Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-19
TIE Fight at the V. II. L.

TIE Fight at the Y. II. L.
GENERAL Orders ISSUED BY THE sUPERIN-
TENpENT BASED UPON THE REPORT OF
TEE COURT OF INQUIRY.
It will be remembered that on September
25th two cadets of the Virginia Military
Institute engaged to settle some difficulty
By a resort to the prszs ring, and that in
the encounter which was arranged one of
the combaSants sustained injuries which
resulted in his death. TIE following has
just been issued by the Superintendent of
the Institute =
HDQs. VA. MILITARY INSTITUTE,
Lexington, Va, Nov. 9th, 1890.
General Orders No. Al.
The Court of Inquiry, Of which Col.
John NJ. Brooke was president, convened
under G. o. No. 42, Hdqrs. V. M. l., Sept
29th, 1890, TO- ascertain and report the
facts, and to express an opinion upon the
facts, connected with the most calamitous
occurrence of the 25th of September, after
tedious, laborious, and patient investiga.
tion, have forwarded to the Superintendent
the certified record of their proceedings and
findings. The Court is emphatic in the ex-
preston of the opinion that the fight ought
not to have occurred, and that its occur
renee was due to false code of honor,
which the present Corps of Cadets found
in vogue, and received and accepted from
their predecessors. There has been con-
currence of condemnation of this code upon
the part of the religious and secular press
of the State and country, and of the gen.
eral public. This righteous verdict we
must accept. Tho authorities of the
school have incurred much censure, and no
little odium, by reason of their alleged
taoit recognition of this code. The fact
that fights have taken place in the Bar
racks, is made the ground Of grave impu-
tation upon the discipline of the school,
The identity of the rules under which
fights have been arranged, with those of
the prize ring has been made the subject of
bitter denuEciation. The facts elected by
the investigation clearly and fully indicate
that in proceedings under the so called code
of honor, for the origin Of which the pres
ent corps is not responsible, most scrupu-
lous regard has ever been had to securing
fair play, that combats between parties
unequally matched in size or strength, have
not been permitted to take place; that
every practicable preeautiOn has been taken
to prevent serious bodily harm, and that
the most distressful termination Of the
combat in question, vas accidental. The
investigation Giscioses evidence upon which
might be based charges against the seconds
aua other parties TO the fight, and against
the sergeant of the first relief On the 25th
day Of September. The sentinel on the
fourth post, within the range Of Whose beat
the fight took place, appears to have done
his duty in bringing the matter 10 the at
ientioa of the nOu-c0mDissioned officer III
charge of bis relief. Through false reason
ing, erroneous conception of obligation and
responsibility, and yielding to wrong pre-
cedeIts, the non- commissioned officer failed
to discharge his duty in the premises. But,
in the presence OF tho calamity that has
befallen us, the Superintendent adjudges it
bsst in the interest of discipline to grant
al amnesty for what has been committed
or omitted, and to strive to bring it about
with the hearty and willing cooperation Of
all concerned, that the recurrence Of such
a calamity at the Institute, shall be impos
sihla.
With the eolemn memory of this fatal |
fight fresh in The mind of all, the Superin- |
tendent makes an earnest appeal to cadets, |
TO rise to the dignity CT true manhood, to !
discard all false codes and standards and to |
fear nothing, exoapt to do wrong. Quarrels
and differences among gentlemen arise from |
real or faneisd insult, offence or injury. I'll
real. q proper resentment is natural, until |
due apology, amen is OF repsration is made.
But this resentment should be an exhibition
OF displeasure and not of passion. The par
ties to a quarrel, mutually smarting under
a sense of injury and wrong, are IN no con-
a;t;on to make a calm. judicial review Of |
,<s.(r
sac and pnrsue the course which Christian
charity and pentlemanly courtesy mako OBJ
lgatory upon All. Hence has arisen the
usage, now almost universal among gentle
men and soldiers, of organizing a board Of
honor. or a committee OF arbitration, to
whom the differences that arise among gen.
;,smep are referred for adjustment: and she
who declines TO abide the Judgment of such
fuandly court and to make honorable
amends for apv wrong which be may thus
he adiudoed to have committed. puts him
self beyond tbs pale of eeptlemanly associa-
tion. - showing that he prefers the guidance
of passiop. rather than of reason, and wants
and not satisfaction, To quote
the words of a distinguished soldier, 1.-THE
civilization ard refinement of the present
ace emphatically condemn personal enconn-
ters betwaen gentlemen: gentlemen do not
engage in pugilistic encounters,
For rpany years it required great moral
courape to decline challeuge to personal
of a far higher order than
that displayed by the pugilist or the duel
ist But this is no longer the case; anlight-
ened nub,io sentiment ever sustains him
who declines snch an encounter, and em.
nbstiosIiv pby condemns him who engages in