Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-27
TALE OF A BILLIARD TABLE.
That Now in Use ut West Point Has an
Interesting History.

1hteFeStIhe
From the New York Tribune.
One of the most interesting OF West
Points traditions is that relating to the
| billiard table. Shortly after the civil war
the cadets, always on the alert for some
new scheme for amusement, decided that
they would like to have a billiard table.
and accordingly organized a billiard club.
A collection was taken up with which to
purchase q table. and a suitable place was
sought IT which to set 1T up. Until the
present steam heating apparatus was in
stalled in the cadet barracks. about twenty
five or thirty years ago, the heating was by
means of furnaces. The basement of the
sixth division of the barracks was used
for coal bins, the bins being so arranged
that there was large one near the center
Of the building, which could only be
reached by easing through one of the
others. After considering all available
places, this coal bin was finally selected as
being the place least liable to detection
for it must be remembered the table was
unauthorized. The table was bought in
New York and sent to Garrisons. across
| the river, for there was no West Shore rail-
| road in those days: One cold winter night
| 1t was hauled by team of oxen across
the river on the ice and up the hill. and
was safely slowed away in the coal bin be-
| fore morning. The table was soon set up
| and became a source of great enjoyment to
the cadets. A keg of beer was always kept
or tap; and la mps were hung from the cell
ing, giving thei room a CHEEKY appearance.
The. membe of the club used to gather
| there at all hours of the day and night
| when{ heir presence was not required else
| where by their duties, and sit around smok-
ling, drinking and telling stories while two
| of them played billiards.
| The authorities soon became aware that
| there was billiard table somewhere in the
barracks, for they could hear the balls
| clicking together. but they could not find it,
| The cadets continued to enjoy the privileges
! of the billiard club for more than year
| Finally one night soon after midnight as
| two officers were returning from conVi-
| vial evening at the mess. they saw two
| cadets clad in their Undertaking and
dressing gowns. emerge from the north
| sallyport and disappear down the steps TO
the areaway in front of the barracks. In
stantly the thought of the billiard table
! fla shed through the minds of the two Of
ficers, and they started quietly after the
| cadets. On reaching the basement doorway
| of the sixth division the two cadets entered
and the officers, arriving a moment later,
saw them climb over pile of coal and en-
| ter an open door. through which came
sounds of laughter and conversation and
| the clicking of balls. while the air was lad
| en- with fragrant tobacco smoke
| The officers paused for moment and
| held whispered consultation. Finally de-
Gliding that they would tell the other Of
| ficers of their discovery and have all OF
them come down the following night and
| enjoy the fun Of raid on the club, they
| withdrew and went home Next day all OF
the officers at the post were informed of
| the discovery, and it was arranged that
| the raid should occur at midnight. Az
might have gone well and the officers might
| have had their little fun had 1t not been
| that there were three cadets the previous
| night instead Of two The third had for
| gotten his pipe and had gone back for
| il while the other two went on and were
| nod Nv off ha I'd
| ing along a moment later. saw the officers
| and quietly followed them, observing all
| their movements and listening to their
| whispered conversation. When they with
| drew he went in and told the members
| of the club all he had heard and seen. The
| cadets at once realized that it was all up
| with the club. but they determined to have
| a laugh at the expense of the officers. Ac-
| cordingly, all arrangements were made be-
| fore the club adjourned that night.
| The next night the officers met
ranged and crept stealthily down the area
| way and into the sixth division. Hearing
| no sound of clicking balls, some became
skeptical and concluded the whole thing
twas hoax, but nevertheless they pushed
on and climbed over the pile of coal. Open
| ing the door, they were greeted with glow
| of light, but still sound On entering
| they found the room deserted, but there
| was the billiard table. an almost untouched
key of beer, several pounds Of tobacco,
| some chairs and lastly note on the table,
| addressed to the officers on duty at West
| Point The note was to the effect that as
the officers Of the post had been so kind
as to permit .ahe club to continue its ex-
| istence for nSre than a year. 1t desired to
| present to them Cthe officers) the table and
| all It's appurtsnances, as it was deemed ex-
| pedient, to wind up the clubs affairs The
note was signed THE Executive Commit
| tee NJ 200
The oficersi of course. were much cha
| grined at being thus outwitted by the ca
| dets Nevertheless the table was removed
! to the officers mess and, according to ira
| dition Is the one still in use there.