Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-02-07
TALE OF A BILLIARD TABLE
Que Tkst Is Yet In Use ~
Has an Interesting
History.

the billiard lduics -
civil war the cadets, always on phe
alert for some new scheme for amuse'
ment decided that they would Ike 'o
nave billiard table, and according
lv organized a billiard club. A coliee'
ton was taken up, says the New YORK
Tribune. with which to purchase
table. and a suitable place was soughi
in which to set it up. Until the pres
emit steam heating apparatus was IN
stalled in the cadet barracks, about 20
or 30 years ago, the heating was by
means of furnaces. The basement OF
the Sixth division Of the barracks was
used for coal bins, the bins being SO ar
ranged that there was a large one
near The center of the building, when
could only be reached by passing
through one Of the others. After con,
sidering all available places, this coal
bin was finally selected as being the
Mace least liable 10 detection-for II
must be remembered the table wa
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 colo
winter night IL was hauled by team
OF oxen across the river on the ice ano
I'D the hill. and was safely slowed away
in the coal bin before morning. The
table was soon set up and became o
source of great enjoyment 10 the ca
diets. A keg of beer was always kept
on tap, and lamps were hung from the
ceiling, giving the room CHEEKY ap-
pearance. The members of the clul
used to gather there at all hours Of
the day and night when their presenc,
was not required elsewhere by their
duties, and sit around smoking, drink
ing and telling 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 a year.
Finally one night soon after midnight,
as two officers were returning from q
conyivial evening at the mess, they
saw two cadets, clad in their under.
clothing and dressing gowns, emerge
from the north sallyport and disappear
down the steps 10 the areaway in front
of the barracks. Instantly the thought
Of the billiard table flashed through
the minds of the two officers, and they
started quietly after the cadets. On
reaching the basement doorway Of the
Sixth division the two cadets entered
and the officers. arriving moment
later, saw them climb over a pile OF
coal and enter an open door, through
which came sounds OF laughter and
conversation and the clicking of balls.
while the air was laden with fragrant
tobacco smoke.
The officers paused for a moment
and held a whispered consultation
Finally, deciding that they would tell
the other officers of their discovery
and have all of them come down tho
following night and enjoy the fun OF
a raid on the club, they withdrew and
went home. Next day all of the Off.
GERS at the post were informed OF the
discovery, and il was arranged thai
the raid should occur at midnight
All might have gone well and the
officers might have had their little fun
had it not been that there were three
cadets the previous night instead OF
two The third had forgotten his pipe
and had gone back for il, while the
other two went on and were discoy
cred by the officers. The third, com.
ing along moment later, saw tn,
officers and quietly followed them. OBJ
serving all their movements and lis
tening to their whispered converse
ton. When they withdrew he went
in and told the members of the clut
all he had heard and seen. The ca
diets at once realized that il was al
up with the Grub, but they determined
to have laugh at the expense of tn,
officers. Accordingly, all arrange
ments were made before the club ad
iourned that niPht.
The next night the officers met a.
arranged and crept stealthily dow
the areaway and into the Sixth divi
sion. Hearing no sound of clicking
balls, some became skeptical and con
cluded the whole thing was a hoax
but nevertheless they pushed on an.
climbed over the pile of coal. Open
ing the door, they were greeted Will
glow of light, but still no sound
On entering they found the room de
serted, but there was the billiard
table, an almost untouched keg o
beer, several pounds of tobacco, SOM
chairs and lastly a note on the table
addressed to the officers on duty a
West Point. The note was to tn
effect that as the officers OF the pos
had been so kind as to permit tn
club to continue its existence for NOR,
than a year, it desired to present I,
them 1.-THE officers) the table and al
its appurtenances. as it was deeme,
expedient to wind up the clubs AT
fairs. The note was signea 1.-THE Ex
eeutive Committee"