davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Why Pugilisnn Is Rampant in
the Annapolis Naval
Academy
REVELATIONS OF BRANCH -MERIWE Their AFFAIR
What the Code Is and the Finish Fights Which
1t Constantly Gives Rise to-Hazing the
Most Fruitful of Primary Causes
Stories of Some of the Fights
Duel of Former Years.

Annapolis, Md.-The recent revela-
sions 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 a lower class
man named Meriwether are OF most
sensational character. The curtain or
secrecy has been raised, revealing
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 evi-
IDENTIFY the belligerent chip. And he
wears it in such a reckless manner
that it flops off at the slightest touch
of the aggressive code.
The "code?" What is 1t? 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 a 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 a 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
al 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 rec og-
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 fstic en-
counters became more frequent. 1t
is said that the officers of the academy
do not recognize. the existence of this
code of honor, even though they may |
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30

it's largest field of operation. The
personal encounter between two mid.
dies as the result Of an insult or 9th
er affront which leads to a challenge
being sent and the two meeting in the
ring to settle the affair Is one thing,
and the resistance of "plebe" when
being hazed is quite another. and calls
into operation a different rule of the
code. This Is what is known as the
"class fight"
The offending "plebe" must fight
the man the upper class picks out.
To be sure, it will give the "plebe" a
man Of his own size, but good care is
taken by the third classmen that the
chances are all on their side by
choosing for their champion one of
their strongest and cleverest pugilists.
AS rule, of course, the underclass-
man is badly punished, and after Is
or 20 fierce and bloody rounds fails
to come to the scratch, but sometimes
the tables are turned and the upper
classman is the one who gets groggy
and at last is unable to respond to the
call Of time by the referee, and is
counted out. Then the victorious
"plebe" has to fight another of the
youngsters" and SO on until he is
himself whipped.
A "Plebe" Who Wasn't Whipped.
Years ago, it is said, that "plebe"
practically cleaned out an entire
class Of youngsters" and it was then
discovered that he had been a prize
fighter before his admission to the
academy. 1t seems he went to one
Of the upper classmen and said:
See here, don't like the way my
class is being treated The upper
classman was nearly surprised out of
ats wits, but recovered from his
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30

| and fierce that the most strenuous
mill between professional prize fight
ers is but tame in comparison. The
| finish comes when one of the com
batants fails to respond to the call
of time after the lapse of the inter
val between rounds. No one at the
academy can recall single fight
which has not been a finish affair, for
it would never do for a man to stop
until it was finished. To stop short
of that would disgrace a man in the
eyes of his fellow classmen, and he
could never look them in the face
again.
How One Fight Came About
Here is the story of how one fight
was brought on, and is illustrative of
the roughand-ready style of the mid
shipmen and their eagerness for the
fray. A third classman had accosted
"plebe," or fourth classman with
the admonition: Hold up your
head" Indignant at this attempt to
run" him-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
"plebe," and as soon as he had re-
covered sufficiently from his astonish-
ment to speak, he demanded:
You want to fight, do you?"
"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 a 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-
emv, 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
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30

face of his antagonist and he colored
his optics a 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. Ery-
sipelas set in in the battered faf !,
and he nearly crossed the river. Be-
fore he went to the hospital, the CON-
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 Glass Fights.
But the majority of fights in the
academy are of more formal charac-
ter than the one described above. 1t
is in the class fight where the code has
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Kick on Telephone Tolls.

The railroad commission has a letter
from Drs. Whittle, Hutchins, Crawley,
West and Barnes, of Gulfport, in which
they complain at increased charges on
the part of the telephone company. They
state that they are required to pay so
cents for the use of telephone in a
drug store where they hang out, and
that they are also required to pay $2.75
for their residence phones. They ex-
press willingness to pay the so cents
for the drug store accommodation, but
object very strenuously to the increase
in the price of their residence phones
which was from 81 65 TO S2.75.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Killing at fernando.

Leonard w. Sowell, of Memphis, a
travelling silversmith, was shot and
killed by Jesse Davis near Horn Lake
a few nights ago. Sowell was drunk,
and Davis was carrying him to the home
of Constable J. J.. SHELTON to have him
arrested when the shooting occurred.
Mistaking a movement of the right hand
toward the hip pocket as an effort to
get a pistol and alarmed by a threat of
the drunken man, young Davis fred at
close range with double -barreled shot
gun, the contents going into SowelPs
heart and causing instant death.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Gratifying Report.

The commissioners appointed to build
a new State institution for the deaf and
dumb, to sell the old property and at
tend to other matters connected with
the transfer of the institution from one
side of Jackson to the other, have pre-
pared their report to the Legislature.
showing that the new buildings have
cost the State less than what the old
buildings sold for. The new buildings
cost $73.25O and the old grounds sold
for $15,0S6S0.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Suit for Six City Blocks.

Three suits just filed in the Circuit
Court at Meridian by c, w. Robinson
and H. NJ. Threefoot have created quite
a sensation. They are actions in eject
ment to secure possession of certain de-
scribed parcels of real estate, to which
the present occupants supposed their
own titles were good. The property in
volved in this and other proposed liti-
cation on the same basis is estimated to
be worth at least $250,0O0, including six
full city blocks.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Preferable.

Mr.. Nervous-What's all that noise?
Mrs. Nervous-N Noise! That's Edith
playing the piano. She's in the par
lor with Mr.. Sophtly. AS long as we
hear the piano we may be assured
that he isn't holding her hands and
Mr.. Nervous-For goodness sake.
let him hold them.-Stray Stories.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Gift for Guiteras.

A number of citizens of Vicksburg
contributed to fund for testimonial
to be sent to DIR. G. M. Guiteras, of the
Marine Hospital Service, and that dis
tinguished fever fighter received a
handsome souvenir in consequence as a
Christmas gift. A complete silver serv-
ice. for breakfast, dinner and tea was
secured at cost of $3.50.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Death of Judge Simmons.

last week in his 10Th year. The judge
moved to Sardis from North Carolina
during the fall of 1860. He went through
the civil war, first as quartermaster un-
der Gen. Ransom, of North Carolina, and
later was transferred to the Mississippi
division and placed on Gen. Jackson's
staff.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Sale of Aberdeen Bonds.

Aberdeen's credit is good at home and
abroad. Last spring she sold $4,000
of her waterworks and sewerage bonds
to local capitalists at a premium of
1880. The council has just made an
other sale of $4,000 of bonds for the.
same purpose to bond buyers of Cleve-
land. O., at premium of 81 ,202.50, being
a shade better than the price obtained
last spring
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Operation of the Code.

Here is the way the code operates:
Some offense has been committed,
generally by an under classman, and
is of sufficient gravity in the estima-
tion of the midshipmen to come with
il the scope of the code, and chal-
lenge follows. The president of the
class names the time, the seconds are
appointed and in the place appointed
at the present time generally one of
the wardrooms Of the midshipmen-
the combatants strip to the buff and
fight after the most approved form of
the prize ring. 1t is always a fight to
Q finish. and is generally so bloody
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
State Evangelist.

The evangelistic committee of the
synod of Mississippi met and elected DIR.
RI. A. Jones evangelist for the State, to
oegin work at. Fayette in January. DIR.
S. C. Caldwell, of Hazlehurst, was elect
ed secretary and treasurer.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
Sandy Bayou Suit.

Chancellor r. b. Mayes, in his de-
cision in the celebrated Sandy Bayou
injunction case, declares that the Mis-
sissippi Prison Board of Control has no
constitutional right to lease the Sandy
Bayou plantation, owned by State Sen
ator III. j. McLaurin, to be worked by
convicts during the coming crop year.
The chancellor holds that the lease re-
Gently entered into by the Board of Con-
troll and Senator McLaTin, and which
provoked Gov. Vardaman to resort to
the courts, is not leasing of the Sandy
Bayou place by the State, but leasing
of the convicts to Senator McLaurin for
stipulated sum, and therefore in direct
violation of the constitution. The cham
cellor sustains the governor on every
point raised, also upholding the right
of the chief executive to institute legal
proceedings in the name of the State,
and the power to take jurisdiction in
matters of this character.
The Grenada sentinel., 1905-12-30
MISSISSIPPI MATTERS
A. and V. improvements.

Many improvements have been made
in the Alabama & Vicksburg road dur
ing the past year, and thousands of dol
lars spent by the company in raising
the track in various places, building new
trestles and steel bridges, new depots,
etc. Two steel bridges were recently
completed across Chunkey river that
cost over 100000, and the track was
elevated so that there is no danger of
its being submerged there now, as it has
been during many rainy seasons in the
past. Similar work has been done at
Bakers creek, near Bolton, and in Pearl
river swamp a good deal of work has
been done in the past year. Several new
depots have been built--handsome brick
structures at Newton and Forest, and
frame buildings at other places. Sew
eral luxurious new coaches have been
added to the passenger equipment on the
fast trains, and many noted improve
ments have been made in the service.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
Miners SUFFOCATED
TWENTY-FIVE Coal MINERS met
A TERRIBLE DEATH.
Explosion at Wilcox, W.. Va, Was Of
Terrific Force and Broke Windows
Mile Distant-Dead Miners Are
Mostly Italians and Hungarians-
Cause Not Yet Determined.

Bluefeld, W. Va, Feb. 2S-As a
result of an explosion in shaft No. l
of the United States Coal & Coke Co.
at Wilcoe, % miners are supposed to
have lost their lives, and it is possible
that the number will exceed this.
Fifteen dead bodies have been TAX
the mine. 1t is barely possible, but
not likely, that some of the remaining
entombed miners will be rescued alive.
The explosion was of terrific force and
shattered windows a mile distant.
Immediately after the shock great
numbers of miners who were off duty
rushed to the shaft to find great
clouds of smoke and dust gushing
from its mouth. Mothers, children and
other relatives soon were weeping and
pleading for the rescue of those dear
TO them entombed in the mine. The
officials of the mine were soon on the
scene.
The dead miners thus far recovered
are all Italians and Hungarians.
The company usually works in this
shaft about IS miners, but being Sun
day the men were not all in, and the
small loss of life can be attributed
only to this fact.
The United States Coal & Coke Co.,
with principal offices in Pittsburg, Pa,
is part of the United States Steel cor
poration. The cause of the explosion
has not as yet been determined.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
Japs Score Small Victories.

st. Petersburg, Mar. Several re-
ports have been received from General
huropatkin since Monday noon dealing
with the fighting in Manchuria. Only
a small portion of them have been pub
nshed, but these demonstrate that the
nghtlng still continues, and that the
Japanese have scored soue small sue
cesses The Russian commander in
chief insists. however, that the Rus
SLAMS are holding their own, and have
III several instances repulsed the Japan
ese attacks.
Japanese attacks were reported at
iangu, Bridaling and Bomapudz, and
'ne lighting was still in progress at last
accounts. 1t is reported at the war
once, but officially confirmed, that
oeneral Kuropatkjn has been compell-
~ 10 withdraw some of his troops from
Tue right center to reinforce those who
ate opposing the Japanese turning
movement.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
Pheasant Uprising.

Warsaw, Mar. 1.-According to re.
liable information reaching this place,
the Poland peasant revolt, in view of
the fact that the peasants number T.
900, 1000 out of a total population of 10,
900, 900. will, if it spreads. result in
disorder far greater than anything that
has arisen during the present agitation.
The peasants:hitherto have not figured
to any extent in this agitation. which
is confined to the 100000 workmen
in the cities and towns. The socialists
recently sent emissaries into the coun-
try districts for the purpose.of stirring
up the villages. According to reports,
they met with speedy success. As rs
per cent. of the peasants are unable to
read, they are easily led away by So
cialist oratory.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
A SEA LEVEL CANAL,
Engineering Plans for Digging Ditch
at Isthmus.

Engineering Plans for Digging Ditch
at Isthmus.
The first definite engineering plans
for the construction of the Panama
canal have been laid before the 18TH
milan canal commission by the engin-
eering committee of that body, con-
sisting of Commissioners Burr, Par
sons and Davis.
The principal recommendations are
summed up in this resolution:
Resolved, That this committee ap-
prove and recommend for adoption by
the commission a plan for sea level
canal, with bottom width of $50 feet
and a minimum depth of water of IS
feet, and with twin tidal locks at Mira
flores, whose disable dimensions shall
be 1000 feet long and 100 feet wide,
at total estimated cost of $3.50, $780,
900. Such estimates include an allow
ance for administration, engineering,
sanitation and contingencies, amount
ing to s3S,450,0O0, but without allow
dhSO III lAlClC COL CouSll uCllOu,
expense of zone government and col
lateral costs and water supply sewers
or paving of Panama or Colon, which
last items are to be repaid by the in
habitants of those cities"
The committee estimates that sea
level canal can be completed within
10 or II years from the present time.
The recommendations are the con-
clusion of a report to the committee
from the canal zone under date of
February IA, last. and based on COM
plete engineering reports on all of
the problems. involved.
The committee decided that under
no circumstances should the surface
of the canal be more than 60 feet
above the sea, and estimates that at
this level the cost would be $178,013,-
4O6. A 80 foot level is estimated to
cost s194,213,406.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
Struggle a Fierce One.
WASHINGTON NEWS.

Kennewick is soon to have tele-
phones.
John Peters, with other Spangle cap
italists, has purchased the Spangle
bank
E. E. Mayer has sold a section of his
land west of Downs to Henry Harms
for $4,000.
The senate passed the Jones bill
creating the eastern judicial district
of Washington.
In the senate on Monday morning
Senator-elect Arthur Gum of Kittitas
and Chelan counties was sworn in.
Valentine Bohen has mysteriously
departed from the home of his brother
in Palouse, leaving his valuables be-
hind. He took with him only a re-
volver.
The dead body of Valentine Bohen,
who mysterously disappeared was
found by George and Louis Sisk and
Walter Collar, lying under the north
approach of the Frank Campbell
bridge, three miles and half east of
Latah county.
The huge sum of $3,25O,OOO is the
probable appropriation by the state
Legislature. 1t is nearly half a million
more than was appropriated at the
previous session.
Arthur Gum, democrat, of We
natchee was today elected joint sena-
tor from Kittitas and Chelan counties
to fill the place of the late Senator
John p Sharp of Ellensburg.
Okanogan county is in the uncom-
Portable position of being sued in the
United States court for the price of the
Jail in which she has been combining
law violators and county prisoners
since 1890.
The census, which is now complete,
gives the population of that area
which is to be included within the cor
porate limits of Charleston at 1850,
while the total population of Clarks-
ton and Vineland precincts is 275O
The house has passed senate bill
No. q, by Condor, giving Kitsap coun-
ty an additional judge by itself. The
bill detaches Kitsap county from the
judicial district hitherto composed of
Snohomish and Kitsap counties.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
THE PAST WEEK OF THE WAR.
Fighting on Large Scale Is Going
On.

Fighting on Large Scale Is Going
On.
Last week witnessed a renewal of
important fighting in Manchuria. al
though reports do not contain suffi-
Cert details to determine whether it
developed into a great battle. For
the last few weeks activity has been
on the Russian right, but recently the
scene Of the most important fighting
has been transferred to the Russian
left. 1t opened on Thursday and seems
to have continued with slight inter-
ruptions up to the present time. There
has also been commandments along the
greater part of the line, siege guns at
the Japanese center doing the most
execution. There have been the usual
forward and backward movements by
both armies, but none of them seem to
have resulted in the seizure of any i'm
portant positions.
Early in the week rumors came
from nearly all of the European CAPT
tails that there had been serious dis
cussion of peace at st. Petersburg and
the news was received with approval.
But the cZar made the announcement
on Thursday that the war would con-
tinue; that Oyama had not yet shown
that he was able to drive Kuropatkin
back, and that to yield now would
cause greater discomfort than any that
has arisen over a failure to win vic
tories heretofore
Rojestvensky's fleet is still off the
northeastern coast of Madagascar
while Kamamura is said to be hover
ing near the Indian ocean. The third
Russian Baltic fleet passed Dover
England, Saturday, bound westward
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1905-03-03
Mrs. Stanford
Poisoned to
Death

Honolulu, March 3.-Mrs. Jane La
+hron Stanford of San Francisco, wild
ow Of Senator Leland Stanford, died at
11:4O O'Clock Wednesday night at the
Moana hotel here.
Suspicious circumstances surround
the death of Mrs. Stanford. She was
taken ill at 1900 O'Clock and said:
81 have been poisoned. "
Her last words were:
"This is horrible death to de-
Mrs. Stanford came here from San
Francisco on the Korea, February 81.
In conversation with Mrs. Henry High
ton of San Francisco, who is now here,
Mrs. Stanford said that an attempt had
been made to poison her in that city
and that this was her reason for sailing
on the Korea. .
1t was Mrs. Stanford's belief, &C.
cording to Mrs. Highton, that enough
poison had been used to kill 20 per-
sons. 1t is understood that an investi-
cation of the case is now being made
py the police of San Francisco. The
police heer are also conducting an in.
quiry.
Before retiring last night Mrs. Stan.
ford took dose of bicarbonate of soda,
which she purchased in San Francisco.
1t is reported that the soda contained
strychnine, but this report can not be
verified. DR.. F. b. Humphreys, who
attended Mrs. Stanford, is now making
an examination of the contents of the
bottel, which had not been touched
since Mrs. Stanford lef tSan Francisco.
Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Stanford
went to a picnic. She ate heartily OF
returning to the hotel, but took no din
nerand retired shortly after 10 o'clock
At II O'Clock a guest of the hote
who occupied on adjoining room heard
Mrs. Stanford groaning and running t.
the room found her lying on the floor
She had evidently tried to summon
help. At the time of Mrs. Stanford
death there were present Miss Berner
her secretary, and her maid, May Will
son. Both are Frustrated.