Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-24
A FIGHT AT WEST POINT.
"A Colored Student the Cause of n Meet
ing Between Two White Cadet Officers.

n Colored Student the Cause of n Meet
ing Between Two White Cadet Officers.
A race feud has broken out among Uncle
San's embryo soldiers at the West Point mill
tary academy. Its smouldering embers burst
forth in flames one night last week, when two
young soldier boys laid aside the habiliments
Of war and appeared in the arena to settle a
question Of honor. The only warlike instru-
ments used were their brawny arms and bare
knuckles. 1t is the talk of the day at West
Point, and the famous "Grant-Gillmore" battle
of years ago is dwarfed into insigniicance by
the great "Barroll-Langhorne" meeting Of last
week.
A New York World reporter who travelled
over the snow-covered academy grounds yes
terday viewing the CORY battlefield, is able to
give full and concise history of the encounter.
The thinning out of the corps which always
follows the January examinations caused re-
assignment of the cadets seating in the mess
hall. Custom ordains that the duty of assign
ing cadets to mess tables shall rest with the
ranking cadet captain, who is dubbed super
intendent of the mess" Cadet Capt. George
ID. Langhorne is now superintendent of the
mess. When he recently announced the mess
assignmentsi they caused great CONSERVATION.
AT THE TABLE OF HONOR,
commonly called the '.staff table," the young
colored boy, Chas. Young, now a member of the
first class, was given a seat. The tender feel
ings of some Of Uncle Sans wards were
shocked. They considered it degradation to
them to have the colored lad shown such dis
tinctiOn. Noble and msgnanimOus motives
seem to have inspired Cadet Langhorne to his
considerate treatment of the lonely African.
But whatever may have inspired Cadet Lang
horne, his fortitude at a trying moment seems
to have abandoned him. He could not resist
the cry of opposition raised by his classmen.
The result was, Cadet Young was assigned to
another table-one presided over by Cadet
Lieut. Barroll, also a member of the first class
Now il is further alleged that in removing the
colored cadet Capt. Langhorne put in his place
on the ''staff table, member of the fourth
class. In no other college in the country is
''class" distinction so rigid as at the military
academy. Therefore. according to the I'M
written law of the institution, it was a direct
Insult to the colored boy TO give fourth class
man precedence over him.
LIEUT.. BARRoLL OBJECTS.
AS soon, however as the assignment of Cadet
Young to Barrolrs table was made known. Lieut.
Barroll objected. Last Wednesday evening,
when the corps marched into the mess hall for
supper, Mr.. BarrOll, in the presence of Cadet
Young, protested to Capt. Langhorne against
the assignment. He characterized the cap
tain's action vindietve and inspired by
unsoldierly motives During this episode, his
feelings wounded to the core at the cruel con-
duct of his fellow classmen. Cadet Young with
drew from the hall. 1t is reported that he left
the hall without permission. exasperated
did he become, but this report could not be
verified. The generally accepted account is
that he was excused on the ground of sickness.
As far as could be learned. Cadet Young is still
at BarrOlls table, but the scene of Wednesday
night resulted in Cadets Barroll and Langhorne
mutually agreeing to settle the dispute in true
pugilistic fashion and according to the London
prize-ring rules.
What West Point girl does not know Cadet
LanghOrne? Tail, with massive shoulders the
very embodiment of a perfect soldier, his black
hair contrasting with his light complexion.
George ID. Langhorne is of the prides of
his class. both as a soldier and gentleman. He
Is a native of Virginia. axd of that generous,
impetuous disposition so common to the natives
of that state. Since he has been in the corps
he has ON several occasions won honors for his
"knOcking-out abilities. The fact that he is
ranking captain is sufficient commentator
for his character and standing in the corps.
His opponent, Cadet Barroll, is a lieutenant
of company. and of a very excitable temper
ament Reared in Maryland he is said to have
strong antipathy to his colored brethren He
ranks high a student He is much shorter
than Langhorne, Is of q stouter build. but is
very active. muscular, and energetic in his
movements. His manly and sOldierly demeanor
has made him very popular among the young
ladies who visit West Point during the social
season.
THE BATTLE
occurred last Thursday evening. 1t was a
clear. cool night, and fairer or more brilliant
moon never shone over the historic grounds
Their military duties had all been completed
and all were preparing for their evening repast
and a promenade among the sequestered hooks
of the posi- The hands of the old town clock
were just pointing TO $50 when the two COM
batants met. The ring was pitched just in the
rear OF the boiier-house in the barracks yard.
Seconds were dispensed with. Only a few
cadets witnessed the affray. The work of pre-
Paratlon was soon over. Caps were tossed on
the ground; the gloye-ftting dress-coats were
unbuttoned- and the two Herculeses shook
hands, assumed warlike attitudes, and the
afray was on. An eyewitness SAYS that the
preliminary rounds were not productive of any
effective blows They consisted of sparring
and counter-sparring. But in the third round
Langhornes powerful arm came out from the
elbow with a giant-like force, and his bare
knuckle ahghted on Barrolls right eye with
such force that il nearly stunned him. Then
followed two more rounds, in which Barroll
got in some of his fine work and gave his an
tagonist beautiful pair of shining black eyes,
Honors were about equally divided when the
battle was suddenly brought to a close.
THE BUGLE CALL TO DUTY
resounded across the plain. now gorgeously il
Illuminated with the Pickering rays of the beau
tiful moon. The two battle-disheveled youths
hastily buttoned their coats and abandoned the
CORY field and took their places at the head of
their companies. Both were a sorry-lookinp
sight, but Barroll appears to have got the
worst of the affair. His eyes were all battered
up and his nose was scratched and knocked
somewhat out of its original position. A silk
handkerchief adorned his face for several DAYS
after the fight. Langhorne's ewes are still
black, and on these bright moonlight nights.
as he marches in command of the corps to and
from the mess hall. they form an interesting
silhouette on his soldierly face.
Senator Beck as Temperance Man,
Washington Cor. Atlanta Constitution
Speaking OF the state dinners at the White
HOUSE, there was quite good joke played on
Senator Beck, of Kentucky, by Senator Butler
of South Carolina. and Senator Hale. of Maine
at a White House dinner last winter. The Joke
Inconvenience the Kentuekian considerably.
and spoiled all enjoyment of the dinner for
him Senetor Beck, like all true Kentuckians
loves good glass of wine or old Bourbon
Senators Butler and Hale knew of Mr. Beck's
fondness Tor the exhilerating fluid and deter
mined to prevent the Kentuckian from even
getting a taste of the rare old wines which con-
sttuted part of the menu at the state dinner
IN question Mr.. Beck was sitting near the
center OF the table while the other two Sena
tors were at some distance from him-one on
ms right and the other on his left As each
waiter would pass either of these gentlemen
they would point 70 the Kentuckian and saw:
Don't pour any wine into the glass of that
large gentleman, for he does not drink and !.
onends him TO have it offered to him."