The Van Buren press., 1898-07-02
DEWEY,S GOODNESS
Illustrated by an lnteres's
dent in the Career of the her"
of Manila.

A good story is told of Commodore
George Dewey, which illustrates not
only his GOODNESS and judgment in mo-
ment of peril, but also the high regard
in which he is held by the men under
his command. 1t was during the spring
of 1887. when Commodore Dewey, then
captain, had command of the flagship
Pensacola, sailing vessel, in the Medi-
terranean. While en- route from Attn
ems TO the coast of Spain the vessel en-
eountered a series of short but violent
squalls, which not only greatly retard-
ed her progress, but proved intensely
wearing on the crew.
One night when the Inconsistency of
| the weather was particularly annoying,
the officer of the watch happened to be
a young lieutenant who was very I'M
popular with the men, being what is
termed in nautical yernacular a
"bucko." Several times during the
watch all hands had been called to
shorten sail, and they were naturally
very much exhausted from racing back
and forth from the decks to the upper
rigging. Finally the order was given TO
make sail, and the tired sailors set
about to put it into execution. But,
after the work had been accomplished
and all hands had come down from
aloft, it occurred to the officer that the
| men had not exhibited sufficient ALAG
rity to suit him, and, advancing to the
| break of the poop speaking trumpet in
hand, he Numbered a torrent of cpl
| thets at the crew, following it up with
an order to lay aloft and go through
the tactics of shortening sail by way OF
drill. Unfortunately, however, he had
| had failed to reckon upon the Unborn
spirit of the American sailors, and right
| here their forebearanee forsook them
and not a man of their number made
movement to execute the overbearing
order. Wildly fourishing his trumpet
the now frenZied martinez threatened
and cursed and stormed, but to no avail
the blood of the crew was up, and they
cursed back, ridiculed, laughed him to
StOIH' 0udhShiY tiS sea anu shy NCIS
seen to grow darker to windward, and
| it was clear that another squat was i'm
minent.
Alive to the danger to which the ship
with all her canvas spread, was eX'
| posed, the lieutenant retreated from his
threatening attitude, and urged, en-.
| treated, implored the men to save the
vessel, but in vain-they had been
driven to sheer desperation and only
seotfed at him the more. Onward came
the tempest, its fierceness foretold by
the livid shafts of lightning which re.
| peatedly flashed from its inky depths
| The lieutenant. in despair, had sunk to
his knees, with his face in his hands
awaiting the inevitable doom. Sud
denly from out the cabin companion
way form emerged. 1t was the cap
tain. In an instant his glance had taker
n all-the approaching storm, the de
fan. 59aw, the suppliant officer, The
Tapping sails, and then, clear and loud
rang out his order: AL hands shorter
sail" That was all. But it was sut1i
cient. Before the last word of tina
command had been uttered the rigging
was full of flying sailors, cheering theil
captain, as they sped to their task
and in twinkling every foot of canvas
had been slowed and the ship PLACED
under bare poles. Even before the,
could regain the decks the gale burs
upon the vessel, demonstrating only too
forcibly the fate another moments de
lay would have hurled upon her
When the shock had passed and tn
crew had assembled in readiness t.
obey the next order, Capt. Dewey ad
dressed his first words to the officer o
the deck: $50 TO your room," he sale
Then, turning 70 the crew, he com
manded, without the least suspicion o
rebuke in his tones: "Boatswain pip
down. st. Louis Globe-Democrat.