Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-10
DO NOT USE GLOVES
West Point Cadets Fight With Their
Bare Fists.
AND ALWAYS TO 4 FINISH
Congressional Committee Begins
Work at Military Academy.
INTE re S TIN & TESTIMONY

eating committee resumed their inquiries
today into the charges of hazing at the
Military Academy they visited the camp
grounds and Fort Clinton, where many
fights between cadets have occurred. Col
Clayton. who is graduate of the academy.
explained the arrangement of the tents in
the summer encampments to his brother
committeeman, and when they visited the
ring il the rear of the camp the .stretcil-
Ing process, by which several cadets were
baZed, was discovered
1t expected that Horace Bonz,
brother of the late Oscar l.. Baoz would
be the first witness examined TODAY. but lie
was not at hand when the committee be-
gan its session. ard Cadet VIM. r. Betti-
son of Kentucky was called and sworn. He
testified that Cadet Rreth was his class
mate. and that Cadet Booz was fourth
cI:i-S man. While lie tthe WitntSS) a
third class man. He never knew Of Rr"i II
Icing haZed Witness said he knew of five
fights between cadets during his first year
and present at two or them. These
latter fights were between Cadets brewster
and Wood and Yates and Lynch. Witness
told of fights during his second year be-
tween Cadets Barnes and Clarke Emery
and Knight Meyer and Avord. clayton and
Albert. Keller and Williams and Poole and
Roselle. He thought there were about nine
fights during the year 1S.9-190o.
Seven Fights This Year.
Continuing. Bettison said that there were
seven fights IA: in the present academic
year. He mentioned among the fighters
during the last two years the names of
Cadets Shannon and Carrothers, Doyle and
ALERT Zell and Shannon in 1879 and
Ptipps and Butler. Blair and Alley, Singles
and Colley Boyd and Amey, Graham and
Armstrong. These We're all the names he
could remember.
do you know asked Mr. Smith. bow
n3rN hI yp bap inv tod
by the authorities of the acadealy?''
None that l know Of, sir
And, consequently. no one has been ttIr-
tshed during all these four years for light
ing
None. sir
did you yourself ever fsht?"
No. sir: but | have ottic:ated at several"
replied BettiSon
How do these fights occur?"
If an offense is reported to me and /
deem 1t is serious enough / call seven ur
eight men together. ard if they decide.
that action should be taken the off .:Jer is
called out"
THAT is the screaming coun1itta, i. II
not?''
Yes, sir"
rs it a standing committee?
No. sir. although l generally call the
same men together
who they?'
MIR. Deen. Mr. West. Mr.. Meyer. Mr..
Spaldng, Mr.. Lynch and Mr.. Keller
Custom Is General.
Does the same custom prevail in each of
the four classes?'
Yes. sir
The fights We're mostly with fourth class
men and were occasioned the witness ad-
nitted, by the refusal of those cadets to
obey orders and observe regulation of the
upper class men.
The defeats of the fourth class men were
due generally to the h.tter physical devel-
opment of the upper class men. Some of
fh.. 1sp n ri. II
go TO the hospital.
Facial marks" the witness said "do not
necessarily indicate that a fight had oc-
CURED. There is a good deal of hoyire in
the gymnasium. and men could easily he
marked with gloves
The witness did not remember that when
Cadet Booz was at the academy bottle
OF abasco sauce was placed before "a cadet
with the understanding that he was 10 fin
tsh ii before the end of the camp
ON one occasion, the witness said, he was
asked To chew some roGe, but he expIain
ed To the upper class men that he had gold
filing in his teeth which would be de-
stroyed if he chewed the rope, and he did
not have to do it, He had to eat quinlne
pills. but felt no i'll effects from this
Col. Clayton asked the witness several
questions. which brought out the fact that
II cadet did not tell how ne received
his injuries the authorities had no wav
to find out.
If man refused to fight he would prob
ab-y be cut by the other cadets but no
q ph
Fight With Bare Fists
Congressman briggs asked the witness
several questions as to the cadets rules Of
INST hShtiug duties of referee etc ..IInyy
are the men dressed?' asked the congress.
man
stripped to the waist, wearing pants or
drawers and rubber-soled shoes
NO gloves" asked Mr. briggs with
feigned surprise.
mo, sir"
Under what rules these fights con-
ducted2"
Marquis of Queensberry rules, two-min-
Ule rounds and one-minute rests" replied
the witness.
Mr.. briggs smiled. AS fact the Mar
guns "i oueehsberry rules prescribe three
minute rounds and one-minute rests
Il am going to a fighting term so
that We can better understand each other
said Mr.. briggs. Suppose a man is yro,py
when he goes TO his corner at the end of
the two-minute round, what is done?"
His seconds try to revive him.
And if he is still groggy at the expira-
Zion OF the minute rest, what is done then?''
He goes on, sir
We'll, what them
'If he's erosey he does not last long,.
replied the witness
Then it's finish fight In every case?"
Yes, sir; but in some cases a man mlpbt
break his hand something like th.t
and, according to how the fight stood at
THAT time. II might be called a draw
You are foot ball player?"
Yes, sir.
What position do you play. may
ask?''
Center"
'Now. then, when man is injured in a
foot ball game is not the game stopped
until the man is revived, or a substitute
provided?
Yes. SIR"
Different From Foot Ball.
yet In your. fights here, under what /
may call West Point rules you force
man to fight on when groggy, and it's Just
. bare-knuckle fight to a finish?'
Yes; they are nearly all finish fights"
Then you here hold fights of a brutal
nature. which the laws of forty-one out
OF the forty-f1ve states In the Union have
pI oEibited by law?''
Bettscn made no reply.
Mr.. briggs then addressed the witness On
the point that in hazinE or assisting at
fights cadet was violating the oath adj
min:stered on his entering the academy
After some evasion the witness said that