Macon beacon., 1916-09-01

Wherever Duty called they went. their steps were
with Alma Mater on their lips and Benny Haven''
Benny Havens, Obi" is the epic Of West Point.
1t is a story in song, the story of West Pointers
and their sacrifices for duty, honor, West Point
and country.
This old academy of West Point, laid out on
rugged shelf overlooking the majestic sweep of the
Hudson has many priced traditions, unsullled, IN
alienable but none more sacred to her sons lhan
that of Benny Havens. Go to Cullum Memorial
hall at West Point and read In imperishable let
ters of bronze the story Of her sons she mas seen
them march out of her sallyports singing Benny
Havens Obi" and seen them brought back while
minute guns were echOing among the granite hills
that surround her. The history of West Point Is
closely interviewer with that Of our country; West
Pointers have written bright pages in the annals
of the land.
Their blood has watered Western plains and Northern
Has stained Serra's highest peaks. where piercing
Has dyed deep red the Everglades. and deeper STILL
The sacred Montezuma shades and walls of Mexico.
Wherever duty has summoned them West rOnt-
ers have carried Benny Havens, Oh!'
The story of Benny Havens is almost as OLD as
that of the academy itself. Many, many years ago.
in 1924 to be precise Benny Havens took up his
residence on the southern border of what then
medately he and the cadets became friends.
He was genial soul, generous, and of good COM
pany and an inimitable spinner Of yarns, anu ne
Invariably piled his visitors with buckwheat cakes
md maple slrup. Soon his refreshments acquired
such fame that cadets often slipped away from
their duties and made their way to Benny's retreat
where they found oblivion for their disciplinary
woes. Almost every night after taps saw half
dozen daring cadets, who should have been In bed
gathered around Bennys bountiful table.
ONLY for short time did Benny's fare confne
itself to buckwheat cakes and maple srup. Gros
and wine were added to the menu, an additloh
whereby Bennys popularity increased tenfold.
Ahont this time the West Point authorities, VINO
had previously shut their eyes to Bennys nDeral-
4,es decided that the time had come to declare d
hlockode on Benny in so far as cadets were con-
cerned and consequently Benny's haven OF deilght
hecame "off limits" for the future generals ana
nunishment was meted out by those caught run
ring +he blockade Jefferson Davis, afterwaro
rros,dent of the Confederate states, mad the ais
.,ncton Of being among the first batch OF cadets
courtmartialed for midnight revels at Benny
Havens'. D.. .5ot.
Ranny was warned that his generosity to cauets
,,os demoralizing to discipline and that unless ne
called a halt summary proceedings woud result
SIn was unable to refuse those few cadets VINO
.on q out' TO his home and finally he was expelled
from the most shortly after 1929 taking up his abode
~ the base of a high cliff near the rivers cage
obout q mile below West Point. Here Nc nVed ID
smoI, frame house until his death In 1911 at tle
900 of ninety He was buried In Union cemetery
oSout midway between Highland FAILS ana For'
=, 1sortpomery on the West Point road.
Many men who rose 10 iame aies' 's"''ns "''