Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-15
DUELS All ANNAPOLIS
A CUSTOM THAT cuLTlVATES THE
FIGHTING QUALITIES OF CADETS.

Very Few Go Througl, the -Four Year,
Withoat an Appearance On the Field of
Honor-Tbo Contests strictly Governed
by Rules and Referees.
Writers may write and preachers may
preach, but the world-our world at least
will take TO its arms the boy who is rs
anxious to fight as to play, It predicts
great things Of him and is willing to help
him along. Out OF these battles como
blnckcned eyes and bloody noses, but not
any harm. Self confidence is born Of them
and the ability to make the hand gunrd
the head. There used to be an old follow
in Golind county, Tex, who expressed his
utter condemnation of neiFhbor in this
way: "Smito him on one check and he'l
turn the other. Smite him on the other
and he'll have you arrested" Then he
spat in disgust.
1t is not known that the authorities OF
the Naval academy at Annapolis cncour-
age fighting. There is nothing In the pub
lished rules urging the cadets to follow
the advice Of dead Sam Randall and got
together as often ms possible. But 1t is
certain that they do not discourage it.
There are tales among the embryo ADM.
rails, handed down from class to class OF
how the prnccptOrs have stood afar md
watched the battles through spyglasscs,
grunting ut enCL well delivered blow and
betting glcctully among themselves on the
results. The consequence Of this lnxity Is
that the younger Cadets-thosc in their
first year-comc in u very little while TO
believe that the powers arc very friendly
to fighter and would offer active enCour-
agemcnt % fighters If II were necessary
which it isn't This state OF affairs does
not conduce to study, but II does conduce
to the development of muscle and the fat
tening Of the lighting instinct. Not long
ago cadet took log leave of the academy
and wandered into Baltimore where he
spliced multiplicity OF main braces.
As result he first whipped n cab driver,
then whipped friend of tho cab driver,
and then whipped two policemen who had
walked up in time TO sec tho end of the
fray. He got back to the grounds badly
battered, but standing up well under his
canvas. The affair made some noise and
persons went to Washington to obtain the
cadets dismissal There thcy met Fight
ing" Bob Evans and mistakenly detailed
the circumstances, requesting his inlu
onco what" beloved that veteran.
"Dismiss boy like that Licked four
men In one nightY Damme, sirs, are you
crazy? Wha5 in the blue - do you
think naval officer is for? When he
graduates, give him TO me. Put him on
my ship | want 100 like him"
In the matter Of humping his fellow
there are certain rules governing the cadet
They arc lcges non scrlptn, hut ironclnd
nevertheless. The epithet 'liar" must be
resented with an instant blow. All in.
suits must be accounted for on the spot
The only spots exempt arc the chapel and
classroom. The combatants are immedi-
atcly separated by any one standing near
A first year man Is permitted to separate
seniors After that the code has play The
combatants name two seconds each. These
lay the matter before member Of tho
senior class. He fixes the place and date
of the encounter. The place is always an
open space behind the gymnasium. 1t is
not turf, but is ground worn bare and
hardened by many feet. 1t has been red
dened time and again by the best blood in
America The time is always the after
noon OF some Saturday. The rules are
Marquis of QucenSbeiTy-thTce minute
rounds with q minute rest between. The
exception is that no gloves are used.
Wrestling is not permitted, of course,
Occasionally, however, when one OF the
combatants has had two years training
in the sparring school and the other is a
newcomer, the old style of trough and
tumble" fracas is allowed.
Always n senior class man is master OF
ceremonies, appellate court and supreme
court in these flstic litigations. Tho sec
onds are there TO handle their men, but all
points Of dispute arc submitted to the sen.
Tor. His decision is never questioned. a
fight is fought out until one of the men Is
deemed incompetent by his seconds, who
throw up the sponge. Then he is borne TO
the hospital. The sponge never goes up
until he is made fit for cot Woe to the
warrior who cries enough or quits when
he is able TO continue Nothing Is left
him save 20 depart to civil life His cluss-
mates and the men in his dormitory will
not speak TO him. He is "coyentried "
There is no instance where these bare
knuckle duols have had a fatal termina-
ton The participants are endowed with
the blessing of youth and arc always in
condition.
1t sometimes happens that a cadet goes
through his four years at Annapolis with
out an appearance ON the field of honor,
but the occurrence is as rare as o black
swan. Tho courage Of such men is looked
| on with Eraycst suspicion 10y their com
rados, Indeed fight is regarded n neocs.
sary complement to an education and
escape would seem impossible to any man
| who could be made TO resent an insult
| All of this does no harm Enmitics end
with the duel 1t Is required that thi,
| should be 50. Tho opposing youngsters
become faster friends than ever Is il Sin
! Luclus O'Trigger who says; 1T Is aston.
| ishing how well you like man when you
| have fought with hinY' War is profes.
| sion with these wards. OF the government.
With them courage Is n necessity. Each
battle strengthens IT, The checks Of fond
mothers at home would hlanch If they
| knew that their darlings were pommelcd,
! but their respected and respectable fathers
| would danoe uuon ono leg md howl with