Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-22
TRIEDIT ON HIMSELF
Surgeon Bannister Takes Four Drops
of Tabasco Sauce.
FELT NO ILL EFFECTS FROM IT
Makes Positive Statement Regard
ing Case of Cadet Booz.
DEATH NOT DUE TO SAUCE

labors at noon. Cadet Sheriff. of North
Carolina gave some unimportant testimony,
such as has. been often repeated in the
course of this investigation.
Major John NJ. Bannister, surgeon, L. S.
A, was recalled and told of his testing the
effects Of partaking of four drops of tropi-
cal pepper sauce, such as is used in the
cadets mess hall. He said he tried it last
night by dropping four drops of the sauce
on the palm of his hand and taking it up
with his tongue and swallowing it. 1t tasted
like a cayenne pepper pod. His throat, ne
said. was very susceptible to any irritation,
but he felt no i'll effects from the dose.
Two young ladies who were pres ent when
he made the test in a spirit of fun did ike
wise. and they, too, found no dlfhculty IN
swallowing the same quantity.
Surgeons Positive Statement.
In reply 10 General Clous the witness said:
II positively swear that the taking of this
sauce could not, directly or indirectly, have
caused tuberculosis of the throat or in any
way be the cause of death of Cadet BooZ
two years after his partaking of it.
Cadet John H. Poole of Michigan swore
thai he never hazed BooZ. He knew Breth,
who was a member of his own class. This
was the fourth class in 1891
Did you see Breth hazed?'
mo. sir; but | heard he was exercised
considerably
What are the relations Of the upper
class men to the fourth-class men?'
with the exception Of exercising, which
has been abolished it is about the same as
formerly. We require them to do special
work about our tents, cleaning guns max
ing up beds and so FORTH
Have you heard Of any fights since last
enCampment?"
Yes, sir, | heard of four
"Retwcen upper class men and fourth
class men, inquired Gen. Clous.
Yes, sir
"Who wOn?" asked the general.
Two were won by upper class men, one
by a fourth-class man and the other was
a draw.
fed that Booz was hazed, but that there
was nothing brutal severe in it. Others
had similar experiences.
Never Heard of Straight Jacket.
In reply to several questions regarding
Cadet Breth, the witness said:
II knew him, but did not hear of his be-
ing hazed or being put in a straight jacket
If he had been placed in a straight jacket
l certainly would have heard Of il. l have
had a special duty man from the fourth
class. He made my bed, swept out the
and bayonet.'
Cadet Leonard A. Prunty of Kansas had
himself taken pepper sauce. The quantity
was half teaspoonful. He suffered no in
minutes.
Cadet Robert NJ. Beck, jr. of Rhode Is
land, examined by Captain Dean, said:
Il have never heard that Booz was spe-
Breth before he left. He was always very
nervous"
Did you know or hear of any hazing
during the last encamDment?"
mo, sir; but there was bracing and ex-
ercising, which were not looked upon as
haZing.
Cadet VIM NJ Cooley Of Michigan said
that he could not say that he had not given
sauce to lower class men.
Have you seen il given, and II So was
any force used?'
Il saw it given several times in the mess
hall, but no force was used The men were
told to take 1t, and they did. Eight drops
was the most | ever saw given"
Have you known OF any cadets being
dragged from their tents?' asked General
Clous.
Dragged From His Tent.
Yes, sir; l was dragged myself when a
fOurth-class man. l was lying on the COM
forter on the floor. Two or three men
caught hold of 1t and pulled it with me on
top out of the tent and up the company
street"
Have you ever known hands to have
been laid on the man and his body dragged
on the ground?"
mo, sir; the bedding was always under
Meath"
Cadet Nathaniel E. Bower of fennsyl-
vania knew former Cadet Breth. he never
knew of Breth's being haZed. Breth had
visited the post some months after he was
missed and he looked to be in good health.
did you ever hear of straight jacket
being used on any one?" asked General
Clous
The witness fairly snapped back: II don't
know what straight jacket is, sir; never
saw one"
He had never heard Of a cadet being
made to eat soap.
DO you know if Breth had been ailing
while here?'
We'll, sir, he was never very strong look
ing. He was always of a very nervous tenn
VIM. p. Platt, a cadet from North Caro-
lima, followed with similar evidence. He
had been hazed himself but there was
nothing brutal done to him. He also had
to do special duty for upper class men,
Cadet Louis Soleliac of Maryland, who
was a third class man when Breth was in
the fourth class of 81 said Breth was not
hazed any more than any of his class fell
lows.
Did he ever have to eat soap?"
mo, sir l have heard men asked to eat
soap. but the moment they attempted to do
they We're stopped and told not to-
You knew Cadet Breth?
Yes sir; | remember him on account of
his 'woodenness. "
do you mean by that he was wooden
headed?'
Yes. sir
Rich and Poor Treated Alike.
I'm treating fourth-class men by your
methods of hazirys was any difference made
between the son of rich men and those of
poorer classes?'
We'll sir, there would be distinction
except the rich mans son was conceited'
answered the witness.
why do you haze fourth-class men?'
asked General Brooke.
Fourth class men are new and green and
they are hazed to make them conform to
the rules, to obey their superiors and make
men out Of them"
"If the son of a general or the son of a
President of the United States came here,
would he be hazed?" asked the general
Eyes, he would, If he were conceited, and
it Is likely he would be hazed. anyhow"