The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-01-19
The FISTIC EXPERT
VI West Point Academy Was Inclined
to BelIigerency.
SPOKE IN NS0LENT MANNER
10 General Dick, Chairman of the In.
yeStigatine Committee.
FIGHTING TRADITIONS OF CADETS
We're PrObed Deeply by Members Of the
Committee.
ONE CADET HAD JAW BROKEN IN FIGHT
--------
me CADET HAD JAW BROKEN IN FIGHT
;, erS ed to Answer Questions from
i o. ,tcndent Because They
"a, discriminating.

IN,
west Point. n. Y. January is. --The
congressional committee probed deeply
into cadet fighting traditions today. Ca
det Lynch OF New York was thoroughly
examined by the committeeman. as ne
is looked upon as the authority on light
Ing at the academy. When General Dick
began TO question him he became ar
gumentative and shook his finger at the
chairman several times when parrying
some OF the generals mild reproofs.
At times he leaned across the table
which separated him from the chairman $
table. while he spoke in an insolent man
ner TO the general. He upheld the West
Point lighting code and declared that he
would fight any man his size and weight,
and said that any man who would not do
likewise was not fit to join the army.
General DICK exhibited good deal OF
forbearance, but finally gave up his ques-
tioning in unconcealed disgust after he
had given the 'fstic expert sound
piece Of advice.
For the first time during the investiga-
tion it was shown today that there are
cadets in the first class who from The
time they came here as "plebes" have
been opposed to hazing and fighting. Ca
Diet Clark OF Illinois testified to this,
and said that these practices should he
abolished He was complimented by Mr.
briggs, who said that Clark was a credit
to the academy.
Cadet William G. Caples Of Missouri
was called and sworn.
Judge Smith read over the list OF fifty
nine forms OF hazing and asked the wit
ness how many OF them were in vogue
in the camp of 1897 when he was a fourth
classman
Caples knew OF about forty of these
forms being practioed when ne was IN
his plebe' year.
Cadet Leo Israel Samuelson OF Texas
testified that he was a jew; that he had
never been interfered with by cadets on
account of his religion and knew OF no
cadets who had been intcrtered with.
Cadet Samuel Frankenburger of West
Virginia corroborated the testimony of
Samuelson.
Cadet Carruthers OF Illinois was called
out within the first montl for disobeying
orders given BY upper classmen. He
fought with Cadet shannon and had his
Jaw broken in the second round. He
wss called before the superintendent and
asked several questions in regard 20 the
manner in which he had his Jaw broken.
He had declined TO answer questions On
nc ground they were Matchmaking in
character. He admitted having hazed
several fourth clsssmen las year. lie
exercised about fifteen cadets.
Cadet Inch of New York said the
'scrsppirg committee had refused or
three occasions % allow fourth classmcn
to be called out on tie grounds that the
oftenses were not OF sufficient GRAVITY.
When man Is called out by the
committee, can he get out of fightins?"
asked the chairman.
Yes, sir; he can simply refuse to 20
into it. replied the witness.
General Dick shook his finger at the
witness and said slowly: Don't you
know that If he did so he would be cut
end ostraclzed by the whole corps"
Yes, sir" said the witness. in an
shaking his finger at the general, and
rightly 80. TIE man who would refuse
to h1ht man Of his own SIZE and weight
has no business in the army GIVE me a
man OF my own size and weight and I'll
fight him" said Lynch,
The witness went on TO tell OF fighting
with either fists or weapons and said The
French code gave a man chance Of de
Tending his honor
General Dick quietly reminded the
young man that the United States au-
thorties had not sent him to France for
his military education.
Cadet Meyer Of Arkansas said he lad
a recollection Of calling former Cadet
Albert "a jew
III you asked cadet Albert what his
nationality was and he answered that
he was an American, what would YOU
do?"
Il would tell him that he was Jew"
III you called Albert a jew, would YOU
reflect upon his religion"
No, sir; would just call Jew a Jeg
the same as ! would call an Irishman
an Irlshm NJ was tae reply.
Cadet Brynton OF Pennsyiyan.a was
asked: Did sou ever know man TO 20
through this academy without being
hazed?"
II heard of one; can't remember his
nsma' but thinS be was plebe, in
why did be escape all hazlng?"
''He whipped every man mh1 was plated
agfins. him, SIR. He fought FIVE man In
one day. ANA In ali he koked aI5.ut !
Thirty" said Bryn.on.
rs there monument ersoted at the
post to HIS memory?' asked Mr.. Wsngsr. |
NO. sir
well. then rhsre should ne"
Cadet Clark Of Illinois ltestihed that ne |
was orDcsei TO hazing and fgm.ing He |
had eagled cadet oncs, out only gave
him three eagles.
In reply TO Mr.. briggs. he said that
there were others in the first class that |
held the same opinion as he dbl. He said |
the first clsssmen could maintain their
dignity and get the lower clsssmen TO |
.,,hi 40 In thar
Mr. briggs sad: "Mr. Chairman. I de- |
ire TO state right here that ! am very |
slsd that this young man was called upon |