The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
. . q = Q q Q Q Q . Q . Q 90 . Q . 40o .
How Dewey
Beat
the British.

tenant commander, was the eXecu-
tive officer of the stanch old frig-
ate Colorado. I was his ship
writer and had opportunity of
knowing him intimately, and I shall
never forget a most exciting contest
which we had in the bay of Gibraltar
with her Majesty's flagship Bellero-
phon, known in song and story as the
Billy Ruffian."
She was cried up to us by her men
as the crack ship of the British navy.
do not say that she was; 1 am SIM
ply giving you assertions made by the
English boats crew, coming alongside,
bringing the English admiral on
visit. Mr.. Dewey heard Of this bragga-
docio in some way and determined to
give the Englishmen run for their
money" He knew well the English
routine aboard ship, having been with
the Wabash on her European cruise in
1859, and he knew that the British sea-
men prided themselves more than any
thing else on the speed with which
they could lower their sails and flag.
AT sunset chrOnOmeter time, the
American flag comes down to the
music Of drum and fife; at the same
time the word Of command is given and
the masts and yards leave their perch
and are lowered to the deck
In the British navy the sunset gun
is fired at actual time, or was so then.
and the flag was lowered as the spars
came down.
Shortly before sunset Mr.. Dewey
walked up to the bridge, aft of the
quarterback, and took the trumpet
from the officer of the deck. Soon after
Admiral Goldsborough, Commodore
Steedman and Captain Wyman joined
him.
At the usual time our old flag flut-
tered for a moment at the gait and
then descended like a bird of paradise
upon the after deck.
Not word, however. came from Mr..
Dewey. Every eye was turned upon
the English frigate, waiting for her
signal gun. The men were all at their
stations. quivering with suppressed ex-
element. Had we been waiting with
shotted guns for the signal to COM
mence a life and death struggle for the
mastery of the port there could have
been no greater tension.
Suddenly the sunset gun doomed out
from the Bellerophon, and her royal
yards swung to perpendicular.
Away there, you mem" came
through the speaking trumpet like
sharp clap of thunder
No one paid any more attention to
the British ship; the men bent every
energy to the task before them; the
topmast went up far enough TO sin out
the underpinning; then down slowly
but surely came maSts and yards at
the same time. 1t was very perilous
undertaking. The immense pieces of
timber, eight inches through at the
butt, are held in their place by stout
iron bands, strong enough to bind the
big sticks while perfectly perpendicu-
lar, but powerless, had the enormous
piles tilted to one side Each was, how
ever, guided by strong and steady
arms, and down they came with the
yards still hanging alongside.
A single misstep, a tilt of the ship, a
parting of a strand, and the ponderous
mass might have plunged through the
ships bottom.
In less time than 1 have taken to tell
Of the feat the old ship was stripped her
stumpy-looking lower masts standing
alone and making her look like a
shapely wreck.
We now looked for the first time over
to the Englishman. We were amazed.
His yards were not yet on deck, al
though his seamen were working for
dear life. We could not help setting up
cheer.
Whats your hurry, Dewey?' called
Goldsborough, quizzically. The poder-
ous old admiral had been as eager as
The rest of us to give the "lime-juicer"
a lesson in ship maneuvering, but he
couldn't help playfully INVITING our ex-
ecutive on this willfuI waste of good
powder.
mo hurry, sir; no hurry at ALL" an
swered Dewey with a toss Of the head,
'just our usual practice drill"
We staid in the Straits of Gibraltar a
week or two after this, but we never
heard another word from the Billy
Ruffians' about their famed seaman
ship.
remember how strongly Dewey used
to impress every man of us aboard
Ehip. He was brim full of life, energy
and appreciative wisdom. In person,
ne was hardly of average size, he had
goal black hair and eyes; long thick
ausracne and owe complexion, with an
aQuiline nose that gave him something
Of an Hebraic cast of countenance. He
was then in the prime of life, being
about 80 years of age, well formed, with
a courtly fnsinuating air; soft and al
most caressing in speech, except when
aroused to anger, when his sharp
quick tones would go through the per-
Ion addressed, like shiver through an
ague-stricken victim.
Dewey was popular with the men,
much more so than with his associate
officers. When things went wrong,
when some mishap occurred, arising
from neglect or inattention, the Of
render ould be treated to cres-