The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-08-25

Wherever Duty called they went their steps were
with obe. Alma Mater on their hpS and Benny haVenS'
Benny Havens On |" Is the epic of West Point.
1t is story in song, the story of West Pointers
end their sacrifices for duty, honor. West Point
and country.
This old academy of West Point. laid out a
rugged shelf overlooking the majestic sweep of the
Hudson, has many priced traditions, unsued, In
alenabe, but none more sacred TO her sons than
that of Benny Havens. Go to Cullum Memorial
hall at West Point and read In imperishable let
ters of bronze the ssfy of her sons. She has
them march out of her salyports singing Benny
Havens, Oh!' and seen them brought back while
minute guns were echoing among the granite hills
that surround her. The history of West Point IL
closely interviewer with that of country; West
Pointers have written bright pages in the annals
OF the land.
Their blood has waered Western plains and Northern
Has stained sierras highest peaks. where piercing
Has dyed deep red the Everglades. and deeper stl.
The sacred Montezuma shades and walls OF Mexico.
Wherever duty has summoned them West FONT
have carried Benny Havens OH"
The story.of Benny Havens is almost as old as
that of the academy itself Many many years ago
I'm 1924 to be precise, Benny Havens took UP his
residence the southern border OF what then
constituted the post of West Point Almost i'm
mediately he and the cadets became friends
He genial soul generous and of good
pany and an inimitable spinner OF yarns. and he
invariably piled his visitors with buckwheat cakes
and maple slrup. Soon his refreshments acquired
such fame that cadets often slipped away from
their duties and made their way to Bennys 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 n short time did Benny's fare confne
itself to buckwheat cakes and maple sirup. Grog
and wine were added to the menu, addition
whereby Benny's popularity increased tenfod.
About this time the West Point authorities who
had previously shut their eyes to Benny's lberali-
ties decided that the time had come TO declare a
blockade Benny in far cadets
cerned, and consequently Benny's haven of delight
became "off limits" for the future generals and
punishment was meted out by those caught run
ming the blockade. jefferson Davis afterward
president of the Confederate states had the dis
court-martlaled for midnight reves at Benny
Havens.
Benny was warned that his generosity to cadets
was demoralizing to discipline and that unless ne
called a halt summary proceedings would result.
He was unable TO refuse those few cadets who
'ran 1t out" his home and finally he expelled
from the post shortly after 1920 taking up his abode
at the base of high cliff the rivers edge
about mile below West Point Here he lived In
a small frame house until his death In 1877 at the
age of ninety. He was buried In Union cemetery
about midway between Highland Falls and Fort
MONTGOMERY on the West Point road.
Many men who rose to fame after leaving West