURPRISING
what strange things come to the surface
when such disaster as that of the Pro.
teus occurs. The number of people who
have volunteered to 90 to the relief of
Greely's party this season would almost
fill a directory. People who know
no more about the arctic region than they
do about Heaven, are continually asking
the Navy and War Departments to fit out
expeditions. and place them at their
head. All manner of crazy schemes are
detailed on paper and sent with accom-
panying maps and notes, which clearly
prove to the satisfaction of the senders
that naught but success can crown an eff
fort based upon them. Many of these
schemes are from cranks who are doubt
less in their communities recognized as
such. Others are from men who may
not be regarded as crankS
by any other people except
army and navy officers. This is not all
Various plans for arctic vessels are re-
ceived, and many patent remedies for
keeping the blood i'm circulation no mat
ter how low the temperature are recon-
mended. And then there are five or six
manufacturers Of rubber suits, who want
the government to purchase from them so
that every man will be safe and warm no
matter what may happen to him. They
forward samples OF their goods and claim
that Il man dressed IN one of them cannot
sink if he wanted to, and cannot
be other than warm as a toast. even if he
desired to cool off little. The War and
Navy Departments are getting almost as
unique a collection Of writings and curl
esities as there was at the White House
shortly after President Garfield was shot.
THERE Is SOME AGITATION
of the charge that there are most scandal
GUS dOings among naval officers
stationed in China and Japan.
asked a naval officer to-
day, who has served SIN wears in the
Aslatic station, about these charges. He
said that the story was old, and had been
known in the navy for years. The cOndi-
tiOn of affairs gradually got worse until
it received a check in the punishments
which followed the loss of the Ashueot
"While men who drink to excess will do
so anywhere" ," my informant said, ''it is
still true that more men on the Asiatic
station take to that habit than in any 9th
er section of the globe visited by our
ships. 1t would be hard to explain
exactly why this is true. But | can give
you some of the reasons. For instance
there is not much to do out there: our
vessels are generally in port; men-of- war
of all other nations are lying about us:
there are visits from ship to ship; there
are dinners on board ship and excursions
ashore; there are dinners given by the
native officials in good fellowship; there is
always heavy drinking on these occasions;
there is something of rivalry between
officers of different nayies as to
which can put the others under
the table or sew them up The best of
wines and liquors can be procured very
cheaply out there. Even the Naval cadets
can run a very good wine mess on their
small pay" | asked the officer how much
ground for complaint he thought there was
about the presence of the officers wives
in China and Japan. He said there was
great deal. ''YOu See,'' he said. E'where
a mans wife is there he naturally likes to
be. The result is that our ships are mostly
in port. They are generally found in
some delightful port. The families of
the married officers who are
on the ship are there too. The principal
cruising that is done, except when a ship
is sent on a special mission by orders
from Washington, consists of short trips
from port to port. The wives of the Off
GERS follow the ships. Yes, the scandals
of exist. They are both the
mainly of a lack of enough to
keep the officers occupied"
AN OFFICER OF THE ARMY
said to me this evening, while speaking of
Lieutenant Colonel Ilges, who has been
found guilty OF fduplicatinghis pay account,
and who, doubtless, will be dismissed
the service: Il know Ilges well. He is a
brave officer and courteous gentleman.
Unfortunately he has a passion for gam
bling, which apparently he cannot over
come. He will gamble every time he gets
a chance. Once in san Francisco he bOr-
rOwed $500 from brother officer and went
across the street to a faro bank.
Before he cmae out he had
more than $1,000. He went
back to the game shortly afterwards and
lost every cent. He then wanted to bOr-
row $500 more from his friend, but the lat
ter said he was unable to lend it. There
has been a GOODNESS between them ever
since While Ilges was at Salt Lake City
he became engaged in a quarrel with
another officer over some trifling affair,
and challenged him to fight a duel. Sec
Onds were chosen and all the arrange
mentS made. Both men were on the |
ground. The distance was walked off
and the pistols loaded. Igles' second
went up to him and said: ''Old |
fellow, this is a pretty serious business,
aud there will probably be a death or two
reported; and all the living be dishOnOr-
ably discharged from the army. Yop are !
both brave men and have proved it a hun |
dred times on fields more honorable than |
this. Let's settle the affair amicably. |
These sensible remarks had their proper |
effect. The two principals shook hands |
and agreed to forget their cause Of differ /
ence. Ilges was once engaged to beau |
tiful German girl of high social posi- |
riage day was set. Ilges obtained /
leave of absence, three months pay in |
and borrowed $500 more. He |
fully intended to 90 to Germany-and wed |
his affianced bride. But the passion for /
took possession of him. He |
well he didn't 20 to Germany, but tele- |
yraphed that the marriage would have to !
be postponed. Then there was rumpus /
in the German camp. The upshot was |
the breaking OFF of the engagement. Poor |
llges, pity him. A splendid fellow and |
as brave an officer as ever flashed a sword. |
But he could not let gambling alone"
A STORY COMES HERE
about the English dudes that Rufus Hatch |
took out to the Yellowstone Park with |
nm on his recent dead-head excursion. 1
mere were SIX of them They were inst /