Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-11
II !.
..R|OTOU|SV .M.l.CADETS
ENTIRE THIRD CLASS INDUCES IN
a WILD NOCTURNAL LARK.
CARNIVAL WITH FIREWORKS.
Bras. Button Lads, Dissatisfied over
Menser Allowance of Christmas
Holiday, Indulge In Midnight Ca
rou.a1. and Defy Authority-si1ty
Men Are Under Arrest.
CARNIVAL WITH FIREWORKS.
,ra.. untton Lads, dissatisfied over
Men Are Under Arrest.

LEXINGTON. VA. December 10.-{Spe-
cfal.)-Last night the whole city OF Lex
ington was aroused from its sleep by the
finest pyrotechnic display ever seen in the
old town. At exactly one hour past mid
night on the morning Of December 9Th,
the barracks at the Virginia Military IN
stitute were suddenly awakened by g.
great explosion OF fireworks. For thirty
minutes the fusIlade kept up. The SEN
tinels. sergeants, and institute officers
could do nothing to restore order. a
great crowd OF citizens assembled on the
parade ground and enjoyed the specta-
Gle. The whole corps, numbering over
26o. went to bed at taps. and at 10 o'clock,
as usual. Not soul but the third class
had suspicion that any trouble was
brewing. At one hour past midnight the
corps Of cadets were aroused from their
SAUNDERS and warm cots by a terrific
noise. shriII bugle calls, and the beating
Of drums.
JUMPED INTO THEIR PANTS.
Instantly the boys jumped into their
trousers and dressed for '.long roll or
reveille. Rushing to the stoops they were
surprised to see fireworks lighting the top
Of the Smith-MemoriaI building. BY this
time the officers of the Institute were on
each division with their lighted lanterns.
making an inspection of the rooms. The
cadets flew back into their rooms and
remained in bed until the officer inspected
them. Then they scampered to the door
ways again in order to see the display.
Over. the top of the grim. stern. dark
looking, academic building could be seen
tlc half illurnined features of many ca
diets. Roman candles. sky rockets. and
great cannon-cra ckers kept up most aw-
ful and terrific din and shed most grew
some light. None OF the other cadets
knew what was the trouble until the lads
on the building yelled. "furrah for old
05." Then the word passed from cadet to
cadet. Its the third class
The cold. midnight air accentuated the
reports and made them even louder than
they would ordinarily have been.
EVERYBODY WAS DUMFOUNDED.
The sergeant OF the guard. the sentinel,
and all the officers who should have been
on duty We're missing. In this way the
Institute authorities, when they arrived,
were thrown into coafusion. An officer.
rushing; with his lantern in his hand.
had 1t blown all to pieces by a great
cannon-cracker. After that they kept
back from the grim building Of the fire.
splitting properties. After all the fire.
works had given out the musical instrlt-
nents on top the building were started.
Every class song was played to the &C
compartment of loud yels. AT exactly
2 o'clock the cadets opened the trap
door on top the building and marched
down. Armed sentinels escorted them to-
the guard room. All night long they were
watched by scntinels, standing over them
with fixed bayonets
The plan for the outbreak had been ar
S,,;r~
wagonIoad OF fireworks which cost over
800, was brought by masked men and
slowed in the cellar of the Academic
building. At half-past II these masked
men c.spt up to the sentinel. overpowered
him. bound him. carried him down III
the gymnasium. and tied him there Then
the cons nirators put one Of their men on
guard, in or.er. to fool the sergeant Com
ing back they walked to the officer OF
the day, overpGwered the sergeant, ana
put him with the sentinel.
q, UP ON THE ROOF.
They then entered the Academic build
ing, went up to the third story, opened
the trap door leading to the roof. and
Cook up their fireworks. Next they drew
up the ladder and locked the door from
the roof, SO they could not be gotten
down. At exactly 1 O'Clock they. started
their work. Every man OF the third class
was up there save two, who were und::.-
arrest ard couldn't partake OF the fun
For some time it mas looked a If some
thing was in the air. The corps has been
dissatisfied. It showed its dissatisfaction
once BY what was almost a revolt on
.he, part OF ell the cadets. There had
been an order published to make old ca
diets deliver their reports on the stoop.
One night a. s o'clock the whole corps
stepped to the stoop, made their report
and yelled. a great many were reported
They. we're dealt with In the most rigor
Gus manner. put under arrest and severe
~ punished. Gradually they have been
falling privileges away from the old ca
diets. Ard so, last nights work was an
outburst OF the feeling of the whole corps.
for IN the thick of the din could be heard
the words of encouragement. Give it to
them, o.
Ever since 8 o'clock this morning the
Co-nn,andant of Cadets has been holding
otfce hours and interviewing each man
But they all hold out in saying that the
revolt was general, and that there were
no ringleaders; that they ell had an equal
SFa ra In, fhe finn