The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-01
AT WEST POINT PRODUCED BEFORE
THE ARMY BOARD.
HAZING TO EXTREME ENDURANCE
Testified to by Some OF h Cadets-Sev-
Class Men Had Painted Under the
Punishment-One Case OF Convul-
sions or Mysteries Testified te-vic-
tim Begs That Cotton be Stufred I'm
His Mouth to Prevent His Screaming

West Point, N. Y, December 2s.-The
taking of testimony by h military
court OF inquiry. in regard TO the death
here tomorrow afternoon. Today's In
vestigation brought out testimony that
cadets had been hazed TO a degree or
exhaustion. The victims mentioned
particularly were Cadets Macarthur
and Haskell.
Macarthur himself denied that he
had commissions. but acknowledged that
he had been exercised to such an ex-
tent hat he had cramps in his muscles
and that he lost control of them Has
kell is not in the corps now. so that his
testimony was not available.
Several of the present fourth-class
men told OF what forms of hazing ex-
listed during last summers encamp-
| ment. and while there We're a few cases
| of men being made to stand on their
| heads there was very little exercising
l done, which would show that the ma
jority of the cadets r living up to the
I class agreement. made last year. to
abolish severe hazing methods.
Cadet John C. Pegram, of Virginia
testified that in camp in 1899 he eXer-
! cised Cadet Kenzel. II gave him 15C
eagles. I think" he said. Il was in
my room. Cadet Williams called me
out into the halla and old me a man had
tainted. Kennel was lying down. ]
gave him some water. lifted him VI
and he said he was all right. I heard
also that a cadet named McGinnis had
tainted and that a plebe had tainted.
To the latter, / carried smelling salts
He was a fourth-classman. He re-
vived."
DID you ever hear Of cotton being
put in cadets mouths to keep them
from crying or being hysterical?"
Yes; / was told that Cadet Mac
Arthur had requested some upper class
men to stuff his mouth with cotton sc
that he could not cry out Historically
as he said he could not control himself
after some severe exercising"
why should he do this?"
There was an officer nearby at the
time and I was told Macarthur wa.
afraid he would hear him"
Young Phil Sheridan was recalled
He added the name of Cadet Brentor
10 the list of those who had tainted
after exercising. He also said that Ca
Diet Haskell was only shamming thu
lASt LAX "@S ~ >
Cadet Quinn Gray. of Texas, haC
heard that Haskell had been hazed ant
that cadet Macarthur had been at
tackled with commissions after "exercis.
ing"
Cadet w. D. A. Anderson, of Virginia
told the Jul of his having been re
quired to swallow tabasco sauce AND
qualify for the mess hall by eating 10'
prunes.
Cadet H. H. Robert. Of Mississippi
cleaned brass guns and ~bayonets. car
ried water and swept out the tents o.
upper class men during the summe1
encampment this year.
Cadet c.. R. Alley. of Massachusetts
was compelled to stand on his heat
in a bath tub in six inches of water
He only remained in hat position 70
q moment. He slid across the foo,
of the bath room and stood guard owe
a dead rat.
In reply to further questions by Gen
eral Clous. Alley said that on one occa
sion in camp. he was called upon Z
say who was the meaneSt man in tn
third-class. He refused and he wa
called out to fight Cadet Blair, of tn
third-class. Blair won, giving witnes
a bad nos bleed.
Other witnesses gave experiences L
hazing.
West Point officials also testified [
| steps taken to suppress hazing.
: Former Cadet J. r. Doyle. of Phila
de1phia, testified that he saw Cad
Bender exercise Breth to the point {
exhaustion. J Z
l Cadet Ulysses S. Grant. grandson .
the late president, said that in 1899
!, had to do eagles, held o. dumbei
t and did other exercises and ridiculo'