The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-15
OUR NAVAL CADETS
Massachusetts Proud
of Her Annapo-
lis Boys.
ALL DO US HONOR.
Third District Represented
BY a Worcester
Boy.

Perhaps no state in the union can be
as pround of her representatives at
West Point and Annapolis as Massa-
chusetts. Since there is a cadetship
for every congressional district, Massa-
chusetts has IA cadetships at each of the
two national schools, and there is never
lack of applicants for vacancies
which may occur either by graduation
or by resignation.
Owing to an excellent method which
most of the Massachusetts congress-
men have of choosing appointees, a
Massachusetts cadet invariably brings
honor to his district and to his con-
gresham. This method is the compe-
titive examination method, and as a
rule the best man wins. It is very
necessary that the best man should
win for the courses at the naval and
military academies are extremely diff
ficult. Those at Annapolis are, doubt
less, the most thorough and rigid of
any similar courses in applied science
in this country. Not only must cadets
be proficient to a marked degree in
fencing, dancing, swimming and the
like, but they must prove themselves
familiar with the higher mathematics,
steam engineering, electricity, chemis-
try and other sciences, among which
navigation is not the least important.
There are now at the naval academy
eight Massachusetts cadets, one of
whom, Cadet Downes, is a presidential
appointee. In the first class, which was
graduated last January Cadet Kim
berry of Newton Centre, Mass, held a
high standing in his class and was
very popular with his classmates. Ca
det Kimberly is the son of Rear Ad
miral Kimberly, L. S. N. (retired), and
was appointed in 1895. He passed very
creditably his entrance examinations
and completed his course last January,
when his class was sent to sea. to COM
plete the six years course.
In the second class Cadet Hyland
represents Massachusetts and has
starred" for three consecutive years.
A star man is one who has made a to-
tai of So per cent of the multiple dur
ing the preceding year, and there are
very few who are able to do this. Ca
det Hyland won his appointment over
20 competitors in an examination held
at Pittsfield in 1896, his home being in
Holyoke. During the late war with
Spain Hyland served aboard the u. S.
cruiser Minneapolis.
There are two Massachusetts cadets
in the third class, Cadets Downes and
Cook. Cadet DoWnes is the son of Capt.
Downes, u. S. NJ. and halls from Quin-
cy Cadet Cook is also naval officers
son, his father being Capt. Cook who
was in command of the Brooklyn at
the battle of Santiago. Cadet Cook has
a good record in the academy and also
in his cruise report of last summer
when he served aboard the auxiliary
cruiser st. Louis. His home is in North
ampton, Mass.
It is in the fourth class that Massa-
chusetts is most strongly represented
and more merry set of plebes," as
fourth classmen are called, never en-
tered the institution than the five Mas
sachusetts men in the class of 1902
Ralph NJ. Griswold represents the
third district at Annapolis, and his
home is in this city, where he formerly
attended the high school. Cadet Girls
void stood 1 in an examination in
this gave him the appointment Susie, ="
as Griswold is called. stood for last
term in the class of 80 members.
The 5th district is well represented by
Walter G. Diman, whose home is in
Lawrence, Mass. Cadet Diman is the
successor of Cadet Boardman, who was
killed in the war with Spain. Diman's
small stature has won for him the name
of Midget" but he can and often does
Id e INTERESTING Siuft AJOuAS WIFI Ills
roommate, Cadet Griswold.
Two other Massachusetts cadets room
together, Cadets Blackburn and Dowl-
ing. Cadet Blackburn was the success
full one in a competitive examination of
2S Massachusetts boys held at Winehes-
ter last year, and, on account of his
mental capacities and excellent ply
sique, was appointed to the naval acad-
envy by Congressman Mccall. That he
has kept up this record is shown by
the fact that he stood II in his class
for last term. Blackburn had been in
terested in athletics before entering the
academy, and has done good work since
being a cadet. At the indoor meet this
year, he won first in the high jump,
doing five feet six inches. He also rows
on one Of the crews
Cadet o. c. Bowling represents Con-
gresham Barrett of the 7th district,
and resides in Melrose with his parents
during his one month of vacation each
year.
In May another Massachusetts cadet
will enter the academy if he succeeds
in passing the examinations. He is
Charles Belknap, grandson of Rear Ad-
miral Belknap, u. S. N, retired.