The evening times., 1896-09-07

The experience OF those who preceded
them there, as reports GO, was not such
as to inspire an ambition in others 10
make the experiment. The evidence as
published is that their lives were made ex-
ceedingly unpleasant and no one OF them
was able to remain long enough to receive
his graduation papers.
Henry Z. Baker, at present employed as
an assistant examiner in the Patent Of-
flee, and who resides at No. 1888 Sixth
street, extended, in this city. tells q graphic
story of his sufferings at Annapolis, dur
ing a period Of nearly two years at the
academy, and ne is of the opinion that no
coIored boy can have any hope OF passing
successfully through the ordeal. He ad-
yises no one Of his race to strive for en-
trance either at Annapolis or West Point.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
"The trouble at Annapolis, during my
stay there as a cadet" he said today,
..was altogether due TO the conspiracy, in
which the white boys combined, to run
me out. was the only colored cadet and
was the subject OF ceaseless, unrelenting
persecution.
II should advise no colored boy to sc-
GpDt an W tsit
nor to West Point, either, If he has to go
without other colored youths to keep him
company, for the spirit manifested to-
ward me by the white cadets with whom
/ was enrolled will just as surely de-
feat the aspirations OF any other individ-
uai of my race. who undertakes alone to
overcome 1t.
Il Cannot understand why there is 80
much prejudice against a colore q man ~
the United States academies. when IL Is
found nowhere else Opposition is met
with certainly in many forms. but un-
reasonable, vindictive persecution never.
andI am infornie by colored men whohave
passed through Yale and Harvard, and
other eminent Institutions of learning,
that no serious trouble is experienced by a
colored student in any OF them, so long
as ne does not merit it by his own inIpru-
dence.''
Mr. Baker said. further. that he won his
appoin tnIent to A ma polish an examination
where both white and colored youths COM
peted for the favor. He was appointed
from Mississippi by Hon. q Wyiie Wells in
September. s75. and after Intellectual ef-
forts, In both Baltimore and Annapolis. To
obtain a special course OF preparation for
the preliminary examination, he came to
Howard University in this city and secured
the instruction
HOW HE PASSED.
He says he was one OF twelve, out of a
| very large class, who passed successfully
at the first trial. When he entered the
academy, lie declares, it was with the de-
| termination not to render himself personally
n,,+ h.
contrary, lie asked only to be lei alone TO
pursue his studies in peace. Hefound there,
among others who entered from time to
| time, such well-kDown young gentlemen
as o. II. p Belmont, Thomas Siidell Rogers.
| son of Admiral Rogers; p. L. Drayton,
| George l.. Welsh. and others, and not one
OF these, nor, indeed, of the entire list, could
| say that he ever sought personal associa-
| tion with him or any OF the corps.
| From the moment thas he began his career
| there, he declares, till its close there was
| not a day in which some experience or an
| other with some OF the white cadets did not
| make his life an almost intolerable misery
Nearly every cadet with whom came
| in contact he alleges, whether in The
| classroom, the gymnasium. 1.-THE messtable,
| in the doruitories, on the campus or on
board ship, SCENE to feelit to be his bound
1 en- duty to insult me openly by the use oi
/ mean, insinuating minanly references, ant
any attempt on my part to resent theii
| taunts meant fight of one against dozen
| Il was attacked on the campus in the
| dark of night by a number of cadets, wi,n
| first struck me on the head with stone and
| then beat me with clubs until was almost
| insensible.
| "An Investigation followed when two o
the ringleaders confessed else it nigh
never have been known who assaulted me
| for the esprit du corps of the institution, as
it exhibits itself in such affairs, among th'
| cadets, puts each rascal upon his honor moi
to give his brother rascal away.
THREATENED TO KILL HIM
"These two 'coDfessing' cadets admitted
that it was their intention to kill off the
d--m nigger.' They were dismissed, hut
one of the two was restored in time tt
graduate with his class.
"oD another occasion / was ASA ulted b.
some cadets in my own room. with clubs
| upon the false charge that had said some
thing insulting to one of them. ! was alsl
several times attacked with stones, an,
vas forced finally to appeal 10 the officers
when marine was detailed to accompan.
me across the campus to and from the mes
hall at meal times.
My books were mutilated, my clothin;
was cut, and in some instances destroyed
anda.l thepetty annoyanccs which ingenuit
could devise were inflicted upon me daily
and during scamanship practice aboar,
the Dale attempts were often made to d
me personal injury, while would lie aloi
in the rigging.
mo one ever addressed me by name
was called the Moke,' usually; the d.--i
digger for variety. and when. under tn
regulations, any one Of them was obliged {
dress up against me, was openly IL
suited by the application of vile epitiet'
Il was stunned as If l were veritabl
lepef, and received curses and blows as tll
only method my prosecutors had of relie'
ing the monotony. When. 1t was my dut
to cali the roll they would refuse to r.
spond, upon the grounds that they woul
not answer q niger. ,"'
Mr.. Baker was dismissed upon the chare
OF having applied vie epithet TO a whit
cadet. This charge he indignantly deciar,
to be false. and says:
FINALLY, after long series OF pcrsec
tiops. the act was committed for which