New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-14
HOW BOYS GOT REVENGE.
THEY INFLICTED MERCILEss PUNISH
MENT ON THEIR TEACHER.

a SNOWFALL BATTLE IL EAST sETAuKET LONG
ISLAND WHICH LEFT THE sCHooLMAsTER
wRECK-HE SAYS IT WAS FAIR
FIGHT AND HE REMAINED
on THE FIELD
CorporaI punishment is prohibited in the public
schools OF New-York so that the average New
York public school graduate will not fully appre-
ciate this story. but those men VINO nave lelt the
sting OF a schoolmasters rod on their hands OF
back will understand the savage JOY felt ny the
boys OF the East Setauket Long Island pubic III
furnishing their schoolmaster last Tuesday IN the
most approved Corbett- Fitzsimmons style. George
W. Hawkins for a number OF years has been the
principal OF this school. He is supposed 10 nave
boys" under his jurisdiction and rod. but IKE
most country schoomasters his boy puphs are
almost men. as Mr. Hawkins's black eyes ana
swollen forehead testify.
On the Tuesday in question Mr.. Hawkins had
occasion to rebuke Of his pupils tor snow
balling some peaceable citizens who were passing
the schoolhouse and unfortunately for himself he
wound up his remarks by saying that II the boys
wanted any snowballins he would ACCOMMODATE
them after school hours. Immediately the memory
OF smarting pangs from Mr.. Hawkinss rod sprans
I'D in the minds OF a score or so OF MS boys ana
they forthwith began to ache for an opportunity
to get even with him. they expressed IT, ana
the challenge was promptly accepted by a showing
OF hands.
The school was dismissed at 3 o'clock ana on
gaining the yard OF the schoohouse the ooys re-
minded Mr. Hawkins OF his challenge The teacher
was placed on his mettle and Immediately started
the sin by rolling I'D a SNOWFALL and throwing IL Al
one OF the boys" This a signal ior the
battle 10 begin and in an Instant some forty ODD
snowballs were directed against the head OF the
devoted schoolmaster with more or less erect
Mr. Hawkins had made II seems. similar chdI-
come out victor. but in that case he had planted
his hack against the schoolhouss and so had only
ono front (as the military man would say 10 ue-
fend In Tuesdays Waterloo, however, Mt Ha"A-
ms was deprived of the support OF the scnooIhous7
as the sun had melted tho snow all AROUND eHe
house so that on taking such a position To "ouiu
be without ammunition. To avoid this Calamity
he was Obliged TO take tho open field and was
thus exnosed on all sides The boys we're not long
in realizing the advantages they would possess III
/ .competely surrounding the enemy ana IN d lev
minutes the schoolmaster was the centre OF
terrific volley OF snowballs
rha n,ost unfortunate feature OF the attack on
the schoolmastor vas that the snow was III tina.
.arni--o4lted condition in which a closely presseu
srouhau WAS almost equivalent 20 stone. wheh
tho irnnact on the face IS considered. mo boys
-oalizad this fact and packed tho snow ana sluSh
balls as hard as they knew how ana using tleI
r,e Win inc energy OF ng-to-be-remembered
Noqgings they had received IRON S-0'
huri ed ne missiles at him with deadIy intent ,.,.
r. f,,IIv an hour me pucky scnooiInasteF hepe
up the unequal night against me tOI Uo{ the
S6rne Of the smaller Try, becoming ttIeu a. 49,.
sD0rt OF licking their schoonaster WIN Hhpuilss
went home oui some t"en'y o. 'T 6 - Eve him all
~ harcsine5 for And so, for two hours or more
theCbatte raged-that is ragel on 9Ie s 81 %
schoolboys for 10 was al. on one sSlroostar on
4 o'clock a snowfall struck the schoOlHddSte' on
the Ieft eve completely closing Il and swelling thdt
side OF the face beyond recosnuQh' o no,H a. &C.
ward another stOueks snOWOaH Iahlto Oh 1i''
teachers night eye cosirg tnat aSQ % tho aoair
came in The man was now completely blinded
Tic could not distinguish between right ana lelt,
hnt still kept up the fight, determined 70 die or
conorer his wards The boys were quick 10 see
rneT e missile on him with terrific and
with absolute impunlty, tae isacher an we IN
vainiy endeavorins to ward OFT the ieA'IuA O'o"s
Not ' Content with this terrible punishment, one
man and hurled a eaden-llke SNOWFALL In his face.
The missile struck the sclroolmaster on the fore
would give no signal OF distress and the Aght kept
on Darkness alone put an end 10 tne brutal attack
in a terrible plight Both or ms eyes were
swollen and the pump on his ioTehead MADE MIN
Piuckly 10 the last he remained on the field until
s ass tan o, Trends ne found his way nome
When oy IA Tribune reporter after the battle.
Mr.. Hawkins presented pitfuI sight His eyes
seemed much exhausted from the encounter. lie
said d rot blame any OF my Pupil. foT tn, this az
except perlal- W1e.r One or the boys deliberately
came up within four feet oi me- waen was blind
ed. and with all mis- force hurled SNOWFALL intJ
my face. which struck me- IN the forehead. That.
I think, was unfair, because l was blinded and
could 10 strike back effectCally. But aside
from that, the boys showed splendid grit Yes.
the battle lasted from 3 o'clock 20 z. / call II
drawn battle. because | remained on the field.
though a ittle the worse Tor and tear when
Inc enemy deserted ! nave no complaint 10 make
against any one II fair challenge. the boys
took It up fairly. but got the worst OF Il. that's
all"