New-York tribune., 1883-06-08
GAY DAYS AT WEST POINT.
THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHs OF THE CADETS.
UNDER FIRE FROM EXAMINING BOARDS AND BRIGHT
EYEs-THE CAVALRY DRILL-AN ACCIDENT 10

THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF THE CADETS.
UNDER FIRE FROM EXAMINING BOARDS AND BRIGHT
EYEs-THE CAVALRY DRILL-AN ACCIDENT TO
CADET
FRoM A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUsE'I
WEST POINT, June This ancient military
post is how In the process of Of those commissions
which oyertakes It once In twelve months and dsturbs
for few weeks the calm serenity which characterses
OF the year and the throes OF MOUNT Etn
result In the birth Of mountain so the annuh coh
vuson of West Point ends in the graduation OF cass
OF cadets the formation of set OF Army officers.
The hotels filed with people who either nave an
interest the greycoated young gentlemen VINO
next burst the chrysalls of cadet and NY forth
the gorgeous wings of real live Army ohcer, OF Dy
those who are attracted the place by the festivities
which eliminate in the graduation ball. Here any
young lady may win future Maordenerai
for husband for the heart OF the cadet is
soft and susceptible despite his martial bearing and deep
chest tones Nozet lays down plan for constructing
defence against bright eyes, and the result is that the
embryo hero falls easy and willing victim to those
whose hearts are already entanged In tho gold lace OF
his uniform.
To say that the hotels full family expresses their
condition. At the hotel the Academy grounds
guests eagerly contend for the privilege OF
sleeping In the bath-tub, and the man
who has secured cotin the cupoa puts on more airs
than Thanksgiving turkey. At Crsnston's HOTEL
mile below, at Highland Falls, things are better
the hotel being built to accommodate small army ana
finding somewhere under Its capacious roof room ior
everybody The candidates beginning to arrive ana
every trip OF the piratica little ferryboat from Gar-
sons, across the river, brings O contingent OF Them
They are from all parts OF the Republic and as various
IN dress and general appearance the localities from
which they come The gilded young dude" from Bos-
looks with wonder at the rawboned Westerner who
stalks by his side up the steep path that leads 10 the
headquarters building But once having reported to the
Adjutant of the Post all distinctions vanish and COM
munty OF suffering binds the woudbe cadets closer than
brothers. AS candidate reports he Is
sent 70 the hospital, where he Is subjected
n physical examination that he will remember all his
life Every nerve muscle aud sinew OF his body appar-
emily is tested and the health OF his great grand
aunt carefully inquired into he ves through this,
and he generally does he Is sent to the treasurer OF the
Academy who relieves him OF his and forwards
him 10 the Barracks. From the Barracks he Is
taken to the Quartormaster aud Is presented
with mattress, pillow, Sheets blankets, wash
stand, wash-bowl, two wooden pals dipper, broom,
ookin glass and chair. The Cadet officer who Eas
marched him to the Qusrermasters tries to con-
vince him that can carry all this to the Barracks IN
one load finally rolens and let's the candidate make
lwo trps This Is only beginning of series OF trials
and ribuations which ends either the acceptance or
rejection OF the candidate II be is rejected he simply
goes home II he Ia accepted he wishes he hal never
left home. The vast plain level as ioor In the north
east corner OF which little later VIII appear
the white tents OF the cadets, now has It's
smooth surface broken only by the guns
used In artillery drill and the line of hurdles which no
one who has had any connection with West POINT
sees without recalling the stanEa Of poem popular
in the Academy wrung from cadet OF other days by
bitter feeling which could take no otner form;
To think OF that day on the PLAIN,
Causes my blood 10 curdle,-
The day aid my elbow spraln,
When Burwell baked tue hurdle
All this morning Che clouds kept pIns back OF the
mountains TO the westward and threatening rain The
threat was fulfilled this afternoon, and steady rain has
set IN which dampens the gayety OF the place as
well as the straw bonnets Of the ladies' Al 53O tbs
afternoon Just before the rain began. there was cavalry
drill participated in by members OF the nrss second ana
third casses hundred cadets stood by their
horse. at the south end OF the plain waiting
the order TO mount About half way up
the expanse Captain Godfrey. OF the 7th Cavalry
sitting sQuarely his horse, and by his side was
bugler n was Captain Godfrey who after Custer with
hi, immortal 800 had charged 10 his death at the battle
OF the Little Big Horn, performed prodges OF val0r In
relieving the troops besieged In the mountains by the
warriors OF Sitting Bull The cadets staDd motioness
beside their horses. The bugler sounds the
mount" In an instant every man is on
his horse, bestriding him with that nrm ana graceiu
eTcise. to which the cadets subjected The 100
hoseman divided into three squadrons and In the
nag few more blasts from the bugle and the excite
ment be gins The cadets 20 tearing down toward tne
hotel as n they intended take IL by storm or dc
In the attempt They change their minds, now
ever before they reach 10 aud conclude lhat the
Zoe IA over by Execution Hollow. toward which pace
they sweep with the velocity OF whrlwnd soothing
note or two the buge qnes their frenzy and they
walk their horses slowly ana sedaey III the direction OF
the Cadet Barracks they thought II was about time
TO take supper and 20 bed They oil get very angry
over something-perhaps IL is the tune the DugieI
strugciiug with-and so scampertng over the
plain like mad Now they are solid
column four abreast Captain Godfrey remarks
"Noupareil, lead One-haf" or something OF thnt knu
and they become long line OF gray, above dark mass
OF yng seeds the parade goes on Tor an houf
or more. 4. .. -. -,
While the cavalry exercises In progress an acc
dent happened which time caused the widest ex
cement in every one but the impassve cadets. Ine
cadets riding In column up the ROAD tai runs IN
front OF the hotel when the horse insnr ridden pJ o
the graduating class, ran against tree
and unseated his rider Mr.. Kreps was thrown
violently 10 the earth He picked up nsenslDe ana
carried into the paror OF the hotel Wnen medical ala
WAS summoned dis injuries found not TO be serious
and In little while he far recovered as 10 DC abe
walk with assistance 10 carriage In WINCH He was
taken To the hospital. ,..,
The members the graduating class were examined
in law to-,Iny said have done nhely. Inc
examinations were held in the library as
usual ana attracted number OF vlsltOrs VINO
listened with interest the legal knowledge poured out
on OF military gymnastics before the Board ot visitors
The examinations to-day wcre the last that the grau
mating ass will be subjected to- IL u Thought that
| large percentage have passed.
I - IN