The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-07
BOOKS TENT NATE.
Anthony Burnam Testifies Before In
vestigating Committee

Philadelphia, Jan. THE c0ngresSlon-
al committee appointed for the purpose
Of inquiring into the alleged hazing Of
former Cadets Oscar L B0oz, Of Bristol,
Pa, and John Breth OF Altoona, resum
ed the taking Of testimony ait the La
fayette hotel this morning The com
mittee had fixed o'clock this morning
for the beginning Of the third days
work but it was 10 O'Clock before the
first witness was sworn. The committee
men attached much Importance to the
testimony Of today's witnesses Anthony
Burnam. Frankfort, KY BOotz's terminate
the first witness called. He was told to
state in his own way what he knew OF
the matter under consideration Burn3m
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. Oscar Bcoz. he said, was a
nice sort of young man and up to the
standard OF other cadets. The older ca
dets had a lot of fun with Booz on ac-
count Of his name The upper class men
and a cadet named Bettison in particu-
lar, Durham said. ordered new cadets
to do various things to see If the new
man 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 fight
ing committee" Rurnam did not know
any members Of this committee
After the contest Burnam saw Booz
jected and had been crying. BOoz told
him he had been called OUT and that
he had received q blow in the stomach
which rendered him absolutely helpless
Booz had laid down. The upper class
men kept haunting him. saying he
would make no soldier. This was kept
up until he resigned.
Burnam, said BOoz. like all other
fourth class men. was always tired out
by the severe routine of camp. Keller,
his opponent in the fight was expert
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
Oscar also told Burnam how upper
class men told him (BOoz) to take to-
was given a small bottle Of tobascO
sauce and told to take all of it before
he left the table He took it by the
spoonful On one occasion BOOz told
him that he put a lot of the sauce on a
piece of steak intending not to eat it.
An upper class man noticed this and
told Burnam the stuff was running his
stomach.
Burnam said he had taken tobasco
sauce but never more than a drop at a
time. He did not know that physical
violence had ever been used to induce
BoOz to take it. He said.
Booz was very unpopular and II he
had made n complaint he would have
been treated still worse
Do not the officers Of the academy
try to prevent hazing2''
''They do, but the officers are not al
ways around when the hazing is going
on When any hazing was in progress
q number Of cadets were usually on duty
t0 watch for the officers and warn the
hazers III one should come along
While Burnam was in the fourth
class, a period Of about II months. there
were about ten men called OUT to
tight Fighting was prohibited at the
academy and yet no action was taken
BY the academy officers to punish any
one as far as Burnam knew Burna1n
knew little about the membership of the
lighting committee. AS far as he knew
they We're appointed by the class presf-
dent and were not elected by the class
men
In answer to Mr.. Briggs, Burma msafd
ne was discharged from West Point for
leflclency IN studies, especially in draw
ING ana mathematics He said he pos
ltlNely had no animus against the in /
stltutlon and had no known enemies
cadets
At los o'clock with Burnam stiu on |
the stand, the committee took a recess
until 2 o'clock