The evening times., 1898-09-29
WHEELER At WEST POINT
Memorable Incident in the
History of the Academy.
RECEIVED WITHALL H0NORS
Military Cadets Parade In Heavy
Marching Order to the Delight of
the Veteran Cavalry Fighter-Re-
calls Old Times When He Was u
Boy Mt the Point.

West Point, n. Y. Sept. 2s.-Joseph
ed States Military Academy in the year
SO; his son. Joseph Wheeler. jr.. grad
uated from the same academy in '95-the
same figures reversed. Father and son
revisited West Point yesterday, and the
visit will go down as one of the historical
events of the academy.
The visit was an informal one, but the
general was received, of course. with all
military honors. Thirteen guns were fired
upon his arrival at lilo p. m. The general
was accompanied by his staff, Major G..
Creighton Webb, Major Beach, Lieut..
Batson and Lieut.. Wheeler. They were
met at the landing by n detachment Of
cavalry and escorted TO the home of Col.
Mills, the superintendent. With the party
was Col. Francis GULLY (retired), who was
er.
The party was entertained by Mrs.
Mills, Mrs. Helm, wife of the commandaut
of cadets; Mrs. Batson and the other la
dies of the post, and after luncheon the
party started off on an inspection. They
went first to the gymnasium
Made Him Youthful Again.
Gen. Wheeler was dressed in service
uniform, but wore q black slouch hat.
He looked with interest upon the many
fittings of the new gym" He lifted the
dumbbells. punched a bag and eyed with
longing the horses" on which young
''plebes" are exercised before they try
the real live animals. Thence the party
proceeded through the barracks
When l was here" said the general.
we didn't have incandescent lamps to
study by
The party proceeded to the recitation
rooms The advent of the distinguished
visitor did not disturb the cadets; they
went right on with their recitations and
studies. .....
In the drawing-room there was a big
map of Cuba, recently issued by the Gov
ernment. Gen. Wheeler spied It at once
There are some defects in that map"
he declares: Il think that Santiago
should be a little more east l am sure
the distance from Ell Caney is not quite
so much" He went all over the map.
pointing out slight mistakes. He had
studied the ground, and he evidently
knew every inch of it.
Then the general and his escort, con-
sisting of Superintendent Mills, Com
mandant Helm and Lieut.. Hazard, adju-
tant visited the new Memorial Building
the library and the Mess Hall. The
general seemed delighted to go over the
old grounds again.
II have been here several times since
my graduation" he said to re-
porter who accompanied the party. but
1 always find new delight in going over
it again"
At p. m. the cadets were released
from study. At Ais they appeared in the
parade ground arrayed in heavy march
ing order, with blankets. pouches, tent
equipments. spades picks. canteens, am
munition belts and field mess kits. They
wore campaign hats and looked utterly
unlike the cadets that are familiar to the
public.
Gen. Wheeler noted the changed ap-
pearance with evident pleasure. THAT
looks like business" he said.
The cadets marched past in review,
first in common time and then in double
quick time Nothing escaped the gener-
al. He saw everything, and he showed
his pleasure in unmistakable manner.
Begged OF for the Boys.
After the cadets had been dismissed
Supt. Mills suggested that the general
attend the dress parade. but the latter
pensed with, and 1t was.
uou wait TIE boys TO remember
my visit" he said. " as one that en-
tailed extra work on them
The general and his staff took an early
evening train back to New York on the
New York Central At Garrsons a big
crowd had assembled. When the gem
eral boarded the train cheer arose
from the crowd, and Gen Wheeler
bowed low in acknowledgement All the
way to New York he was greeted
Yesterday 1 had a curious expert
ence,' said the general on the train.
'I was walking along the street when a
white-haired old gentleman passed me-
He recognized me and T recognized him.
He was ex-Congressman John Wheeler,
who appointed me to West Point in 1850
I had not seem him since 1 graduated
from the Academy"
Gen. Wheeler will attend the recep-
ton at the Casino tomorrow afternoon.
and will then go to Washington, pre-
sumably to appear before the army in
yestigating committee. Thence he will
go to Huntsville, Ala, to rejoin his di-
vision of cavalry. An early advance on
Cnha 1onEad for