The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-15

twenty in a pit, with often a breathing
man among the others.
For sanitary purposes and for hui
manity Admiral Dewey cleared out
these pits of horror and gave decent
burial to four hundred Spanish soldiers
who had persisted with their guns in
their hands. The wounded he convey
ed to specially imprOViSed hospitals. In
the absence of Red Cross workers he
gave his own nurses to the Spanish
soldiers.
Dewey's day after breakfast is devo-
ted to humanity. There have always
been deaths in the hospitals since the
day before; and there are funeral rites
to perform. He attends these and stands
with uncovered head, his grizzIed locks
looking strangely white against the
rare foliage of the Philippines. At this
time Dewey looks old. I spoke of it to
a fellow correspondent and he agreed
with me, at this one time of all the day,
the American admiral looks his age At
other times he is man of 40, vigorous
and full of the red blood of middle life.
No one would look for him in the six
ties where he belongs.
Manila over the bay, is always a
menace for Dewey and he often stands
for minutes looking at it, no matter
how busy his day. The Spanish flag
floats over the rear of the forts and
this flag is an eye-sOre to Dewey. AS
soon as his full measure of troops, now
on the way, can be landed and put into
fighting shape he is to attack Manila.
His plans now lie in cipher in the inner
apartment of the fort wherein he sleeps.
Numerous attempts have been made to
get possession of them and at one time
Dewey was obliged to place the cor
respondents upon their honor in the
matter. They explained to him their
anxiety for news and the eagerness of
the people at home to know his plans
But Dewey shook his head and smiled.
Every day boat sails over to Manila
bearing flag of truce. 1t crosses Ma
Mia bay which is held by the Ameri-
cans and lands upon that portion of the
}nf0rac h
ed a landing. Here it is met by dep
utation of Spaniards from the Spanish
Manila in the interior; and the occu-
pants OF the boat are transferred from
our boat to the Spanish conveyances
They are the wounded who have recov-
cred in the hospitals at CaVite; or Who
desperately wounded, beg to be taken
nome. Home IS a poor place for them
but their wishes are gratified. Dewey
personally superintends their embarka-
ton for he trusts no one in these err
randS of mercy.
Another morning hour is Occ47Die7
with an errand Of international i'm
portance. Every hour of the day sees
foreign residents of the islands coming
into Cavite. These are Chinese Japa-
nese, English and German but for the
most part English and German. They
are merchants and planters who have
been engaged in business in the is
lands. Not believing that there would
be war they stayed on until warned by
Dewey's guns of May l that hostilfties
had commenced. Now with Aguinaldo
marching overland and Dewey at Ca
vite with the Spanish forces at Manila
and the natives in the interior thew
nave become frightened and want to re-
turn. They come to Dewey and ask
for transportation. He, with interna-
tional courtesy, gives them the protec-
ton of the consulate and as soon as
convenient, furnishes them with means
to depart. His ships signal their pas
SengeF boats and, with an American as
a I2xr
With any foreign flag floating they
would be safe, but Dewey goes further
and gives them a certain passage.
Drills on the Dewey warships are in
cessant. Target practice and the read
ing Of day and night signals are obIiga-
tory upon each sailor every day.
Admiral Dewey attends these. He
makes suggestions and acts with
prOmptness when he sees that improve
ments might be made in the fortifica-
lions. He is one of those men who
want advice OF his commodores and
captains; and the poorest sailor can,
by making suitable application, get his
ear during audience hour.
Dewey's evenings are spent in max
ing reports to his government. His
anxiety to get word to them each day
is great and he sends out tugs under
the fire of his cruisers in order to send
messages from Hong Kong. The past
few days it has been an easy matter to
get letters from Cavite to Hong Kong
and the sailors have taken advantage
of it by writing home.
Dewey is the man of the hour in
Hong Kong and a message that much
pleased him came from Ii Hung Chang
who desired to meet him as soon as
possible.
All day long Dewey sees smoke
ascending from the hills beyond Manila.
And, occasionally, when there is
breeze he hears firing. He knows it is
the Rebel Chief Aguinaldo who is fight
ing his way toward Cavite with ten
nd n nj Dewey
as Gomez tried to join Sampson in
Cuba. Ag-uinaIdo is an able general,
according to DeWey's opinion, and when
a letter arrives by scout from him the
admiral Immediately reads it, no mat
ter upon what business he is engaged.
His night is one of rest as far as
circumstances will permit. All messages
from the United States are to be
brought to him, all news from Aguin-
aldo is important enough to awake him;
he must know of any strange move
ments at Manila and he is to be aroused
if American steamers are sighted.
Dewey is tired out, but strange to
say his strength seems to grow with
his needs. He looked a little worn the
day after the battle, say those who
but to one seeing him a month later he
looked strong and vigorous. He is one
of those men who work without worry
and whose success rests them. He is
doing the whole work of direction him
self and all hands rely implicitly upon
him. Dewey is very devout and reads
a small pocket Bible when in his state
room. He reads no other literature be-
sides his mail and such newspapers as