The Savannah morning news., 1901-06-06
WEST POINT EscAPApEs.
The Great Night Disturbance of 1850
Recalled.

The Great Night Disturbance of 1850
Recalled.
From the New York Evening Post.
Washington, May N-What military Of
ficers most condemn in the recent esca-
pade at West Point, which has cost
several cadets so dear, is its near APP
praoch to technical mutiny. They reason
that, from posting the reveille-gun in
front of the commandments quarters with
the muzzle aimed straight at his door,
to loading and firing it in that direction,
would have been but a short step, just
as initiating a signature for amusement
now and then heads a person towards
forgery
The guns at the Point, however, have
always played a conspicuous part in the
outlaw revelries of the cadets. One in
stance is we'll remembered by officers
who have not yet grown very gray, and
has been recalled by the events of the
last few weeks. 1t was in 1880. Col. II.
M Lazel;e was then Commandant Of
Cadets, ana Capt. Edward J. McClernand
one of the tactical officers. Those were
the days Of sctrfct dicipline before base
bali and football and other undignified
but healthful sports had received the
youngsters a chance to work off some
OF their superfuous energy. Both the
officers mentioned were pretty keen dis
ciplinarians, and, as consequence, not
overflowiTs with popularity in the student
circle.
Word had passed around the Academy,
by that freemasonary which eludes all
pursuit, that the last night of the year
was to be celebrated by a somewhat
noisy demonstration of the cadets affec-
ton for McClernand, and he, getting
wind of it, had asked specially to be
made officer in charge for that night.
After bedtime he made repeated visits
to the barracks, but not sound wss
audible anywhere, The cadets seemed to
be sleeping the sleep of the just, and
every light was out. The chapel clock
was striking the midnight hour, when
tremendous roar shook the houses at the
post The post commander, the tactical
officers, and others rushed out OF their
quarters, fearing that the magazine had
been blown up. Investigation showed that
the noise came from. the field battery
guns, all of which had been discharged.
The mountains were still family echoing
the roar when it was followed by can
nonade at Trophy Point, where several
OF the captured Mexican guns were kept.
the barracks, but the first door he tried
he found locked He tried a second and
a third with the same result, and then
dispatched an orderly for an axe Before
II could be brought, another explosion
sounded from the roof Of the barracks.
This proved to be one Of the 6OO-pound
MEXICAN brass guns which the young
mischief makers had dragged, early in
the evening from Trophy Point, three
Fights of a mile distant, and then up
stsirs 10 the roof The explosions were
timed IN such order that the gun on the
roof should not be discharged till the
cadets who had Gre the field battery had
had a chance TO get back TO quarters.
Resolved 10 bring the boys 10 terms,
ava that quickly. McClernand organized
tbe other tactical officers into an assault
inc party; but as they approached the
harracks. windows were suddenly. opened
ana hands thrust out, each holding
ughted Roman candle. from which balls
~ Ire shot directly at the officers. Two
or three times the assaulting party charg-
IA onlv 10 face the Roman-canle fire
again and be turned back; and In all
th,s time not a cadet had shown his face
or any part OF his person which would
serve to identify him.
Al safe distance McClernand called
To- me cadet officers on duty. bat not
one responded. The assaultlng party then
hrolsa into separate groups, one OF them
srnas,ed a door IN. and systematic ex-
omI,ation OF the building was made. In
a mail room were found the cadet Of
aoera hound. gagged. and locked In. All
tbey could say for themselves was that