The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-08
WEST POINT COMMENCEMENT.
Tent Pitching the Feature of Yester-
days Programme.

days Programme.
WEST POINT, N. Y, June THE pic
turesque feature Of the cadet graduating
week exercises today was the drill in tene
pitching-"c astremetation," as 1t ia called
The crowd of spectators which assembled
to see 1t was about as large as that which
gathered to see the sham battle yesterday.
1t was the tent making which caught
the spectators today-the sudden uprising
on the green as II by magic of a whole viii
lage of snowy tents. The battalion drill
was interesting. as a battalion drill always
is when done to perfection. But people
who have been here several days seeing
dress parade every night have got so they
take perfection in mere everyday drill a.
a matter OF course. Colonel Helm conduct
ed the battalion drill in person. and at ".
close waved his hand to the band. which
swung out to the head OF the column ana
led the way to the barracks.
There was not much to DO there evident
ly, for it seemed as though the end Of the
line had hardly got out Of sight under the
trees on the south side of the green before
the whole corps was marching back again.
They were still in grey, the only difference
in their appearance being a broad girdle of
white over each cadets shoulder with the
tenting canvas. half a shelter tent to each
cadet and the great bundles Of canvas
which go to make up the wall, and conical
tents slowed away somewhere and some
how.
1t was close up in front Of the specta-
tors benches on the west side of the
ground that the tent pitching began.
There was quick running hither and
thither of grey-shirted groups, and out
OF the hustle there suddenly appeared dots
OF white upon the green. Then there was
chatter of stake driving and the sides
and peaks of wall and conical tents sprung
up like so many monster mushrooms out
Of the ground AS matter OF fact 1t
was just ten minutes. but it did not seem
any more than as many seconds before
fourteen big wall and conical tents were
up and all ready for the officers to go to
housekeeping in.
The shelter tents came next. It was
even more picturesque affair, the max
ing of these, than was the erection OF the
more imposing wall and conical affairs.
The battalion drill and the tent-pitching
lasted from 5:45 until after o'clock. and
then at $50 came the dress parade. which
closed the public exhibition drills for the
the day with the exception OF the gym
nasium exercises at s o'clock in the even
ing. That was the first indoor exhibition
Of the week, and though it was not so
as will be the school OF the !
trooper in the riding hall tomorrow af- |
ternoon, it was attractive enough to fill |
the gymnasium galleries as full Of spec
tators as they would comfortably hold.
The first class examinations are now
over, but 1t will not be known, that is.
who are the five honor men for
| day or two at least, when the averages
are made up. AS to who will be the
irst, second, and third man there is no
loubt. Pillsbury, of Massachusetts,. has
leld the first place in his class for two
'ears at least and will be graduated first
iext Wednesday. Adams will be second.
md he, too. is from the Old Bay State.
The third man is Rhett, of South Caro-
ina. He is the grandson Of that stout old
;outh Carolina secessionist, Senator
robert Barnwell Rhett and the son OF
Ilfred Rhett, who was as hot a fighter in
he field for the Confederate cause as was
Id Robert Barnwell warm debater in
he Senate. Gustav R. Lukesh, of Ohio.
ras fourth man in the class last year, and
harles r. Lawson, of Massachusetts.
fth.
Whether they will retain their relative
csitions or whether indeed both of them
ill remain in the star group OF five Is
S yet rot quite clear II Lawson remains
will have the remarkable
lstinction OF contributing three out of the {
We honor men in the graduating class.
The great event of this years gradual ,
g week. so far as the West Point alumni :
-e concerned, is the dedication of the
ullom Memorial Hall on Tuesday evening
ext At least $50 graduates Of the y
are expected here for the cere-
ony Among them will be General Scho-
I'D and a number Of other distinguished II
fcers of the Army.
The dedication exercises will take place
the hall itself and in themselves will
simple enough. The superintendent of Z,
e Academy, Colonel Mills. will make
,eech formally turning the building over :
General Viele, the president for the
TRENT year of the association of the grad
ties of the Academy.
General Viele will accept the transfer in :.
appropriate speech and then turn the :
Hiding over to Elihu Root. Secretary OF :
ar, who is expected to make speech :
considerable length. !