The new North-west., 1885-12-11
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
HOW TIMES ARE MADE LIVELY FOR
THE FOURTH CLASS CADETS.
why the "Issbs" DO Not Report Misds-
meanors-Some Of the Different Forms
of Hazing-Prasks Played
on the Cruise.

lCor. New York Mail and Expressl
About half Of the fourth class" said my
informant, q cadet of the United States
naval academy, "enter the academy in May
ana 90 ON the summer cruise The other
half entsr In September just before the
studies begin. The May portion of the class
receive. may say, almost all Of the hazing,
Tor after the studies begin, on Oct /, the
upper class men have no time to spare for
such amusements"
what age are the fourth class cadetsF
From 10 to ~. the majority being con-
siderably under the latter aga The cruise,
however. gives the great opportunity for
hazing. inasmuch rs there are no studies sx-
cept OF practical nature, and the upper
class men have ampl, time and opportunity
to annoy the poor 'plebs,' as the fourth
class men are generally called"
"And how old are their persecutors~
They are big. strong fellows Of 81 and
upward. Now, although the punishment
for hazing is dismissal, and the superintend-
ent honestly tries every: means to stop 1t,
the upper class men can always fad q time
and place beyond the eye OF an officer to
haze all they please"
AGAINST THE TRADITIONS.
4But why do not the plsbs report their
persecutorsP
'Because, for one reason, 1t is against the
traditions Of the academy. Besides, many
OF the weaker ones are intimidated by the
fact that the first and many Of the second
class are cadet officers, and as such have
the power to report all misdemeanors COM
United by lower class man, and the hazers
threaten that IL the pleb tells they will get
him reported at every turn by the cadet
officer, 50 that at last, he would In this
way get so many dement's that he would
lose all standing In his class This is, of
1t elf. enough to frighten any little fellow
unaccustomsd to the ways Of the academy"
II suppose you have had some oppor-
tunity Of observing the different form, OF
hazing"
More than I like for my own comfort
The mildest form Is called running that
Is. exercising unauthorized authority over
the fourth class; making them address the
upper class men as sir after nearly every
word they use; giving them to understand
that fourth class ca lets are no better than
dogs; not allowing them any privileges
whicn are theirs by right; not letting them
drink milk. . beverage which IL furnished
to all cadets IN unlimited quantity; not al
lowing them to attend any Of the Satur-
day night hops; nor permitting them to use
the gymnasium, except, Of course, when
under instruction"
Are these the worst forms Of psrsecu-
tionsP
"No, they are the mildsst Besides those
have mentioned. they force the fourth class
cadets to do all the hardest AMI dirtiest work
on the cruise; using them as errand boys; bor-
rowing nearly everything they possess In the
way OF clothing and trifiss; constantly ohaff-
ing them: not allowing them TO smile In the
presence Of uppsr clas men; prohibiting
them from walking OH the prettisst part OF
the academy grounds AMI forcing them to
stand up to attention during the time it
plea.e, them to remain in their rooms
This all comes under the head OF running
But the hazing on the cruise was far worse.
and to many little fellow who was too
weak ami small to protect himself. literal
hell upon earth"
HAzING ON THE CRUISE.
an what wayf'
"Haz ng on the cruise consisted Of making
those plebs not on duty sing and dance for
the amusem ,nt OF the tormenters; act as
servants to some Of them: compose and
write out their seamanship exercises and
make drawings to accompany them: take
third class mans place II he tthe third class
mani had a midnig 1t watch at the wheel or
their hammocks 50 they might run their
errands; and they even grossly insultei the
plebs"
"But what II they refusedr
1Any one refusing to do their bidding in
thess things would be forced by superior
numbers to receive one or more Of the fol-
lowing punishmsnts: To stan on his head,
and in this position sing or recite; to chew
soap; to 90 through a severe gymnastic
drill for an hour at q stretch; to jump in
and out OF his hammock at a rapid rate un-
I'll too fatigusd to stand. Such Is hazing
&C the academy. The hazsrs on the cruise
are the third cla,s men, Here at the acsd-
smy both seconi and third ella 9 men in
dulas In hazinZ. but the frat class never.
II were to tell an officer at the academy
what have tol you he would say It Is not
true. AMI that there was no opportunity for
II, but these fellow, make their opportunity,
and know 1t to be all gospel truth, every
word Of II, for / have been an eye witness
10 every thing have enumerated"