The evening times., 1897-04-16
PREJUDICE Il ANNAPOLIS
Former COlored Cadet Baker Re.
cites His Many Trials.
WAS NsULTED EVERY DAY
Color Line Drawn Taut at the Naval
Academy-Ostraci Alike by
Commander and Middy-Baker Ad-
vises Bundy to Avoid the Rugged
Road-Race Enmity Bitter as Ever.

The experience OF the only colored man
who ever attended the Naval Academy at
Annapolis leads him to believe that this ne W
applicant ID. j. Bundy, appointed I.y
Representative Shattuc, OF Ohio, would
much better not make the attempt. Mr..
Henry Z. Baker, a colored man OF this city,
law yer and real estate broker, and one of
the foremost and most intelligent men of
his race in Washington, was at Annapolis
almost two years, from 1876 to 1877.
He was appointed TO the academy after
passing oompetitiye eexamination by Hon
G. Wiley Wells, White Congressman of
Mississippi Before the second year of
his course was out his position had become
So unbearable that hewas forced to leave.
The story as Mr. Baker tells it is a
most interesting one. From the very day
he entered the institution, he says, the
whole spirit and sentiment both among
the officers aud the cadets was against
him almost to a malignant degree He
was subjected to insults every day of
his life there of most CALLING and abomi-
nable description. He was wholly ostra-
cised by the cadets and was never spoken
to by them during all his term at the
academy. More than this, he was told
after he left by cadet there at the same
time that there was o determination both
among the cadets and the officers of the
institution, that he should never gradu-
ate, The cadets informed the authorities
of every slightest misdemeanor of his,
and they all went down as demerits against
his standing. The officers systematically
marked him down in his studies
lie was at first determined to stick the
fight out Things got worse and worse.
however, and he nearly caused rebellion
in the school The students refused to take
their lessons with him. One young cadet
refused 70 fence with him on q certain
occasion and was dismissed. He was after
ward admitted again, however. Other
cadets refused to take dancing lessons
in the class with him. At one time Mr..
Baker was made the head OF one OF the
sections formed for drill together, on ac-
count of lis standing in his class. In this
position he had to call the ROLL and per-
form other like duties. certain cadet,
a son of a prominent n nayal officer, refused
to answer to the ron call when Baker came
to his name. There was an immense dis
turbance at the academy over this affair
The student consulted with his father.
make an apology to Baker He was finally
allowed TO apologizesto the superintendent
Another man beat young Baker terribly
onthe head with brick, and was dismissed
When Baker left this man was reinstated
at the academy. Thiscadet was the worst
of the enemies that. Bsker had at the
academy. Cunously enough he had been
sent to the institution 10y a colored Con-
gresham from Alahama.
The trouble which, eliminated in tine re-
tirement OF Mr., Baker fTem the field wasa
most aggravated case OF persecution, in
which, after appealing in vain TO the au-
thorities for support, he struck a cadet.
The course pursued afterward fully justi-
fled young Baker Several of the students
falSified their stories OF the affair la wing
all the blame on Baker, and he was dis
missed from the academy. Secretary OF
the Navy Robeson Immediately reinstated
him, but Baker had had enough and re-
signed.
Mr.. Baker takesa strong interest in young
Bundy, but says that it win be fooIhardy
and profitless for him to attempt TO take
d course at the academy, and that it, VIII
never be done successfully until three OF
for colored boys go together IL is not so
much the physical persecution that is I'M
bearable, but the ostracism.
when Baker left Annapolis he came 60
Washington and was graduated at Howard
University.
Mr.. Baker has met great many of his
classmates of Annapolis since he left that
institution, and finds the old spirit Of an
tagonism entirely departed. With him
m hs, Patent N ffien fxpsa prt tfrpa 0f his
classmates, and over dozen ex-naval
officers.
Eaker's is the only case of a celored man
attending the academy on record. There
is story that one man very light in color
did 20 through the academy and graduate
about 1880 without disclosing his race.
He resigned, then, however, and did not
enter the Navy.
There have been one or two colored men
nominated for cadetships at the Naval
Academy, but none of them has ever gone
SO FAR as an entrance into the classes. Last
September two men passed examinations
in their districts and were appointed to
the academy, but were frightened off by
the stories which were told them and by
threatening letters and never reported to
the superintendent. Six years ago Con-
gresham from the South appointed a man,
but he was rejected on the entrance ex-
amin ations.
1t is reported at Annapolis that there is
a great commotion over the prospect of
the appearance of young Bundy at the
academy. The cadets are forming plans 20
receive him most warmly and to make it
too hot for him to remain He will be
hazed numerically and ostracised in much
the same manner that Baker was twenty
years ago. The officers at the academy are
said TO have made the statement that lie
will be treated fairly and receive as good a
show as any other man at the academy.
AT the Navy Department here the officers
INV Tn Finn nit