The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-05
THEIR GRADUATING RIDE.
Il WILD FINISH To THE CAVALRY DRILL
OF WEST POINT,S SENIOR CLASS.

| The Dash Had Teen Forbidden TO Previous
Glasses Because OF It- Danger hut 'ss
Promised to STOP at the Hedge and Kep,
Its word-SkiIfui Man@uvrtne.
or tho many exercises which mark the close
OF the academic year ut the West Point Mill
tary Academy. the most interesting and the
most beautiful Is the cavalry drill. In former
years this drill wound up with what was called
the graduating ride"-a wild. impetuous.
reckless dash of the whole troop across tho
plain. yelling like Indians and waving their
sabres.
AT the end OF their ride they would leap a
high hedge. scramble back into the plain and
race back to the starting point heller skelter.
But as It often happened that some one was
hut in this rush. the authorities stopped 1t
and 1t became legend In the school.
The class OF o2 had done exceptionally well
in the riding schoo,. and when they petitioned
their superiors for permission to have the
graduating ride the authorities DELHI
Grated and finally consented. but on the con-
dition that there should be no yelling and no
jumping OF hedges. And the class promised.
When the sun was low yesterday a bugle
call rang out, and NIL the visitors who were
parading the big yellow plain scampered for
the grass. In less than a minute the level
stretch was clear. and all around three sidos
VI ~ IdH u DOW-COOTeu lTlDR6 Ol WOmen.
The bugle rang out again. and with a low.
rumblng sound the graduating troop swept
into view and came slowly out upon the plain.
There were sixty riders. all In the regulation
dull-Rrny riding uniform. and at their head
rode Capt Louis A. Craig. the instructor In
.o The ln n1S ;ss signal and before the
a OF the ndan d then the drill began
charge1 Snd then spread out until they almost
this S %sy s%wy rnshsd
full speed halting. dismounting. then mount
Ing Ing again and on The riders were flushed
y? sound was heard but the blasts of the
cloud which parched the thfoats OF the spec
For the last time, the troop. formed into. .
pain, Straight as body Of inaptry they
as poles; The signal to halt was. given and
The ne Blew hs nns' si9ts gray
legs flashed up aud down. and the next mo-
Ts1 s1y ;S I'D ssS Ct h ss
After ewm!nntes rest the order to mount
mand.
Tho line broke into an easy swinging mo-
ton.
"Gallop! Charge"
With ringing noise every sabre leaped from
its scabbard. and the long, line flew ahead: The
troop from view. Each man fiourished his
sabre. and cut right and left at Imaginary
enemies. The stee! flashed In the sunlight !
now above the riders head. now close to the |
ground. In long. fearful strokes and In short |
circles it flashed until. OF all the swords. |
shining light. Faster and faster the horses |
flew. and now tho line was broken. A few |
horses. swifter than the. rest. forged ahead. |
The riders we're no longer sitting erect, but |
bent far forward. slashing furiously and |
reached and the tenn ptation But. true to their |
promise. the riders turned in short. fierce volts |
and flew back to the starting point. Then /
he dust settled down. no corpses were seen |
IN the field. and the spectators drew breath |
u relief and admiration