The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-11
What Dewey is Like.


half their livers to have had his chance.
Satisfaction in the brilliant victory in
far away Manila goes past national inter
est, and glories in the personality of the
director of the triumph During nine years
he has made his home at the capital, hold
ing prominent official positions and hgur-
ing in exclusive society.
This quick thinker, this sharp fighter.
carried out the demands of his nature and
training for trimness and accuracy TO the
verge of the Beau Brummelistic in dress.
If a drum-head court martial were penal
ty for being caught in afternoon costume
after .. m, ne could not be more punct-
ual in DOMINIC evening rig. 1t has been
said of him that the creases Of his trou-
sers are ever as well defined as his views
on naval warfare-just bit of a dandy.
this well seasoned beau, who has taught
the enemy to quit walking Spanish" and
march to Yankee Doodle" A dandy, "
yet, and Jim Dandy" young America
slangly dubs him.
A serious looking man. not UP to the av-
erage height. built broadly. with strongly
set shoulders; man OF determined ex-
preston. with keen, dark eyes. gray hair
and mustache. His manner ever civil
and considerate TO strangers. TO friends
genial. earnest; a jolly good companion.
Among his intimates are Admiral Walk
! er. u. S. N, retired: former Secretary of
State Sherman and Senator Proctor, for
uer secretary Of war, while no man Is SO
thoroughly admired by the younger men
of the Army and Navy Club and Metro
poItan Club, of both of which he is p
member.
Commodore Dewey's friendship with Ad-
miral Walker extends over the period Of
4Lafr mid
shipmen He boosted a fine voice in
those days, if the prejudiced testimony of
| Admiral Walker can be taken, and sang
| in the choir
| Vermont is the native state of Commo-
dore Dewey, who is the son OF a well-to-
do country doctor. He entered the Naval
Academy in September, 1854, and, gradual
! ing four years later. was attached to the
| frigate Wabash. of the Mediterranean
| squadron. He remained one year, being
then transferred to the Mississippi, of the
West Gulf squadron From 1861 to 1868
he served there, his experience covering
the capture OF New Orleans.
This memorabIy severe engagement of
| thirty-dvs years ago, doubtless required
to him in the recent conflict. Vivid recol-
| lections Of the moment when, obedient
| to the order of Admiral Farragut, Cap
tain Melancthon Smith turned the Missis-
sippl to run down the attacking Confeder-
ate ram Manassas, that came up full
speed toward the Union fleet. Just after
the battle of New Orleans, probably fash
ed through his brain. Lieutenant Dewey
was in the thick of the scrimmage when
within a few yards of the Confederate
guns, theManassas turned and ran ashore
and tho Mississippi let go a couple Of
! broadsides that sent the ram to the bot
tom,
While attempting to run the batteries
Of Port Hudson on March q, 1858. the
! Mississippi grounded and heeled to port
The enemy, getting the range, fired shells
continuously into her hull, until Captain
Smith, seeing his desperate efforts were
unavailing, ordered her fired, and with
the crew escaped in boats. Lieutenant
Dewey was at once assigned to the steam
boat Agawam of the North Atlantic block
aiding fleet and in the following December
and January made two attacks on Fort
| Fisher.
| The old Kearsage which was afterward
wrecked on Roncador, was a subsequem
appointment of the then Lieutenant Com
mander Dewey. When the war closed he
went aboard the Colorado. flagship of the
European squadron, where he remained
two years. Shore duty at the Naval
Academy for two years preceded command
of the Narragansett, then in special SER
vice, in 1870 and 1871. with torpedo sta
ton duty a year later.
He was made commander on April b.
| 1873, and until 1873. served in Pacific sur
vey on the Narragansett, as Lighthouse
| inspector for two years, and secretary of
| the Lighthouse Board.
While commanding the Juniata, under
orders to join the Asiatic squadron, Com
modore Dewey was stricken with Illness
that compelled him to stop at Malta 1t
was while here that, through a very del
! icate surgical operation, by which a part
of his liver was removed he bravely earn
ed the nickname his comrades favor him
with.
able seaman?" said one of them today.
There's one thing sure about what liver
| Dewey hast is not white"
His appreciation of the kindness shown
him while at Malta is fervent and fire.
quenly expressed. Hints are dropped of
pretty girl of Malta who earned his
everlasting gratitude by watching over
him and carrying out so faithfully the
physicians directions that his life was
saved. It Is tokingly said Commodore
Dewey can't see Maltese cat or behold
a Maltese cross-or both-without enthus-
ing with grateful sentiment.
Promotion to captain. commanding the
Dolphin, succeeded command OF the Juni-
alta in 1884 and in 1883 he was transferred
to the Pensacola and to the European
station. He came to Washington in 1889,
as chief of the Bureau of Equipment and
Recruiting. served four years, ard with
the rank OF commodore was appointed on
|
Selfridge being ordered to command the
Mediterranean squadron, made president
of the Board of Inspection and Review,
Having entirely recovered his health.
which had been delicate. he was given
the full rank or commodore last fall and.
for the first time, had as a naval officer
his own flag.
When. on November q, 1897. Colonel Ar
chibald Hopkins rhymed the now famous
toast, this verse voiced his faith of eV-
cry man who knows Dewey
Ashore. adoat. on deck, below,
Or where our bulldogs roar.
To back a friend, or breast foe,
We pledge the Commodore!
Commodore Dewey's wife WAS a daugh-
ter of Governor Goodwin OF New Hamp-
shire, and died twenty years ago. He has
one son, George Goodwin Dewey. a grad
uate OF Princeton. now engaged in bust
ness in New York
/ His apartments here were cozy and kept
! spick and span as the decks Of his ships.
He had his meals al the Army and Navy
/ Club. which was more his home than any
other pl4cA Commodore Dewey fancies
a game OF billiards with player his
match. and one Of his fondsst diversions
/ Is riding a good horse.
Tea table gossip. made up Of the chatter
Of pretty young sweetheArts and wives
! OF the navy, gives a reason why Commo-