Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-25
HORRORS OF WEST POINT
RECITAL SURPRISES
THAT OF ALL OTHERS.
His Description of the TOrtures Con-
sequent on HazfnE Sent a Shud-
der Through His listeners.


dence at the afternoon session of the
House committee investigating the Booz
hazing at West Point. He said Cadets Hill,
Haskell and Kensel suffered from hazing.
Hill qualified on peach pie" and after
ward suffered from commissions, requiring
medical assistance to be summoned. Has
kell suffered the same night as Macarthur,
and witness heard Haskell had convulsions
Medical assistance was not called, but Has
kell was worked over for some time. Ken
sci went into commissions. The witness
heard that a cadet had choked Kensel to
prevent his uttering cries. This Informal
ton came from a cadet officer in the acad-
envy. Cunningham received only minor
hazing, at one time "eagling" for about
thirty minutes.
also had been hazed into Mysteries. AS he
fell into line uncomfortable sobbing, with
tears, began. Howe had done about $50
eagles" and was much exhausted.
The witness was handed a list of cadets
and specified a number reputed to be severe
hazers. One of the cadets, he said, had
been called out and had his jaw broken
The witness was ordered at one time to
haze Cadet Caruthers, and wrapped eight
blankets about him, giving him a Sweat
bath in uniform, lasting half an hour
Cadet Gimberling had told him that when
he was haZed nearly to fainting the hazer
Zell had done from 400 to 500 eagles"
Crown qualified on prunes," eating about
135, which made him sick. This broke tie
record and Crown was given guard privi-
leges.
The witness mentioned two cadet hazers
who he said, were cruel. One of them had
pointed to moisture at Cunningham's feet
and had said: THAT Is the sweat Of many
q plebe." One Of the academy instructors
lectured against hazing, and the classes de-
c'ded against "hazing," etc. AS they left
the lecture some one shouted brace" and
every one "braced,'' and that ended the
agreement to stop hazing. Chairman Dick
handed the witness list of "sixty-nine
different forms of hazing. and asked him
to add any more he recalled.
He added that of compelling "plebes' to
write letters. The witness testified to a let
ter appearing in New York paper on haZ-
ing, and said he had written it. He said the
article did not show that death had re-
suited from hazing. He read the article
aloud, which made a severe arrangement of
haZing. Commenting on a statement by
Gen. Ludlow that college hazng and West
Point hazing" were the same the witness
said:
Il refute that statement. I went through
college before | went to West Point, and
know there is nothing in the colleges like
the hazing at West Point"
He described hazing as nothing short Of
torture, exquisite torture. He gave graphic
account of the agony suffered in certain
forms of hazing, which fairly sent shud-
der through listeners. Men were hung on
bars, their feet up, so that when they drop
ped from exhaustion the knees struck on
the wooden floor several feet below: The
fainting man was again hoisted up, and
again repeatedly dropped from exhaustion,
striking on his knees He gave In details
the horrors of the Sweat BATH" and re-
lated the sufferings Of Macarthur from this
form of torture.
Cunningham said the object of "callng
OUT was to place a trained upper class
man against an unframed lower class man.
The result was inevitable. In conducting q
fight, the purpose was to cut UP the face
of the lower class man before knocking
him out. An upper class man had said TO
the witness that certain fight was not
correct because the lower class mans face
was not cut up sufficiently. He was tod
also Of a lower class man being in hospi. al
for week after fight, and then his face
was said to be sight to see" When on
guard one time. Cunningham was told by
the corporal Of the guard mot to see a
fight" then about to occur The witness
said cadets from foreign countries, admit
ted by act OF Congress, were quilted and
bothered In the same way. He mentioned
Cadet lgles1as, related to President lyle
s1as OF Costa Rica, as an instance, and also
a Venezuelan cadet. Cunningham said he
wrote to the papers concerning hazing in
part because he expected remuneration for
the article. When the witness said he had
not narrated the facts through Indignation,
Mr.. Wanger said:
Then you are to be congratulated on
maintaining serenity of mind while mar
rating facts which cannot fail to arouse
the Indignation of any one who hears
them"
Cunningham's testimony appeared to pro-
duce deep impression, and at its con-
clusion the court went into secret session.
me hearings are now closed, and the COM
m1ttee will give its attention to the report