Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-28

'i't one JUNO Tor the graduation
exercises. He accompanied the com
m2ndant on his Sunday morning tom
or inspection of barracks. and an on
t"r!ng certain room he walked oycr
70 the mantel piece. STOPPING down
re prled up 4 brick from the middle ar
the hearth with his sword scabhard
ana revealed hollow space about a
loot square, in which was nicely
packed considerable quantity of to-
bacco and other contrdband articles.
Meanwhile the cadets occupying the
room stood by mutely Watching, and
wondering what sort OF man the Cen
eral was to have been able to discover
the only cellar" of its kind in bar
racks. Turning to the commandant,
the Genera! remarked:
II nave been wondering if that hole
was still there. | made it when wa.
cadet and lived in this ROOM
One of the mos interesting of Wcst
Points traditions is that relating t.
the billiard table. Shortly after the
Civil War ,he cadets, always on the
alert for some new scheme for amuse-
mcnt, decided that they would like to
have billiard table, ana accordingly
organized a billiard club. \ collec-
tinn was taken up with which to pur-
chase table. and Il suitable place
WAS sought in which to set it up. Tn
til the present steam heating appa-
ratuS was installed in the cadet bar
racks. about twenty-five or thirty
years ago. the heating was by means
OF furnaces The basement Of the
sixth division Of the barracks was used
for coal bins. the bins being 50 ar
ranged that there was large one
near the centre Of the building. which
could only b" reached by passing
through csc C the others. After con-
sidering all 4 atlablc places. this coal
bin was finally selected as being The
rlace least Halle to detcction-fnr i,
must he rnm".1hercd the table was
unauthorized. IT, table was bought
in Nav York ana sent 10 GarriS"ns.
across the rive. for there was no
West shore ra:.r"ad in those days.
One cold winter night it was h1uied
bv a team of OXca across the rive" on
the ice and up the hill. and was sale
~ slowed away in II" coal ban before
morning. The table vas soon set up
and became a source OF great enjoy :
men; Ia the cadets. \ keG of peer
was always kept on MI, ana lamps
were hung from the 4 ling. giving the
room q CHEEKY appearance. The menu
beers of the cluo used u gather there at
all hours Of the day and night when
their presence was not required cIsH-
whore bv their duties. and sit around
smoking. drinking and telling stories
\
The authorities soon became aware
that there was a billiard table some
! whore, i'll the barracks, ar they 'pGlh
! near The balls clicking together, pue
| they could not find il. The cadets con-
: tinued to enjoy tho privileges ~ the
billiard club for more ihtn YEA
FINALLY onc night soon ATE" midn'"ht'
as two officers were returning from Il
conyiyial evening at tn mess ih'H
saw two cadets, Clad in their uh"'r-
clothing and dressing gowns, cli"lg"
from the north sallyport ana diSdP-
pea, down the steps 70 til" aI'a"3. ~
front Of The barracks. lnStintIy lh'
thought of the billiard able has g
/ through the minds of the two old''' IS
and thcy started quietly after lhH ca
dots on reaching the basement H'"'
v-av Of the sixth division the TWO O.
dots entered. ana the officers, afrNlhs'
, rnor}nnt later. saw them climb over
] rjI, VI cnaI ana cntac an open d'or'
through which came sounds "f i3u2h-
I'LL ana conversation ANA tn" cich'nF
If halls. Nhiln the air was laden wan
fragrant tobacco >m Dix.
The officers paused for ln"ilich. anu
hold = Whispered constellation. i'd'
IL. deciding that they Would zen 90
other officers of their discovery -
have AT Of them GENE down MN
lowing night and enjoy the fun III :"
raid ~ the cub they Withdfa" ".l'
,,.nrt home Next DAY ait Of the or
co,s ~ the post were informed - !"
discovery. and ii was arranged '"",
the raid should occur at mldhlS",. ~
nirbr have gone well. ara o'''
might have had their little iuh' H",'
NOT been that there were thl',
the PREVIOUS night instead n
Tho third had forgotten ms pip' "''
bad zone back for il, Whl!c tht MI
,v-o wont On and were discoNereh -
,ha officers The third, coming 'ioiE,
,,o,,cnt later. saw the officers 'n,,
.,,,in,iv followed them. observing d"
their movements and HstehlhS ~
,bisnerad conversation. Nhch NV ;
,,.itbdraw he went in ana toiu -"
members of the club all ne hau
.nd coon The cadets at once rca''"o,
that If was all UP with the cup =,
tbav 4 ,termincd to have lausn
No expanse Of the officers. Acco, III, ~,
i. All arrangements were maze
he rlub adjourned that night.
The next night the officers me-
orranped and crept stealthi'y ooN =
+ba areawav and into the sixth n.s',
sion. Hearing no sound OF CIV nnn,
ho,,s some became sceptica anu ~.
rIuded the whole thing was TIL
h,t nevertheless they pushe' oven.
climbed over the pile OF co.. ;,h ]
ing the door. they were sfee'eu Or
srlcw of light. but still I'd ,aeort
entering they found the room a,,,a a,
cd but there was the blliiaru ''l ',,.o,.,
almost untouched key OF pec'' rf
mounds of tobacco. some chai 80 :,
i..tlv a note on the table, aduI ri.
M officers on duty at West toi,i' III,
rote was to the effect that az - u !,
c.rs of the post had been 50 h'l'' ox,et.
n,rmit the club to continue Us -,