Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-21
CADETS WHO WERE HAZ[D
TELL THEIR EXPERIENCES.
THEY UNDERWENT THE SAME
0RDEALS AS CADET BOOB, BUT
SUFFERED NO INJURY.
ONE ATE EIGHTY-FIvE PRUNEs
AT ONE SITTING, AND AGAIN DIS
POSED OF BOWL OF MOLASSES
AND SIX SLICES OF BREAD.


WEST POINT, December 2O.-The
military court of inquiry got through
mass of evidence to-day and to-
morrow the cadets of the first class
among whom are Frank Keller, who
fought Booz, and some of the men who
saw the contest, will be examined
The court expects to have all the
evidence collected by Saturday even
Ing, but judging by the large number
Of witnesses yet to be called there may
yet possibly be an adjournment until
after the holidays.
The name of former cadet John E.
Breth, of Altoona, who, it is alleged,
died eighteen months ago as a result
of brutal hazing at the West Point
military academy, was associated with
that of Ozcar L. Booz in the inquiry to-
day.
Supt. Mills emphatically denies that
Breth was injured while here, and said
to-day that the assertions to that eff
acct were dDSOluJ6ly 1diS6.
In reputation of the statement made
by Cadet Boozs father, Congressman
Phillips, of Cleveland, O., sent tel
egram to Superintendent Mills, of the
academy, denying that he ever came
to West Point for the purpose of pro-
tecting his son, Cadet Burt W. Phil
lips, from being hazed. This WAS
submitted to the court and by direc-
ton of the court, attached to the rec
ord.
Major Charles B. Hall, Second In
fantry, treasurer of the Military acad-
envy and quartermaster and commits
sary of cadets, was the first witness
called to-day. He identified two bot
ties of red sauces which he said were
the only kinds of pepper or tropical
sauces in use in the cadets mess hall
since he took charge three years ago.
Tobasco sauce was not in use Gin the
academy. The hot sauces were not
0SAA~A ttAiy AoAN OAi IhC IdDISOJ OuI WClC
served when called for. p
Cadet VIM. H. Cowles, Of Kansas,
testified that he knew Booz but was
not present at the fight with Keller.
He described the hazing ordeals in the
summer of '98, and said he had I'M
dergone everything that his class
mates went through. He said he had
attended rat funerals, took cold baths
and Joined in bowl races, as we'll as
being made acquainted with wooden
Willie" and the process of "eagling."
He had taken a couple of drops Of
hot sauce from a spoon. When ask
ed to describe the sauce, the witness
said: THE bottle | saw in our tent
was labelled Tropical pepper sauce
The witness prepared at the same
school with Booz and did not consider
him strong. While at this school (St.
Lukes', at Bushtown, Philadelphia
Booz was examined by physicians and
was developing lung and chest capac-
ity.
The witness could not remember the
names CT the physicians. The witness
had little to do with Booz after com
ing to West Point; their relations were
JuSb iuOLilCl ClbIy ullSAUly.
the next witness, Herbert z. Krumm,
OF Chic, told the court that among 9TH
er things which he WIS made to do as
fourth class man was to qualify in the
mess hall.
What does that mean" asked Cap
tain Dean.
Il had to eat S5 prunes at one sitting
and at another had to swallow a bowl
Of molasses and six slices of bread
did you succeed in doing these
things?" asked the court
No, sir, l was not successful on my
first attempt at the molasses, but l dld
It all right the second time"
In concluding his testimony the wit
ness sa d that Booz had a slouchy man
ner and did not seem to have enough
energy to held himself together.
Cadet David H. Bower, of Iowa, said
he had been hazed in '9S. He had to
do foolish things, such as receiving a
turtle passing down the company
street with candle on its back" and
"chasing a sparrow off the street af-
Ger being told it was an eagle"
Col. A. l.. Mills, superintendent of
Che West Point Military Academy, said
to-day
1.-THE statement that the death of
former Cadet John Breth, of Altoona,
gas the result of rough treatment re-
ceived by him while in this academy,
b absolutely untrue
it is generally believed that the
court of inquiry now in session will
cake up the Breth matter before they
Eeave West Point