New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
Admiral Schley's Attitude
DEAR ADMIRAL WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLE

DEAR ADMIRAL WINFIELD SCOTT SCHLEY
IN is very emphatic in his opposition to hazing we
had nothing Of that kind, said he when was at the
Academy" and then proceeded to tell few instances
which showed that young in the SOS were pretty
much the same young men OF to-day.
About the only personal experience ever had when
I was fourth casSman" said the Admiral, occurred
one night when was awakened by being Jerked out OF
bed with rope round my ankle followed up the rope
and to person with hair, which located head,
and at punched him several times on the nose
was then released and again moested 1t seemed
to be the desire of the upper clasSnen to take the
measure of the legs of the fourth casSmen to see they
were the right sort to fit into the school.
"When was upper classman we had a very interest
ing experience which developed the code under which
the young felt themselves governed. There was
young man appointed to the Academy who proved to be
very unpopular with midshpmen. After consideration
and consultation he was told that he couldn't remain
He replied that he had been appointed by the same
authority as the rest OF and he would not only re-
main, but upon his own terms. hat eXaSperated
number of the boys exceedingly and some of them took
the Young man out night and covered him with a
coat of tar and feathers
"While nearly every student in the academy knew
who had done the act the code by which the mdship
men felt themselves bound to another was evoked
and they stood shoulder to shoulder in determination
to give information that would convict any OF their
fellow students. The officers examined each mid
shpman one by one and each refused to answer on the
ground that he might ncriminate himself, which he
could do The academy officers reported to the Secre-
tary of the Navy the fact and said they could get no
information to VINO ndQ COinflltleu lHe OHcl5c'
Isaac TouCcy was Secretary of the Navy. He said
he would find out who the guilty parties or he
would have another set of midshpmen at the academy.
He had prepared dsmisSals equal to the number OF mid
shpmen at the academy and signed them giving drec-
tions to the superintendent to ask each mldshipman
what he knew about the occurrence and he refused to
write his name in the blank space and hand him
his dismissal.
There was an old naval officer who was related to
me by marriage, whom called uncle though he was
not my uncle. He was quite fond of me- and when he
learned what was in prospect he told me about it. He
advised me to communicate with the other mdshipmcn
tell them of the Secretary pan and assure them that
it would certainly be carried out for the Secretary was
determined and also TO advise them that it not well
to have the whole body suffer for oense committed
by few Of their number.
"That night we had a meeting in one Of the buildings
at which present all the midshpmen. told them
what in store for u.s. and that there was no doubt
whatever that every would be dismissed who re-
fused to answer, and that, of course, if any man an
swered he was bound to tell the truth.
"rhere was a consultation among those who had
tarred and feathered the fellow and they then came
forward and said We not going to make all you
fellows suffer for what have done. We appreciate
the manner in which you have stood by us, and know