Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-02-13
"F0URD IN MATH."
But Cadet Sullivan Was All Right With His
eist


against a hard proposition" when
they encountered John Patrick Sulli-
van, of Louisiana. He is the youth Of
muscle and Drawn who as a plebe
whipped 80 cadets Of the "yearling"
class and every cadet Of the first class
who called him out. He was so busy
with fights that sometimes he had as
many as four in one day, and he nev-
er lost a battle. He was the best
"scrapper" the military academy ever
saw, and, as plebe, used to whip up
per class men as fast as they appear
ed before him. When the committee Of
congress asked IL ''plebe" was not
always called out to be licked" and
asked further If that was not always
his fate, the statement that a former
'plebe" had whipped every man with
whom he had fought was testimony
that astonished the investigators and
injured the case against the academy.
Sullivan was found in math" in
January, 1897. Found in math" means
found deficient in mathematics" He
therefore left the academy, but the re-
membrance Of his prowess still remains
there. In his "plebe camp" Sullivan
was challenged by every yearling who
was Of weight with him and whipped
them all, sometimes meeting as many
as four. Then the first class was
weighed in and met the rapid plebe."
One by one Sullivan won all the fights
and kept the doctors at the hospital
busy. Scarcely day but some man
was reported at the hospital with
disfigured face which he had received
by running into a tree" Before July
was over Sullivan was no longer the
rapid plebe," but the terrible plebe."
He was a raw-boned youth from
Louisiana, and eminently built for
fighting. He was not quarrelsome fell
low, by any means, but his name and
his prowess caused him a lot Of trou-
BILE. 1t was a case Of fight with him
as soon as he went into barracks as a
beast" Several yearlings paid Sulli-
van the customary visits and asked the
usual questions. When the festive
yearlings found that his name was Sui
livan they asked, "Are you John L.
Sullivan"
NO" replied the candidate, II am
John P. Sullivan"
| After the usual instructions about
the use Of "Sir" and Mister theyaar.-
lings asked, "Can you fight, Mr.. Sulli-
van?"
IT don't want to fight, sir" was the
reply.
But don't you know that you have
got to fight to keep up the reputation
Of your name?"
Sullivan said he would fight If OBJ
| liged to do so, and as soon as he had
passed his preliminary examination
and was in the "plebe camp" his fight
ing days began. The first man who
had "deviled' him on his first day in
barracks was the first one he whipped.
It can be imagined that he fought his
first day at the Point with a good
heart. After that 1t was matter Of
duty with him, and he knocked out"
80 Of the yearling class before he tack
led the first class. After Sullivan had
beaten all comers he was not "deviled"
by the upper classmen, and in the fall
was the only man Of his class to whom
was given place on the football team.
Sullivan got his share Of hazing at
first, and took 1t without murmur.
Once they told him to stand at the
door Of his tent and whistle for rain.
He did so cheerfully, and whistled long
and loud. He never resented any Of
the usual tests which were applied to
cadets but the readiness with which he
put his opponents out Of commission
were traits which made men rather
wary of deviling with him. The youth
from Louisiana was respected at the
Point for his physical qualities, even If
the academic board had doubts as to
his mathematical ability. Perhaps he
would have done better in ''math" If he
had not had so much fighting to do.
It is rather difficult to bone math"
and whip TOUR upper classmen day.
Sullivan's name is one which will long
be a consoling remembrance among the
fourth class men at the academy, for
though the days Of fighting are over
the class feeling Is very strong at the
Point, and it Is always a consolation to
plebes to be able to tell tales of the
physical prowess Of another plebe, even
though he has fallen from the ranks.
Many officers now in the service are al
so proud of the fighting ability Of John
Patrick Sullivan.
Plebe Sullivan was tall, muscular and
we'll built, with not an ounce of useless
flesh on him. Every movement OF his
body denoted strength and agility, and
those who felt the grip Of his big hands
thought their fingers had been In the
jaws of vice.
When he had his first fight no partic-
ular attention was paid to the affair,
as the average pleDe does not know
much about fighting, and it was taken
for granted that the yearling who had
called him out would get the better OF
the battle. But Sullivan returned TO
camp without a scratch, while the
yearling, with the help Of several of
his classmates, went to the hospital for
rest, recuperation and repairs. Then
it was that the yearling class got to-
gether and began to call out the rap
id plebe" one after another. 1t was
necessary, according to the cooe' 10
take the plebe's conceit out or MIN, anu
SO the series of fights pegan which re-
suited so disastrously to the upper
class men. After he had whipped ev-
cry man of his weight in the yearling
class, it was decided at class meeting
that he should be let alone. 1t was
then that the first class took hand,
with no better results than the year
lings. But. alas! Sullivan could not