Smyrna times., 1900-11-14
| SPOILED THEIR RAID.
THE CADETS HAD A LAUGH AT THE
OFFICERS EXPENSE.

Into the Barracks at West Point
and the Story of Its Accidental
Discovery.
There are many traditions and sto-
ries of escapades at the Military acade-
my at West Point that are handed
down from class to class. and one of
the most interesting of these is that re-
lating 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 ac-
cordingly organized billiard club. A
collection was taken up with which to
purchase a table, and a suitable place |
was sought in which to set it up. Until |
the present steam heating apparatus |
was installed in the cadet barracks, |
about 80 years or more ago, the heat |
ing 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
a large one near the center of the
building, which could only be reached
by passing through one of the others.
After considering all available places
this coal bin was finally selected as be-
ing 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 railroad
in those days. One cold winter night
it was hauled by a team of oxen across
the river on the ice and up the hill and
was safely slowed away in the coal bin
before morning. The table was soon
set up and became a source of great
enjoyment to the cadets. A keg of
beer was always kept on tap. and
lamps were hung from the ceiling, Civ
ing the room a CHEEKY appearance.
The members of the club used to gath
er there at all hours of the day and
night, when their presence was not re-
Quired elsewhere by their duties, and
sit around smoking, drinking and tell
ing stories while two of them played
billiards.
The authorities soon became aware
that there was a billiard table some
where in the barracks, for they could
hear the balls clicking together. but
they could not find it. The cadets con-
tinued to enjoy the privileges Of the
billiard club for more than year.
Finally one night soon after mid
night, as two officers were returning
from a cOuvivial evening at the mess,
they saw two cadets. clad in their un-
| Il
emerge from the north sallyport and
disappear down the steps to the area
way in front of the barracks. Instant
ly the thought of the billiard table
flashed through the minds of the two
officers. and they started quietly after
: the cadets. On reaching the basemen
, doorway Of the sixth division the two
, cadets entered, and the officers arriv
y ing a moment later. saw them climl
a over a pile of coal and enter an Opel
: door, through which came sounds o
laughter and conversation and th
G clicking of balls, while the air was Ia
\ den with fragrant tobacco smoke.
q The officers paused for a momen
: and held a whispered consultation
!, Finally deciding that they would tel
q the other officers of their discovery an
;. have all of them come down the 70
q lowing night and enjoy the fun of
Y raid on the club, they withdrew an
g went home. Next day all the officer
;. at the post were informed of the di'
10 covery. and it was arranged that tn
N raid should occur at midnight.
n. All might have gone well, and ii
40 officers might have had their little ful
a. had it not been that there were thrt
cadets the previous night instead {
two. The third had forgotten his piI
and had gone hack for its while IL
other two went on and were discOve
nc ed by the officers. The third, comiI
rv along a moment later, saw the office
to and quietly followed them, observiI
a. all their movements and listening
to their whispered conversation.
nj When they withdrew, he went in al
no told the members of the club all he hi
M heard and seen. The cadets at on
a realized that it was all up with t
10 club, but they determined to have
he laugh at the expense of the office
"a Accordingly all arrangements we
al maui 0ei''e 'iie ciuo "uJou'ne" IA
,or night.
~ The next night the officers met as
49,, ranged and crept stealthily down t
~ areaway and into the sixth divisit
nc Hearing no sound of clicking bal
"a some became skeptical and conclud
=. the whole thing was hoax. but nev
theless they pushed ON and climb
over the pile of coal. Opening
door, they were greeted with a glow
cal light, but still no sound. On enteri
ms they found the room deserted.
vel. there were the billiard table. an aim
,ar. untouched keg of beer, several pour
ors of tobacco. some chairs and lastly
me note on the table. addressed to the {
,er, GERS on duty at West Point. The n