Year: 1879

DRUNKEN THEOLOGICAL STUDENTS
Troubles at St. Stephens College dnono


Students Who Went Spree.


New York Times.


The school called st. Stephens college, at
Annandale, is almost deserted at present, and
the forced vacation, because of the recent
troubles among the students, will not end
until Saturday next. Now that student
of the Wickes party and E. W. Parkersen, of
the Parkersen party, have given their ver-
sion of the college troubles, the whole matter
is properly put at rest by statement of the
college authorities. their views being en-
warden of the college. In substance it req
mission was given number of the students
to 60 on a sleigh ride to Rhinebeck. They
went, and had supper at the village, and had
wine upon the table, but there was no drum
kenness. Shortly after another party OBJ
tanned like permission, and they also went
to Rhinebeck, and had supper, and had vine
upon the table, but it was not such a temper
ate party of pleasure seekers as was
the first, and carousal ensued; but
the reports of it were greatly exaggerated,
some saying all were drunk, while the
fact was that three were not verv
drunk, four were considerably intoxicated,
and the balance, about eight in all, were So
ber. The student Wickes, of Fort Edward,
was not in the party but he wrote letter to
graduate in New York telling him of the
affair. When the warden OF the school was
investigating the matter, he heard of this
letter and sent for Wickes, who made clean
breast of the whole affair, acknowledging the
sending of the letter, and told the story of
the sleigh-ride as he had heard it frona the
lips of those who were on it. In this state
ment to the warden, in way, shape or
manner did he refer to Parkersen, or init
mate that the latter had anything to do with
1t, nor was Parkersen's name mentioned, nor
was Parkersen on the sleigh-ride. Soon
a1ter W1ckes' interview with the warden the
result of the interview became known among
the students, and then it was that Parkersen
came to the front in an uncalled-for. officIous
and insolent manner. In fact. he was the
leader of the muss which ended ir the pres-
ent forced vacation. 1t was he who made
the incendiary address in the dining-hall.
and it was he who set on the students of his
party to put Wickes through the pumping
process. He was also in the fight with the
Canadian up stairs, and even after the fight
was over, he stalked about with an air of in
science that was hardly endurabIe.
The faculty met. They argued that it was
not desirable to expel anybody-to send them
away from the college disgraced, for that
would follow them through life. They there
fore decided to admonish all concerned in the
affair and the admonition was read before all
the students in the chapel, the warden, in
closing the reading of the paper, imploring
all to act like Christian gentlemen, forget the
past, and enter with renewed vigor upon
their studies. This did not satisfy the Wickes
party, and Wickes threatened to 90 before
magistrate and obtain a civil warrant for the
arrest OF Parkersen. The authorities be-
lleved that such course would add fuel to
the lame. and finally prevailed on him not
to do 1t: Then Parkersen was again placed
before the warden, and was told if he would
quietly leave the college his diploma would
De awarded to him on commencement day.
and he could graduate with usual honors,
and nothing further would be said about the
matter. Parkersen's talk and manner in re-
ply was again impudent and overbearing, and
the warden referred to it severely. saying to
the bishop, in his letter, that then it was sim
ply question whether the student should
give way to the college Or the college to the
student, and Parkersen was dismissed, after
having refused the offer of diploma on
commencement, which he will not now get.
Ihe warden, IN his letter to the bishop, COM
pares the attack of Parkersen on Wickes to
the vlllainous attack OF Brooks on Sumner
IN the United States Senate, and says that
Parkersen is a fiery southerner who cannot
control his temper. The warden does not
consider that Wickes ''tataed," for when he
wrote the letter referred to he did so with the
full belief that he was doing what was right
under his oath with the other students, not
to indulge IN lntoxlcation or ungentlemanlv
conduct and as his oath would not allow
him to associate with those who did, his let
Ter and his confession to the warden were a
matter OF his own self-protection as q Chris
tan man. The authorities say Parksrsen
cannot come back if he would: that he
went out of his way to originate the trouble
when his name had iu no way, shape or
manner been connected with the sleigh
ride. AS regards those who sided and left
with him, the warden feels assured that
nearly all of them will return, and exhibited
a letter from the father of one, who spoke
IN the highest terms of the action of the
college authorities, closing with the remark
that his son would certainly return at the
end of the vacation. The warden also stated
that Parkerson had trouble at the college
some three years ago, but generally speak
ing, he had been good student and always
attentives to his studies. communication
IN local paper intimated that the faculty
set the boys bad example in allowing beer
and intoxicating drinks on the table on COM
mencement days. Ten years ago beer was
allowed on the table, but the authorities saw
that it would not do, and prohibited it, and
for ten years the use Of any kind of into xi-
eating drinks on the table has been stric tly
forbidden.