The sun., 1901-01-08
TREATMENT BOOZ GOT.
His Tent Mate Tells of the Dead Cadets
Experience.
THE TABASCO SAUCE AFFAIR
Witness Burnnin Declares That Booz
Drank All the Contents of
Small Bottle of That
Condiment. 9s

JAZZ 1ut IuuSItssiOii
al committee appointed for the purpose
Of inquiring into the alleged hazing of
former Cadets Oscar l.. Booz of Bristol.
Pa, and John Breth of Altoona, Pa, re-
sumed the taking of testimony at the
Lafayette hotel.
Anthony Burnam was the first witness
called. He was told to state in his own
way what he knew of the matter under
consideration. Burnam said he went to
West Point in June, 1898. He asked
Booz to become his tent mate when they
went into camp in July of that year. Os-
car Booz, he said, was nice sort OF
young man and up to tho standard OF
other cadets. The older cadets had a lot
of fun with Booz on account of his name.
The upper class men and cadet nam
ed Bettison in particular, Burnam said,
ordered new cadets 10 do various things
to see if the new men would obey them.
He did some things asked of him, but
finally refused TO do so, believing the
third class men were only trying to harass
him. He was ordered out to fight by the
Fighting committee" Bnrnam did. not
know any members of this committee.
| After the contest Burf.am saw Booz
| lying in his tent. He looked detected and
had been crying. Booz told him he had
been "called out" and that he had re-
ceived a blow in the stomach which rem
dered him absolutely helpless. Burnam
said other cadets said that Booz had
"laid down" The upper class men kept
taunting him, saying he would make no
soldier This was kept up until he re-
| signed.
Burnam said Booz, like all other class
men, was always tired out by the severe
routine of camp. Keller. his opponent
in the fight, was an experienced man
with his fists, Burnam said, and was a
fine gymnast. Booz studied very little
on account of his eyes hurting him. On
this account he stood low in his class.
The Tabasco Sauce.
Oscar also told Burnam how upper
class men told him Booz) to take tabaS-
co sauce. Booz said Burnam, was given
il small bottle of tabasco sauce and told
TO take all of it before he left the table.
He took it by teaspoonfuls. On one oc-
casion Booz told him that he put lot oi
sauce on a piece of steak intending moi
to eat it. An upper class man noticed
this and ordered BnuZ to eat the steak
Oscar told Burnam the stuff was running
his stomach.
Booz was compelled to take the sauce
quite often. Burnam had tabasco ad
ministcred to him once, only drop on .
spoon. He knew Booz was going to re
sign and said Oscar left the academy OF
account of sore eyes. He believed tha
Booz resigned because he was detected
on account of lazing and failure in hi
studies.
Colonel Dick asked, "It a complain
had been made, do you think Booz woult
have been treated betterT
''Booz was very unpopular, and if h
had made complaint he would hav
Z been treated still worse"
: do not the officers Of the academy IT,
to prevent hazing"
"They do, but the officers are not al
ways around when the hazing is going on
When any hazing was in progress,
: number of cadets were usually on dut.
to watch for the officers and warn tn,
; hazers if one should come along"
|, Complaints Hurt the Cadets.
Burnam explained the method of max
ing complaints against hazing. 1t woul
be hard for Il cadet to make a secre
complaint. If, however, a secret com
plant was made and an investigate
:. followed, the hazers would quickly com
to the conclusion that the hazed cade
had made the complaint, and the resu
d would be that life would become nor
Y miserable for the complainant.
e In answer to Congressman Wangei
l. Burnam said he never knew that phys
n cal force had been used to get Booz [
T take tabasco sauce. If Booz had refu
ed, he probably would have again bee
- "caled out" to fight.
Burnam believed that about only on
- h., 1,ts q IL 1.
:. assing tactics practicied on the Brist
- y boy. BooZ was not prosecuted so muc
= after the cadets left camp and went int
? barracks. Burnam never ..new Of al
le cadets having been made to stand up an
ST open their mouths while upper class me
squirted tabasco sauce into them. Q
d. Friday night last former Cadet Albel
Booz's other tent mate, said such was h
experience.
-. Burnam, like BoOZ, also submitted
~ the feet inspection" of upper class me
~ ~ which consisted of dropping candle grea
- :, on the feet.
io In answer to Colonel Dick, Burnam Sa
III that Booz was considered good fello
en personally, but his actions in his fig
ad with Keller made him unpopular. II
or third class taunted him as being unfit
se be soldier.
re Burnam knew little about the membt
se ship Of the fighting committees. AS +
$50 as he knew they were appointed by t
We class president and We're not elected
ch the class men. Reverting to Booz's figl
Burnam said that Booz at drill was
dered to step out Of line by an upr
class man, which, if he had done SO, Won
have been violation of the acader
Of regulations. His refusal to break t
ed rule resulted in his being ''called out"
M fight