The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-04
Relatives Rpassert that He
Was Hurt at West Point.
REFUSED TO NAME TURMENTORS
Two Years Of sufering from the Effects sf
of Fellow Cadets supt. Mills, OF the
Academy, Denies the story aud says
Besz RESIGNED Because His Esesight
Was Bad and Treubled Him.

Philadelphia, Pa, Dec. 3.-Oscar l..
Booz. former cadet at West Point MIL
tary Academy. who had been lying at the
point OF death at his home In Bristol. Pa.
suffering from injuries which his parents
claim were the result of hazing al the
academy over two years ago, died to-day
in great agony. The cause OF death was
throat consumption.
BOoZ was appointed a cadet by Con-
gresham Wanger. of the South Penn
sylyania district and IL is alleged BY the
young mans father that tabasco sauce
was poured down his sons throat while
the cadets were hazing him. The father
also claims that red pepper was thrown
IN his eyes, hot grease poured on his bare
feets-a tooth knocked out, and other fend-
ish pranks were INDUCED In. shortly aft
er this, the father says. Oscar because OF
his physical condition. was compelled to
resign his cadetship. The young man
steadily grew worse, but never would di-
vuige the names OF the cadets swho ILL.,
treated him. His parents told him il was
his duty 10 tell, but his only answer was:
Il went there expecting to take whatever
medicine should be given, and 1t would not
be right TO complain against the other
boys
When asked the probability of steps be-
ing taken against the government or the
West Point officials. a sister of the young
man said to-day that as no one had been
named as the guilty person, no further
action would be taken in the matter.
Statement from sHpt. Mills.
West Point, n. Y, Dec. s.-The report
that Oscar L. Bcoz who was a cadet at
the Military Academy from June until
the end OF October. 1898, IS dead at his
home in Bristol, Pa, from injuries attrio-
uted to iazing while he was a cadet at
West Point, has brought out the follow
ing statement from Col. A. l. Mills. su-
perintendent Of the Military Academy,
which he made this evening:
THE many statements made in the
press of the country alleging that Oscar
L. Booz was atrociously hazed while
he was d cadet at the Military Academy
10 such an extent that he is now dying
from its effects are untrue and ridiculous.
Ex-C Cadet Booz was admitted 10 the Mill
tary Academy June 20, 1898, and resigned
October 81, 1898. He was on sick report
but once, on July 80, when he was eX-
cused from the drills for that day on ac-
count of diaTrhea. Had he been bTutally
beaten In a fight with another cadet or
had his throat been injured in the man
ner claimed. ii would have been ImpOS-
slble for him to have avoided the sick re-
port. The reason given for his res!gna-
ton was weak eyes. His record shows
he was in the last section In mathematics.
and the marks he received to date of
his resignation were deficient. / believe
therein lies the real cause OF his resiS-
nation, and I think il most probable that
stories of his alleged ill-treatment arise
from statements he has made in endeay-
oring 10 explain to his friends why he left
the academy.
Made No Complaint at the Time.
"He made 10 complaint of ill-treatment
at the hands Of other cadets. He waS un-
der orders 10 dc so if such was accorded
him. From inquiries made. I am con-
vinced that this particular ex-eadet was
very little interfered with or molested by
other cadets during his entire stay at the
Military Academy"
Those who were classmates of Cadet
Booz concur In the statement of Col.
Mills. The forcing of fluid down Booz' 5
throat. they say, is absurd. Among his
not favorite. He was molested bur it
tie by older cadets, who did not Ike him.
1t seems he engaged with an older cadet
In one personal encounter, the merits
or the demertts of which are no: on rec
ord. But 1t is certain that II was u
such nature that physical harm 10 Cade;
Booz did not follow. III 1t had been
otherwise. the authorities say. Cadet
Booz would have been placed upon the
sick report and a record made OF his IN
1uries.