Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-04-24

The early spring has arrived at Waterville,
not without its usual cloak of verdancv. Not
only has nature made herself attractive in
this respect, but some of our students have
in this way also attracted attention. Last
Tuesday night the night preceding the Sopht
omore prize defamation, the Freshmen of
Colby, thinking doubtless of getting ahead of
the Sophomores, quite literally distributed
through the town a sheet which might be
termed 'false order" otherwise than its be-
ing the production of the Freshmen instead of
the Sophomores. The Sophomores had re-
celved timely warning and were upon the
alert. Various small skirmshes between
members of the two classes have been re.
ported TO have occurred in the early morn
In these skirmishes and by following after and
collecting the ''Orders" the Sophomores claim
to have secured large number OF them The
following afternoon three Freshmen were
summoned before the president since which
time one of the number has been suspended
and certain restrictions placed upon certain
others. On "Wednesday evening the Fresh
men attended the Sophomore prize declama-
ton in body, and carried canes, a privilege
not allowed by Sophomores to Freshmen I'M
til after the Freshman r. ldng. The Fresh
men, however, met with no opposition that
evening. On the following morning the
Freshmen carried canes to PRAYERS, winch
occur in the chapel At 9 o'clock. After the
morning chapel exercises the senior and jnn-
ior classes, as they came out in order, ar
ranged themselves along either side of the
chapel walk and awaited the ext, Of the Soph-
ignores and Freshmen. anticipating that some
amusement might result. The Freshmen and
Sophomore classes are nearly equal in num-
bers, and as the Freshmen came cut each
Sophomore selected his man. made dive for
h is cane and broke il if he could. The con-
test lasted for some little time, every cane
having been in the meantime broken. The
| struggle showed the determination upon both
sides. but warm as it was but very little ''bad
blood; was exhibited, nearly all keeping their
temper under control. Many bruises. scratch
es, crushed hats, torn and soiied clothes. and
! various other mementos were borne of by
either side, one class receiving about as hard
usage as thu other. After the canes had be n
successfully broken there was quite a strife
over the relics of the battle, to be preserved
as trophies. Many of the town people gath
cred in to see the fun, and as the Bangor and
Skowhegan trains had just arrived. many had
the rare opportunity of witnessing "cane
rush" and the rushers had quite a good as
semblv of witnesses. Of the distinguished
persons present, who doubtless had witnessed
such scenes before, if they had not participant
ed in them. were Rev. Mr.. Spencer, Profess
sors Hall, Warren and Small, and DR.. Pep
per, the president of the University Presi-
dent Pepper, and also some of the professors,
entered actively into the struggle, endeavor-
ing in vain to restore order and subordination.
DR.. Pepper was seen to grapple strenuously
with many struggling group of Sophomores
and Freshmen. and generally in such encoun-
tiers bore off the coveted remains of the fought
for cane He is said to have borne off the
greatest quantity of trophies of any of the
participants. No degree of order could be
secured until the canes had been entirely
demolished. The occasion of all this com.
motion has resulted from the too lax disc-
pline of the Sophomores over the Freshmen.
Equal in number and confident of their
prowess, the Freshmen have this year ap-
peared rather as Sophomores than as Fresh
men whence has resulted this trouble which
is as yet doubtfully settled. 1t is stated that
President Pepper in conversation on Thurs
day justified the Sophomores in Masking the
rush. This is the first cane-rusb which has
occurred for several years