davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
Why Pugilism Is Rampant II,
the Annapolis Naval
Academy
REVELATIONS OF RANCH-MERIWETHER AFFAIR
What the Code Is and the Finish Fights Which
1t Constantly Gives Rise to-Hazina the
Most Fruitful of Primary Causes
Stories of Some of the Fights
A Duel of Former Years.

Annapolis, Md.-The recent revela-
tons OF fistic encounters among the
midshipmen Of the United States
naval academy here growing out OF
the death of Midshipman Branch
after finish fight with lower class
man named Meriwether are of most
sensational character. The curtain OF
secrecy has been raised, revealing a
state of affairs in the inner life OF the
academy little dreamed of by the cit
liens of the country.
Judging by the reports, the chief
business of the midshipmen is pum-
melting each other in accordance with
the liberal Interpretation Of the Mar!
quis of Queensberry rules. Part Of
the equipment Of every man is evil
IDENTIFY the belligerent chip. And he
wears it in such reckless manner
that it hops off at the slightest touch
of the aggressive code.
The "code?" What is it? Nobody
seems to know. They say it is not
written. so that it is not in docu-
mentary form. And nobody seems to
be able to explain just how this much
honored Sir Code" acquired resi-
dence in the academy, or just how he
attained such an ascendancy over the
young men being trained there for
Uncle Sans navy. But certain it is
that he is there, and that he just
dotes on fights which are sometimes
more than bloody, as was the case
when Branch went down and out. All
fights are to finish, and that word
finish frequently means more than
was intended or expected when the
quarrel was in the making, and the
challenge was being sent.
Years ago there used to be occasion
nj fights among the midshipmen on
the spur of the moment. and once in
awhile a formal bout arranged for the
settlement of some wrong, real or
fancied. But there were no recog-
nized rules governing or creating such
affairs, and there was no regularity of
their occurrence. But with the pas
sage of the years the present honor
system grew up, and with the inven-
ton Of this fight factory" for such
it is, pure and simple, the istic en-.
counters became more frequent. It
IS said that the officers of the academy
do not recognize the existence of this
code of honor, even though they may
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
We Are Prosperous.

Although the @bill-fretted householder
is not able to- rid himself entirely of
the thought that the butcher, the baker
and the grocer are absorbing more
than their per capita of the general
prosperity; although there is. more
point than ever to the Quip that, while
it may not cost more to live, says the
New York Globe. it costs, more to make
people believe you are living; never
theless If man, ceasing to search for
the fly in the ointment and dismissing
from consideration ills that may be
peculiar to himself, will look abroad
over society, he will find ample excuse
! for indulging in all the rejoicing Of
which he is temperamentally capable.
The lot of the vast majority Of the
people of this country and this city
was never as happy as now. We
grumble and complain and get sad sat-
isfaction from the expression Of dis
content; but the querulousness is only
on the surface. OF green gaze, indeed,
must be the vision that does not see
| that things are better and becoming
better still. The rich may be growing
richer, but so are the poor. There are
| moro wants in the world to-day than
yesterday, but, what is more to the
purpose, more wants, although appe-
tite grows with feeding, are satisfied.
Material prosperity has so leaked down
that it: floods an ever increasing per-
centage OF the population. Luxuries
once confined to princes are now with
in the reach of everybody. The COM
fort Of yesterday is regarded as the
necessity of to-day. Rags and tatters
have practically disappeared from our
streets. Drunkenness is decreasing.
The chronic repiner doubtless has his
uses. and the existing order is far from
perfect, but as we throw out the log
we have reason to be pleased at the
,, rapidity with which the old ship is
travelling. 49,.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27

acceptance Of brakes challenge, hut
that scion OF society retorted that an
adversary who had waited to screw
his courage & to the sticking point
would not be- accorded the honor Of 4
meeting with gentleman. ,...@
Miller quickly took up B Hunters
challenge and sent his acceptance by
Lieut.: Edmund Byrne, an Intimate
friend, and Westcott was deputized
to arrange with Byrne the time and
place of the meeting. It was agreed
that the duel should take place in
Delaware a short distance below the
boundary on the morning of the next
day, and that, besides, the seconds,
each duellist should be represented
by one friend. .,~s<s .,..,5as =. W.
The Duel to tho Death.
The parties to the affair were on
hand at the appointed time and place
and after the distance had been paced
OFF and instructions given as to the
method Of firing, the principals took
their places. Not word had passed
between them. -.
Gentlemen, are you ready?' came
the question.
Each duellist assented.
"Fre-one-two-''
The last word of the count was lost
in the report of the pistols, which
were fired so nearly together that the
separate reports could scarcely be dis.
tinguished.
Miller turned toward his seconds:
his face was deadly pale; his pistol
dropped from his hand; he placed one
hand over his breast, then fell heav-
lily to the ground.
Hunter advanced toward the fall
en- man, and in a loud voice that was
filled with emotion, cried: Gentle
men, assure you that had no en-
nifty toward that man. His blood
must rest upon the heads of others
who have dragged him into their quar-
rels. Is he badly wounded, doctor?"
he asked, with evident trepidation.
Gle will not live five minutes" was
the reply. 'You put the bullet
squarely into his breast Kneeling
ABOUT the dying man the uttle group
filed with varying emotions, watched
the life of the young lawyer quickly
flow out.
Il would give my life If could
restore that man to 1ife," cried Hun
ter, as he saw the dying gasp of his
victim. ~.-
Agitation and Reform.
w. The report Of the duel, when it was
published sent thrill of excitement
over the country, and created a SEN
timent SO strong as to practically
strike the deathknell of the honor
code I'M this country. And it is not
at all unlikely that the present agi-
tation growing out of the Branch
Meriwether affair Of "honor" may op-
crate in a similar way and rid the
naval academy of the operation of this
baneful system.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
Wounds on Fruit Trees.

An eastern fruit grower says:'
Wounds of any considerable sixo
should be given a coating of paint or
some other durable substance. A
suitable dressing must possess two
distinct properties. It must check tho
Weatherfng Of the wound and prevent:
the growth Of bacteria and fungi, and
1t must be of such a nature as not 20
injure the surrounding bark. The
dressing is Of no value In the healtns,
Of the wound, except as It prevents
decay. For general purposes, whito
lead paint is most satisfactory. Il Il
IN antiseptic, and It Adheres closely
to the wood. Wax, sAellao, tallow.
etc. are lacking In both respects.
Bordeaux mixture would - - admir-.
able material for this purpose & &
woro more durable. -l1Suess rs.
1l1w. .= %.s..szz=.=
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
Empress Loves Flowers

Isl An, dowager empress of China,
has such extravagant fondness Of now-
ers as seems to be Incompatible with the
general idea that she is . bloodthirsty
old woman. In her private apartments
sheI always has masses Of the most beau
ttfull flowers and the same is true OF her
thHoneroom, her loge At the theater and
even the great audience chamber when
SHE transacts affairs Of state. Her
nhajesty's passion In this regard Il 90
Well known that courtiers, princes and
high omcials daily send her the ch,tcsst
so6erlpKs Of plants and flowers. z..
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27

the rough-and-ready style Of the mid
shipmen and their eagerness for the
fray. A third classman had accosted
a "plebe," or fourth classman with
the admonition: Hold up your
!, head" Indignant at this attempt to
run" hin-for graduation day was
near at hand, and both were prepar-
ing to step up a class, and this pro-
motion would, under the customs of
the academy, take the "plebe" out Of
the grade of the hazed and. relegate
the Office Of hazer to the succeeding
''youngster" or third class-he replied,
defiantly: Mind your own business!"
The third classman stood aghast be-
fore such audacity on the part of a
"plebe," and as soon as he had re-
covered sufficiently from his astonish.
ment to speak, he demanded::,
"You want to fight, do your"
Yes" replied the "plebe," who re-
allied that there was no other way
of settlement than in accordance with
the recognized code of honor, although
in comparison with the upper class.
man he was veritable Zaccheus in
stature. But Midshipman McEntee,
the ''plebe," was no coward, in fact
there is no room for the man who
shows the white feather in the acad.
envy, and he began to strip for the
fray, and right then and there in the
open daylight, in a secluded spot of
the academy grounds, the two mid
shipmen went at it. There was no
! referee and no seconds, but it was a
fight to a finish nevertheless, and
! while the clever fists of the little
''plebe found landing places on the
face Of his antagonist and he colored
his optics beautiful dark blue shade,
still he was worsted in the encounter,
in fact so badly was he punished that
he had to go to sick quarters. Fry.
sipelas set in in the battered face,
and he nearly crossed the river. Be.
fore he went to the hospital, the COM
mandant of midshipmen observed his
face and wanted to- know--what was
the matter. Matter. replied the
plucky ''plebe," testify, there's moth
ing the matter with me-"
The Class Fights.
But the majority Of fights in the
,, academy are Of more formal charac-
ter than the one described above. It
Is in the class fight where the code has
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27

their way through the academy with
out submitting to hazing. Any re-
sistance to an unauthorized order
That an upper classman gives a
"plebe" results in a fight.
But the code does not always bring
the results that the midshipmen de.
sire or expect, as was the case a
dozen years ago when Midshipman
Craig proved much more than a match
for the customs of the code. Two
midshipmen of the graduating class
along toward the end of the year en-.
tered the quarters of the *'plebes'' to
give them q touch of hazing. because
the 'plebes' were not getting enough
of it." They attacked Midshipman
Craig and his roommate in vigorous
manner, when Craig, who had just
come in from skating and had his
skates swinging from a strap on his
shoulder, unlimbered and brought the
shining bits Of steel down upon the
heads of his assailants with such tell.
ing effect as to leave deep marks
there. 1t dazed the upper classmen
when they contemplated the situation
"a "plebe" daring to leave a mark
Of a weapon upon the sacred brow
Of first classman. Craig was sent a
challenge to fight. He knew what
this meant-shut up in a room of one
of the upper classmen with a giant
to maui him to pieces. Craig re-
turned answer that he would fight,
but in the open. This did not suit
the autocrats Of the academy, for
Craig would then have the eye of au-
thorfty upon the whole transaction.
So one day after dinner, as the
corps emerged from the mess hall into
the corridor Craig was seized and an
attempt made to carry him bodily
upstairs to make him fight. But
Craig made such determined resist
ance that the attention of the officer
in charge was attracted by the dis
turbance, and following the investi-
cation which was made came court
martial and dismissal for the two Of
Tending upper classmen on the charge
Of hazing.
~ u1o UCCu SAAu LudI AEsALS ACVCI
occur because one midshipman in the
line Of duty reports another, but this
would not seem to have been true in
the case Of the Observation-Disclosures
fight. for it appears that incidents
leading up to that encounter were the
Official inspection Of MeriwethAr's
room by Branch and the expected re-
port on the same. Meriwether called
Branch sneak and q coward because
Branch had opened the wardrobe of
Meriwether, and finding there a cit
izen's suit, took it out and laid it on
Meriwether's bed. This kind of in
spection is considered extra Official,
and is said to have led Meriwether to
use the insulting language attributed
to him. .-a.
A Pertinent Page from History. s.:
A singular coincidence in connec.
ton with affairs of honor between
midshipmen Of the academy and re-
sultant fatalities is that an ancestor
Of Midshipman Branch, In his oflcial
capacity as secretary of the navy: once
confirmed the judgment Of q court.
martial against the surviving prin-
cipal in Z pistol duel. That was in 1880,
and the code of due]ing in vogue ii
that day has to all intents and pur.
poses descended upoazt1 present day
and sGeneg1 only ap-
that lists
although
3 8 lLs1n d - oH ~ appar-
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
THE WATER SYSTEM

pump will be required, and l wcnld
not use anything smaller than ones
inch piping, and galvanized at that
The cost Will depend On the mills
pump, piping and tank, which can ba
obtained from any of the agents.
SE5E
have used windmill for three years.
and it has given perfect satisfaction.
If a check valve is used, as shown in
the accompanying sketch, the pipe can
be tapped anywhere between check
and supply tank to water other builds
lngs or stock at barn or anywhere
desired. /
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
TIE OUNOOK GOOD.
the Farm ore Scientific
Fer4ers.

Reports from al tn leading asricui1t
tural colleges show an increase il att
tendance and larger @1d (ortion Of asr'z.
cultural students than eya before. The
statement is often made H6tN griculr
ture is, at present, enjoying a bC1 a and
the growth in numbers Of college,
trained farmers is pointed to as pfaoE
of the statement. It is true that at
time has agriculture presented so bro
q range of possibilities as it does todd
It may be true that few men are 70
tracted to the work merely because Oh
its increasing popularity. A vastly
larger number are learning to realize.
the Importance and possibilities of tho.
profession in the development and:
growth of the country. Too long has
agriculture been looked upon as an cccuJ.
patton of the hands and not the head. :
As such it had no attractions fer th9
progressive student whose ambition
was to win standing in tho higher
branches Of learning. For this reason
the farmers SONS have been turning
their attention to other -professions,ss
such as law, medicine, literature, etc
Every year the universities of the coun-s
try have been graduating large numbers
of these professional men, many OF:
wnUW w1cUess Iuc ucparrurCC I JngIrs
boyish dreams while waiting for their
first client or patient In the meantima
the technical institutions have been de4
veloping the less attractive sciences
The agricultural colleges have mada,
rapid progress and the result is a gen@s
eral awakening of interest in the PROD.
ucts of the farm. The business scope OF
the farm has broadened The develops
meat Of agricultural science has given
the farmer commercial standing. Tho
improvement Of plants and fruits; new
discoveries in the betterment Of the soil
ALI have opened up new field for tho
investigator and excited the curiosity
of those who formerly regarded farming
as mere drudgery. The tendency is TOW
toward technical education. The oppor-
tunities are abundant for the we'll.
equipped man, and with more scientific
farmers in the field the profession will
become established as the most i'm:
portant contributor1tc the nation pros
perit:@.< Agriculture is not booming; II
is developing. II
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
Ej;;;5;ij:jI|Z5' i!
,fy{|t}Se1llirll&I
WATER BY WINDMILL.
Best Arrangement for Pumping and
Piping to the Various
BuildiupB.

A correspondent in the/ Farmer,
Advocate OF Canada wa4ts to kno1
the cheapest and best way to s,,nn,..
water from a well 81 rods dIstan1s
from the house. A Grey cc,-,t ~
(Ontario) farmer, in reply, says:
Il would advise the use OF an eight.
foot windmill erected over well, ptp{E
Ing being run to buildings. A force{.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27

Grlmtn to Drake, who refused to en-.
terrain any message
Il will have no affair or intercourse
with person of his reputation" was
brakes contemptuous retort. Tell
him he is beneath the notice of gen.
tleman."
"Is that your answer" demanded
Duryee
1T u.s." replied Drake. Take your
letter back to him."
Burning with indignation Duryee
strobe out and at once sought Com.
mander Philip F. VOORHEES,, of the
navy, who sent him back to Drake
with insistence that satisfaction be
given to Grimth for the insult.
Il refuse to accord meeting to a
man who has placed himself beyond
the pale of recognition retorted
Drake. haughtily.
But you were the assailant," as
serted the officer with some warmth.
very true; but I hit him not be-
cause of the billiard game, but be-
cause he wrote letter to my brother,
DR.. Drake, that was derogatory to his
fiancee, and that on the very day Of
his MARRIAGE
Duryee left in hot anger, declaring
that he would post Drake as a coward
and that brought the young lawyer,
Miller, into the quarrel. The follow
ing day the attorney carried chal-
lenge from Drake to Duryee, but
Lieut.. Hampton Westcott, of Duryee's
vessel, refused to permit the midship-
man to accept until Drake had given
satisfaction to Griffith. ,..@ =
Il shall never put myself on level
With that degraded individual until he
makes apology for the wrong done my
brother, the doctor, and his BRIDE"
was brakes ultimatum.
Miller Dragged In.
News of the controversy had spread
among the naval officers at New York
and Philadelphia, and there was sharp
criticism of Duryee because he had
not accepted brakes challenge, de.
spite the hair-splitting ruling of
Lieut.. Hampton Westcott. So, to
clear Duryee of the imputation of
cowardtce, some friends in New
Brunswick, N. J., wrote to Miller, the
attorney, asking that the whole mat
ter be referred to a committee whose
decision should be final. To this
Miller responded that, as Duryee had
not accepted the challenge to fight,
for reasons best known to himself,
he anGSSe looked upon the Incl
dent as closed.
The affair would doubtless have
ended there had it not been for the
entrance Of Midshipman Hunter into
the dispute. On March 10 he visited
Miller, demanded the letter written
from New Brunswick and went away
in hot anger, because Of the refusal
OF the lawyer to hand it over. IL.
A few days later the New Bruins.
wick letter was printed, and Hunter
demanded immediate satisfaction.
Miller disclaimed any responsibility
for the publication Of the letter, but
the explanation was not accepted, and
on March II Lieut.. Westcott bore a
cartel to Miller. The attorney again
insisted that he had no connection
with the publication Of private cor
respondence and declined to accept
the challenge. , ..s..s.
Three days later Hunter posted
Miller - ., coward, concluding his
declaration with the gratuitous asser.
ton that the Philadelphia lawyer was
Q liar 90 well % % poltroon. . This
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
Hollow Ground Razors,

People often wonder why German
hollow ground is the boast of American
razor makers" said s!cutlery salesman.
"lrhey want to know whywe can't grind
our own razors here. We have the men
and the implements and we can grind
as keen an edge. but we can't get the
white, silvery Color of the German grind
ing. There iS no trade secret about it.
1t is just seine peculiar quality in the
water used to wet the stones that gives
tho blade ITS clean wilderness. In areal
German hollow-ground razor that
whitenesS lasts as long as the blade"
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27

Readers of this paper are at liberty to
write for information on subjects per-
tanning to health. All communication
should be addressed to DR.. David H.
Reeder, Laporte, Ind, and ,uust contain
name and address in full. and at least
four cents in postage. No attention will
be paid to letters not fully signed and
giving address. ~
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27

cold water and placed over the entire
chest. Keep repeating this until the
fever is entirely under control and the
pulse Is about normal But be sure that
the hot applications to the limbs and feet
are kept quite hot as long as you con.
tinue to apply the cold to the chest.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
Preferable.

Mr.. Nervous What's all that noise?
Mrs. Nervous-N Noise! That's Edith
playing the piano. She's III the par
lor with Mr.. sophtly. As long C We
hear the plano we may be assured
that he isn't holding her hands and
Mr.. Nervous-For goodness sake!
let him hold them. Stray Stories.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
CLUB NOTES.

Nebraska.-Dr. David H. Reeder, La
porte, Ind.-Dear Doctor: have read
some Of your lectures, and think they
are very good. Will venture to ask few
questions. My back troubles me some
times, the pain being below my Shout.
der blades, and sometimes over my kid
neys, and other times across my hips.
Please give me advice as to what this
is and the cause of it. Might add that |
am also troubled with Indigestion
Respectfully, Mrs. H. s.
L believe that the pains which you
nave described are rheumatic pains and
that by a proper course Of treatment
they can be entirely overcome. But in
bringing about this result one must get
at the seat of the trouble, and in rheu.
matism this is in the glands of the body.
These do not act properly, poisonous
matter is not thrown out as it should
be, etc., and there is Indigestion, caus-
ing an accumulation of gas in the stom.
ach, fermentation, thus poisoning the
blood, and causing the rheumati sm. The
specific poison which is associated with
rheumatism is uric acid; this collects
in crystals in the joints, etc, causing
the pains which you notice. The treat
ment should therefore be directed to
throw all poisonous matter out of the
body by inducing greater activity on
the part Of the organs of elimination,
and to prevent fermentation in the
stomach. I would suggest as the best
agents to accomplish this, the compound
gentian syrup, and prepared charcoal
and magnesia tablets respectively. l
would also suggest that you eat sparing-
ly OF solid food and be careful to chew
everything thoroughly; drink no liquid
OF any kind while food is in the mouth.
but it you can get it, drink a couple of
quarts OF fresh buttermilk daily be-
tween meals-if buttermilk is not to be
had. drink that much pure water. ~
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-12-27
Quick Awa1Ianina.

Quick AWak0n1ng
There's nothing half % swift in life
~ the awakening from. loves young
dream.-N. o.. Picayura ~. -