The evening times., 1896-09-03
A CALAMITY.

lIe tIlIdIiGt Ol EbNs l1lo lHc
academy as cadets is viewed by many of the
white cadets as nothing short of "a dread
calamity, and an event which is certain 10
produce unlimited trouble for them, as Well
as for the colored boys.
Many of The officers, rgldiy adhering
TO the strict Interpretation of the Consti-
tuition, which does not provide for n re
sJriciion on color, argue that the presence
of the colored youths should not, and prob
ably Will rot, cause any agitation among
the cadets, as their being in the academy
is only official. and not for the purpose OF
forcing the white boys to accept them So
cially.
Others sympathiZe with the cadets, and
Claim that the necessary intercourse, which
is conducted on a footing OF absolute
equality, Will cause great bitterness of
feeling, and prove strong source OF en-
courageinent for race prejudice among the
white boys.
Dir. William Bishop stated last night at
Annapolis that he received early in May
letter from the father of Robert F. Wheeler,
of Chicago, inquiring about certain rules
and regulations necessary 10 be observed
for the admission of his son as a cadet.
about the boy. and he is Of the opinion that
lie has been frightened OFF, by the ex-
perirnce of former colored cadets at the
Naval Academy.
Dr. Bishop remembers the three colored
cadets formerly al the academy--Copyers
Baker and Mcclellan. He knows Mcclellan
and Baker intimately and remembers Con
ycrS, who " as the first to enter.
AluDzn =. Mcclellan. he stated. is now a
prac;icins physician and the proprietor of a
large drug storeiD Charleston. $ c. He is a
bright mulatto and could hardly be distin-
gushed from the white cadets on parade
He left the academy, DR.. Bishop says, be-
cause he would not stand ''lazing"
Henry f. Baker, another cadet. was until
recently chief Of a division III tie Patent
Office, in this city.
THE TROUBLE INs 1873
one of the younger officers who wasinthe
academy in 1873, when two colored men
were also cadets told of several dismiss;lis
that had followed encounters between the
black and the white boys
The names of the two cadets were Raker
and Conyers,' said he, .:.and ] remember
very well the almost daily trouble which
broke out because Of the undying race dis
sensions. But the colored men went nn-
scathed in almostevery case. their color and
the evidcntrear of the officers hen in cii arge
that public censure would rest upon them
should the negroes undergo harsh tres T.
ment. serving to protect them.
'Onc of the cadets. a fourth year man. by
the way, who was lieutenant-coionel OF the
battalion, was reduced to the ranks for
refusing to force n white cadet TO Join in the
exercises with the colored men. Lieut.
Hood. now at the academy was dismissed
for an offense something of the same order
but came back two years later. Another
man was dismissed for refusing TO fence
with Baker.
Baker was afterward dismissed for con-
duct unbecoming gentleman. having ap-
piled vile epithct to one OF the cadets
during drill. Conyers tlunked on his
studies after reaching his third year, but
not before he had created any amount of
irreparable mischief.
About sixteen years ago another negro
entered the academy, but he did not last
long; il 1 remember Alright, only long