Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-05-16
TIE NAVAL ACADEMY.
HOW TIMES ARE MADE LIVELY FOR
THE FOURTH CLASS CADETS.
Why the Plebs" Do Not Report Misde-
meanors-Som of the Different Forms
of Hazing-Pranks Played
the Cruise.

ABOUT nhtI OF the 1Ourtu Glass, shlu my
informant, a cadet of the United States
naval acaIsmy, "enter the academy in May
and go on the summer cruise The other
half enter in September just before the
,tu lies begin Tue May portion Of the class
receive. | 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 csdetsf"
From 10 to 20, the maj nrity being con-
sidersbly under the latter age The cruise.
however, gives the great opportunity for
hazing, inasmuch there no stuties ex-
cept of a practical nature, and the upper
class men have ampls time and opportunity
to annoy the poor 'plebs, a. the fourth
class men are generally called"
And how old are their persecutorsT
They are big. strong fellows OF 81 and
upward Now, although the punishment
for hazing is dismissal, and the superinteni-
ent 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.
4But why DO not the plebs report their
persecutorsP
Because, for one reason, 1t is against the
traditions of the aca iemy. Besides, many
Of the weaker ones are intimidatsd by the
fact that the first and many Of the second
class are cadet officers, and as such have
the power 70 report ali mi 'demesnors COM
mitted by lower claSs nan, and the hazsrs
threaten that IL the pleb tells they will get
him reported at every turn by the cadet
officer, so that at last, he would in this
way get so IN my dement's that he would
lose all standing in his cless This is, Of
it elf. enough t. frightsn any little fellow
unaccu,tomsd to the ways OF the academy"
al suppO.e you have had some oppor-
tunity of observing the different forms OF
hazingP
More than ! 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 iet' are no better than
dogs; not allowing them any privileges
which are theirs by right; not letting them
drink milk. a beverage which is furnis he'd
to all cadets in Unlimited quantity; not al
lowing them to attend any Of the Sstur-
day night hops; nor permitting them to use
the gymna'ium except, Of course, when
under instruction
Are these the worst forms Of persecu-
tionsi'
mo, they are the mildest Besides those
have mentioned. they forcs tho fourth class
cadets to do all the hardest ami dirteSt work
ON the cruise; using them sserraui boys; bor-
rowing nearly everythi they possess in the
way OF clothing aud trihe :; constantly chaff-
ing them; not allowing them to smile in the
presence of upper class men; prohibiting
them from walking on the prettiest part Of
the academy grounds and forcing them to
stand up to attention during the time it
pleasss 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, q literal
hell upon earth.
HAzING ON THE CRUISE.
an what wayt'
"Hazing on the cruise consisted of making
those pleb| not on duty sing and dance for
the amusemsnt Of the tOrmentsrs; act As
servants to some Of them: compose and
write out their seamanship exercises and
make drawings to accompany them: take a
third class mans place If he the third clsSs
mani had a midnight watch at the wheel or
on lookout; stand mimic sentry duty at
their hammocks, 50 they might run their
errands; and they even grossly insulted the
plsbs."
But what il they refusedP
ANY one refusing to do their bidding In
these things would be forced by superior
numbers to receive one or more Of ths fol-
lowing punishments: To stan on his head,
and in this position sing or recite; to chew
soap; to go through a 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
a, the academy. The hazsrs on the crui- 9
are the third class men. Here at the acad-
emy both seconi and third ella men in
dulgs in hazing. but the first class never.
II were to tell an officer at the academy
what have tol You he would say it is not
true, and that there was no opportunity for
it, but these fellow make their opportunity.
and know it TO be all gospel truth, every
word Of it, for have been an eye witness
10 every thing have enumerated