The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-27
New Arrivals at the Academy Re-
Quired to Do Many Foolish Things
and Fight When Necessary.
BRACING AND EXERCISING
EAGLING AND sBARNYARD" ARE
THE MOST COMMON PRACTICES.
Sometimes Forced to Participate I'm q
"Sammy Race" a MOlasses Feed
ing COntest-B0ox and Breth.

WEST POINT. N. Y, Dec. 26.-After a
Christmas recess of three days the military
court of inquiry resumed its investigation
Of alleged brutal hazing at the West Point
Military Academy this afternoon. Twelve
witnesses We're examined by Generals
Brooke, Bates and Clous. They were all
Of the present first class and classmates Of
former Cadet Breth. The witnesses were
all questioned as to whether they had held
any conversation with other cadets as to
the Withholding Of testimony at the investi-
cation and they all denied that such a thing
occurred. The said that on the contrary
all the cadets were anxious that everything
should be told.
Tomorrow Congressman p. o. Phillips.
of Cleveland, will be witness in reference
to the statement made that he came to the
academy in 1898 in order to have his boy
protected from hazing. Mr.. Phillips has
denied this by telegraph, but he sent word
to-day that he would be In court tomorrow
afternoon. Horace Booz, of Bristol, Pa.
a brother Of Oscar L. rBooz, who died three
weeks ago. will be here tomorrow, and 1t
is understood he is coming here to testify.
These two, with the exception Of Father
O'Keefe, will be the first outsiders examined
since the taking Of testimony began here.
The courtroom was thronged this after
noon by officers and several women who
watched the proceedings attentively. There
were only two civilians in the room be-
sides the reporters.
The first witness called was Cadet B. F
Browne. of Virginia, now of the first class
He said he knew Booz, but did not remem-
Der his being Ill while at the academy. He
denied having given any ''heIl sauce" to
any fourth-class men. The witness said he
knew a cadet named MacManus who took
a teaspoonful of the pepper sauce just to
show his fellow-cadets that he could do So
MacManus was a third-class man at the
time and he suffered no Ill effects from his
taking such quantity of the sauce.
FEET INSPECTIONS"
Cadet Browne said he had taken part in
fleet inspections" which consisted in drop
ping hot candle grease on the bare feet OF
fourth-class men. He said Cadet Breth
was never dropped out of his tent or put
In a straitjacket.
what do you make fourth-class
men do?"
Nothing In barracks but bracing,' -
answered the witness. "In camp / have
had fourth-class man act as special duty
man. He cleaned my gun and bayonet and
carried water and cleaned my tent" The
witness described how cadets had been
made to run down the company streets
while others threw water on them. This
was called taking a bath.
did you ever see a man braced or exer.
cised to the limit Of his power of en-
durance?" asked General Brooke.
'T could not say, sir, but 1 have seen
them pretend to faint in order to be ex-
cused from going any further with the
exercise"
what was the most exhaustive thing
you yourself were required to do as a
fourth-class man?"
"Eagling, sir" was the reply.
Describe 1t, please"
"It is a modification Of the sitting ur
drill for back and legs"
"Was it on account of danger Of hazine
or because they wished to avoid scandal
outside of the academy that caused the
classes to do away with the practices?
asked General Brooke.
There was no danger. sir, and we voted
to do away with the hazing because of the
stories published about it." replied the wit
ness.
"BARNYARD."
.'what besides bracing do you require a
fourth-class man to do?" inquired General
Brooke.
I'VE have them do ridiculous formations
one of which we call the barnyard.' The
men are designated by names of barnyard
animals, and when they are told to form
they initiate the noises made by the ami.
mails
.Do you make them do anything you tel
them?'
'No; they are told to do 1t, and they gsn.
orally do all they are told"
How do you account for this implicit,
obedienceg' asked General Brooke.
The witness seemed to be puzzled for g
moment and then said: We'll. when was
a fourth-class man the idea Of refusing tc
do all I was required never entered my
head, SIR
was there any brutality7"
"No sir; there was no spirit of brutality
in it. II there was brutality by word the
fourth-class man would resent it,
Then he would have TO fight?" suggested
General Brooke.
Yes. sir"
"And get beaten7'
mo, not always. sir: the fourth-class
men have won fights"
do you know OF any men being espe.
cially prepared or instructed in fghting?'
mo. SIR.
"was Cadet Keller prepared for his fight
with Cadet Booz?"
mo. sir; Keller was a poor boxer" was
the reply.
Ibid Keller ever have any other fight be.
fore he fought Booz?" asked General
Bates
mo. sir.s'