The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-01

The situation was becoming somewhat
strained, when General Merritt sought
a conference with Admiral Dewey on
the Olympia. The general and the adj
miral discussed the situation at great
length, the former giving special atten-
ton to the question of jurisdiction in
the Philippines. At last General Mer-
rift put this question to the admiral:
Admiral, how far, in your opinion,
does your jurisdiction extend on the
island?"
Admiral Dewey took two short turns
on the quarter deck before answering.
Then he said:
General my jurisdiction extends
from as close to shore as 1 can move
these f1atirons," pointing to the Ameri-
can feet, Ito as far into the island as
L can throw a shell
If there is any one thing which
pleases Admiral Dewey it is neatness
in dress. He has never been known to
set a bad example in this respect, and
is regarded by his subordinates as
fashion plate for the American navy.
One of the standing orders following
the establishment of routine duty in the
fleet when there were no more Spanish
ships to fight was one requiring all
officers to wear their white uniforms.
One day a certain paymaster named
Martin, who is afflicted with an alb
normally bushy growth of red whis-
kers and a figure of pronounced ro-
tundity, visited the Olympia on bust
ness connected with his department. AS
the paymaster mounted the gangway
he was seen by Admiral Dewey, and
q frown gathered on the brow Of the
autocrat of the fleet.
Paymaster Martin was a sight to pro-
woke laugh from the ships figure
head He was arrayed in a dun-colored
suit Of duck, a loosely woven undervest
resembling a sweater showed beneath
his Jacket and on his head was one of
those enormous cork helmets with a
circumference equal to that of an UNI
brella.
Orderly, tell Paymaster Martin
wish to see him at once" said Admiral
Dewey, and the orderly sought the pay
master with a. grin on his face. A few
moments later and the paymaster, very
much pleased with being accorded the
honor of visiting the quarter deck
stood before the admiral and executed
enc of his very best salutes.
"Paymaster Martin" said the admiral
in his chilliest tones, II think you are
drunk"
q beg your pardon, admiral-I as
sure you I am not drunk-I-I am per-
$1,000
ter staggering under the blow his COM
plaisance had received
II still think you have been drink
ing" continued the little man in spot
less white, for 1 can't believe you
would come aboard this ship sober
wearing such an outlandish uniform.
Go back to your ship, sir, and don't let
me ever see another violation of orders
like this"
Among the volunteer officers of the
army is a. captain in California regf-
ment whose moustache rivals the whis-
kers of Paymaster Martin in it's bushi-
ness. It spreads over his features from
his eyes to his lower jaws, and reaches
back to his ears. While ashore one day
the admiral saw this captain at short
range, and his keen gray eyes shone
with unusual brilliancy as ne turned to
a brother officer and quietly remarked
ut isn't fair to fight the Spaniards
with that officer
why do you say that, admiral?"
Hes in ambush all the time" was
the reply, and the admirals joke had
circulated throughout the whole fleet
before night.