New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-20
SHORN OF ESCORTS
MAIDS IT ANNAPOLIS.
Entire Brigade Loses PriUi-
lcges for Silence" at Supper.
IN TelsErsph b Dc TrLbuns. }

ht Aelesfdlih 70 ine AFlpuu--i
Annapolis March 19-Annapolis was
to-nigh. i'm most peculiar situation
Possibly five hundred young women
from all over the country. were here "a
attend the midshipmen's hop al the
Naval Academy. but were practically
without escorts.
The youths who invited them To come
10 Annapolis are not allowed to leave the
grounds. under an order issued by Su-
perintendent Bowyer to-day, after what
is known as 'the silence" consisting Of
a refusal 10 make the tiniest noise dur
ing a whole meal.
As a result the Young women we're
forced 10 60 unattended 10 the academy
gates where there occurred wild
scramble as eight hundred midshipmen
each attempted 10 pick from the inflow
ing stream Of fcminity the particular
girl he had invited 10 the dance. From
the gate they escorted the girls to the
armory. and after the hop accompanied
their partners only as far on their way
back n hotel or boarding house as the
academy limits
A the guests had already been gath
cred i'm Annapolis for the hop. many
coming from distance captain Bowyer
did not consider il fair 20 them 10 cancel
to-night's hop. although al, the others
for the season are called off as part Of
the punishment. However. the restric-
tion 20 the academy grounds was IN fun
force ana the compa nionshiD of the
midshipmen and their partners began
and ended AZ the academy gate. Through
out the evening little parties of unes-
corted bellies and chaperons could be
seen making their way through Apnapo-
lis on the way 20 and from tho eademy
gate
The silence" was given To an officer
Il the department Of discipline at supper
formation last night Captain John NJ.
Bower. superintendent of the academy.
issued orders to-day suspeuding al gen
.raI ana special liberty for the whole
brigade Until further orders. no mid
snipman NiH b. allowed 10 leave the
academy limits for any purpose what
ever Permission to hold further hops
during April and MAY has been revoked
and tho organization Of the first class
club which was i'm process of formation,
has been indefinitely postponed
Lieutenant W Bertholf. the officer
upnu whom tho silence" was visited,
will he operated upon for appendicitis
a. the naval hospital tomorrow. He
has not been "a All well for some time.
This was not generally known boy the
midshipmen
Giving the silence" 10 an unpopular
officer is practice a. the academy
which is almust a. old as the institution
itself II consists of keeping absolute
,ilen-a in the mess han during the meai
al which the officer against whom IN"
resentment Of the midshipmen has been
aroused is present. aird in this instance
IL was directed against one who has
reputation for being strict discipli-
rorian.
An attempt of the same kind Was made
some time ago. hut failed because some
az tn. midshipmeu did not enter into the
combination and conversed during the
meal II is aiso understood that there
was an attempt 20 arrange the silence"
al dinner Yesterday. but that it Was frus-
trat.d by Some of the midshipmen-
n is said that most Of the midshipmen
even refraiued from eating last night. 80
that there would bo 30 sound from
handling knives and forks There was a
lively run on ihe midshipmen's exchange
in tho afternoon. the midshipmen appar-
entity laying i'm . supply Z" take the place
Of the supper which was not &" DO eaten
n is cloor that fght to the finish he
tween Superintendent Bower and his
charges o. on