The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-16
KeITtr's Second Was Again on Stand
Yesterday.
Says it is Intention for
Plebes to Be Thrashed.
The "Sweat Bath" Described by
a Witness,

| West Point, N. Y, January lb.-Cadet
Joseph n. Barnes Of the District OF Co.
Iumbia, one of Cadet kelIer's seconds,
and who seems to have more knowledge
Of the code of the corps in regard to light
ing than any other Cadet at the West
Point Academy, continued his testimony
before the Congressional investigating
committee this morning.
Mr.. briggs OF Brooklyn took the wit
ness In hand this morning and asked him
infinitely about the keller-Booz fight.
While listening to Barnes description OF
the affair, the Brooklyn Congressman In
terrupted the witness and asked him
under your infamous and unmaniy
code Of fighting, 1t Is understood that an
upper class man Is selected especially
for the purpose of administering a sound
drubbing to the fourth class man who is
called OUT
Yes, cir, 1t Is understood when a
fourth class man Is called ont ne is to be
whipped"
| "Oh, so that's the codea said MIR
briggs as he shook his finger at the wit
ness while be arose from his seat beside
the chairman, then leaning towards the
witness he shonted: young man, this
disnonorabls practice you have described
would not be tolerated in any athletic
club in the world. / am an admirer OF
good boxing and wrestling myself, and
never heard OF such q cowardly method Of
matching men as your code calls for
outside of the West Point military reser
walton. The upper class man who is
party to the calling out OF fourth class
man for the purpose of having him
thraahed, is a coward, and the fourth
class man who Is beaten, is nothing else
but a hero, This morning have re.
oeived four letters, from Kansas, Massa- |
cnusetts, New York and Brooklyn, in all
of which the mode of fighting and hazing |
is called brutal bul1yism.
''That is too mild description, call
it brutal cowardioe. - said the Congress
man as he took his seat again.
| MIR. Wanger said: Suppose an oath |
were administered to a candidate when
he receives his appointment as cadet
to this academy, the provisions of which
prohibited fighting, do you think 1t
would stop the practicer'
Eyes, sir. IHpresume It would as do
not believe any man would break his
oath. But as for myself, 1 Will say
| that II had to go back to the time or
my appointment and an oath was about
to be administered to me which would
prohibit me from resentinR an insult, l
would unhesitatingly refuse to take it
and content myself in some civil ccou
patton" replied the witness.
MIR. Wanger said do you know that
one VIM. Mckinley. now the President
of the United States, when a member of
Congress, said he would favor the abolish
msnt OF the West Point military acade-
my in case hazing could not be stopped
! therep'
"Yes. SIR"
"And the late James @. Blaine had the
same ideas" said MIR. Driggs-'and SO
also had Zaohery Taylor added Judge
Smith.
81 knew about Mr.. Blaine's views sir,
but l never heard Of MIR. Taylor's. and
may / say that these men never asserted
that hazing could not be stopped"
The witness at the request Of Judge |
Smith, stood up and gave an exhibition
OF "bracing'' and ''chinning" to which
fourth class men are subjected at present |
and also showing how they are required
TO walk go as to maintain a soldieriy car
lriage.
Gen. Dick read some of the letters that
Booz wrote to his family from the acade- !
my and asked the witness several ques-
tions concerning statements made by the
former CADET.
In reply to a question rs to the posi-
bility OF eradicating fighting and haz-
ing put to him by the chairman, the wit.
ness said: at Ia my opinion that both
can be abolished II the upper class men
ara allowed the privilege of 'bracing'
fourth class men both In and out Of
ranks, as this in itself is ESSENTIAL to |
maintaining the scl1ierly carriage which
the cadet corps Is anxious to maintain.
Cadet Henry NJ Dougherty of New
York city succeeded Cadet Barnes as a |
witness. He said he came TO the academy
in June, 1897, and was now In the first |
class. He knew former Cadet Booz and |
ate at the table with him In the mess !
hall during the camp of 1888.
He had never seen Booz taking pepper |
onuncg buV h2A hcaAa solaoekhAhs hbS0s me-
having taken some. In camp he had ssen
from two to five drops given to man.
In his fourth class year be had taken |
about 10 drops himself.
Recess.
The examination of Cadet Dougherty /
was resumed after the mid-day recess. |
he gave some experiences in hazing
during his first year.
Zone very hot day" said tine witness
81 was told to go to certain tent. and |
when got there I was requested to
stand on the floor, l wore my regular /