Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-15
THE NAVAL ACADEMY.
HOW TIMES ARE MADE LIVELY
FOR FOURTH CLASS CADETS.
Why the "PIebs'' Do Not Report MIsde-
meanOrs-SOme of the Different Forms
of Hazing-PranIxs Play ed on the Cruise.

Why the "Plebs' Do Not Report MIade-
meanors-Some of the Different Forms
of Hazing-Pranks Play ed on the Cruise.
From the Neao York Nal and Enpress.
@About half of the fourth class" said my
Informant, a cadet Of the United States
naval academy, "enter the academy in May
and go on the summer cruise. The otheY
half enter in September just before the
studies begin. The May portion of the class
receive. l may say, almost all of the hazing,
for after the studies begin on Oct. l, the
upper class men have no time to spare for
such amusements."
"What age are the fourth class cadetsF"
"From 10 to 20, the majority being cons
siderably under the latter age The cruise,
however gives the great opportunity for
hazing. inasmuch as there are no studies ex-
cept of a practical nature, and the upper
class men have ample time and opportunity
TO annoy the poor 'plebs' as the fourth
class men are generally called"
sand how old are their persecutorsp
"They are big. strong fello Of 81 and
upward. Now, although the punishment
for hazing is dismissal, and the superintend-
emit honestly tries every. means to stop it,
the upper class men can always find time
and place beyond the eye OF an officer to
haze all they please"
| AGAINST THE TRADITIONS.
"But why do not the plebs report their
persecutorsP
Because, for one reason, it is against the
traditions Of the academy. Besides, many
Of the weaker ones are inundated by the
fact that the first and many Of the second
class are cadet officers, and as such have
the power to reporC all misdemeanors COM
mitted by lower class men, aud tine hazers
] tbra 20, hat 20 ,la al Aha.
him reported at every turn by the cadet
officer, so that at last, he would in this
way get so many dement's that he would
lose all standing in ais class. This is, OF
itself. enough 10 brighten any little fellow
unaccustomod TO the ways Of the academy.D
al suppose you have had some oppor-
tunity of observing the different forms OF
hazn2p
More th l 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 cadets are no better than
dogs; not allowing them any privileges
which are theirs by right; not letting them
drink milk, beverage which is furnis he'd
to all cadets in unlimited quantity; not all
lowing them TO attend any of the Satur-
day night hops; nor permitting them to usa
the gymnasium, except, Of course, when
under instruction"
Are these the worst forms Of persecu.
tionsp
"No, they are tho mildest Besides those I
have mentioned. they force the fourth class
cadets TO do all the hardest and dirtiest work
on the cruise; using them as errand boys; bor4
rowing nearly everything they possess in the
way of clothing aud trihes; constantly chaff-
ing them; not allowing them to smile in the
presence Of upper class men; prohibiting
them from walking ON the prettisst part OK
the academy grounds and forcing them to
stand up TO attention during the time il
peases them to remain in their rooms.
This all comes under the head of 'runningt
But the hazng on the cruise was far worse.
and to many a little fellow who was too
weak and small to protect himself. literal
hell upon earth. "
HAzING ON THE CRUISE.
ain what wayp
"Hazng on the cruise consisted of making
those plebs not on duty sing and dance for
the amusement of the tormenters; act as
servants to some Of them; compose and
write out their seamanship exercises and
make drawings TO accompany them: take q
third class mans place II no (the third class
mani had a midnight watch at the wheel or
on lookout; stand mimic sentry duty at
their hammocks 80 they might run their
errands; and they even grossly insulted the
plebs"
"But what If they refusodT'
"Any one refusing to do their bidding in
these things would be forced by superior
numbers to receive one or moro Of the fol-
lowing punishments: To stand on his head,
and in this position sing or recite; to chew
soap; to go through severe gymnastic
drill for an hour at a stretch; TO jump in
and out of his hammock at a rapid rate un-
til too fatigued TO stand. Such is hazing
az tho academy. The hazers on the cruise
are the third class men. Here at the acad-
eny both second and third class men in
dulgs in hazing, but the first class never.
| II were to tell an officer at the academy
what 1 have told you he would say it is NOT
true, and that there was no oportunity for
/ il, but these fellows make their opportunity,