The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-12-27
NOVEL HAzING
At WEST POINT
Ingenious Torture Inflicted
on Fourth Class Men
YOUNG CADETS NEVER
DIS0BEY SUPERTORS
Interesting and Amusing Testi-
mOny Brought Out.

west POlnt, N Y, Dec. 26.-After a
Christmas recess Of three days the
military court of inquiry resumed its
/ investigation of the alleged brutal baz-
ing at the West Point military acad-
envy, this afternoon. Twelve witnesses
We're examined by General Brooke.
General Bates and General CIous. They
were all of the present first class and
classmates of former Cadet Breth.
The witnesses were questioned as to
whether they had held any converse
ton with other cadets about withhold
ing testimony at the investigation. and
they all denied that such d thing oc-
CURED. They said that. on the con-
trary, all the cadets We're anxious that
everything should be told
tomorrow Congressman p. O. Phil
lips Of Cleveland viii be a witness in
reference to the statement made that
he came to the academy in 1898 in or
hazing.
Horace Booz of Bristol. Pa. broth
ef OF oscar l. BoOz, who died three
weeks ago, viii also be here tomorrow
ana IL IS understood that he is com
ing here to testify.
II
r. Brown Of Virginia, now of the first
class Cadet Brown said that he had
taken part IN feet inspection " which
consisted iH dropping hot candle grease
ON the bare feet of fourth class men
He said Cadet Breth was never DRAG
jacket.
do2, iiisii
Nothing in barracks but bracfng."
answered the witness. I'm caun
nave had a fourth class man act as
special duty man. He cleaned my gun
and bayonet and carried water and
cleaned tent"
The Bath Extraordinary.
The witness described how cadets
nave been made to run down the corn
pany streets while others threw ~.
bath.
Did you ever see man braeed or
exercised to the limit of his power oP
eildufanceE3 asked General Brooke.
could not say sir hut have seen
mem pretend 10 faint in order to be
excused from going any further with
the exercise
What was the most exhaustive
I Ihing you yourself were required to do
as fourth class man p"
"Eagling. sir" was the reDIv
Describe it, please
1t is a modification of the satffnr
up drill for back and legs"
as 1t on account of the danger OF
hazinS 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 be-
cause of the stories published about
it, replied the witness
W hat besides bracinC do Won re-
quire d fourth class man to do?' in
quIred General Brooke
We have them do ridiculous forn1a-
tons, one Of which we call the barn
yard"
The men are designated by names
OF BARNARD animals and when they
are told to form they initiate the noises
made by the animals.
DO you make them do anything Won
tell them?"
NO; they are told 20 do it. and they
generally do all they are told"
How do you account for implicit
Obedience asked General Brooke.
The witness seemed 90 be puzzled for
moment and then said.
Wen. when ] was fourth class
man the idea of refusing 10 do ali I
was required never entered my head.
sir"
Was there any brutaHtye'
NO, sir. there was no show of bru-
tally in it. IF there was brutality by
word, the fourth class man would re-
sent it."
Then ne would have to fght?'' sug-
gested General Brooke.
Yes. sir
And get beaten2"
NO, not always, sir; fourth class
men have won fights"
Preparation for Fighting.
DO you know of any men being spe-
cially prepared or instructed in fight
ing?"
NO. sir"
Was Cadet Keller prepared for his
fght,With Cadet Booz2"
No. sir; Keller was rather a poor
boxer" was the reply
Did Keller ever have another fight
before he fought B0oz?" asked General
Bates.
NO. sir
''Was he not known as fighting
MANI" asked General Brooke.
These questions were evidently
prompted by the receipt Of a newspaper
clipping sent to the court during the
Christmas recess, which stated that un-
less a man was skilled in boxing. he
had no chance at West Point against
cadets with bruising abilities
Cadet W. D. Smith of Maryland was
the next witness. He said he had q
fourth-class man to make up his bed,
clean his gun, carry water and do other
work for him in his tent
Did YOU ever know of a cadet being
dragged from his bed and out of his
tent to the street,"
There was always bedding under
him. sir" was the reply.
The witness described a number OF
ridiculous things done by fourth class
men at the bidding of upper class men.
He told. among other things, OF man
being required to stand on his head,
and while in that position speak piece
and deliver a right-hand salute with
his left foot.
What do you mean by saying men
were required to do these things?
Compelled, sir.
why do they obey
The witness hesitated, and then said
that fourth class men knew that they
would have TO do what they were told.
Cadet Edward N. Shinkie Of Ohio, an
other first class man, said that he had
hazed fourth class cadets by exercising
and setting up drills. There was nOLh-
/ ing brutal in these exercises. Descr19-
| ing other forms of hazing in vogue now