The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-28
HOW DEWEY LOST HIS CASH.
Sending II North the Train Was Held
Up and His Friend Robbed.

From the Philadelphia Press.
Clark Fisher of this city, formerly chief
engineer of the navy, tells an interesting
story of how he once became custodian
of the savings of Commander Dewey, and
was relieved of them by guerrilla while
on his way North.
Dewey and Fisher were messmates on
the gunboat Agawam in 1868 and 1864
Dewey was the executive officer and Fish
er was chief engineer of the boat, which
was aiding Gen. Grant in his operations
around City Point and Petersburg. The
Agawam was In the heat of battle much
of the time and was kept busy lodging
torpedoes released up the river by the
enemy.
At that time Mr. Fisher says Dewey was
considered one of the best men in the SER
vice. He was active, energetic, alert,
good disciplinaran and prompt in every
thing without being hasty.
Dewey and Fisher became very chummy
in the course of their service together, and
when Fisher secured a furlough of two or
three months Dewey asked him to do him
a favor while in the North.
at came about this way" said Fisher,
speaking of the incident. Il was busy one
day packing my trunk, when Dewey came
up with his hands in his pockets. He was
always reticent sort of a fellow, even
when with his most intimate friends, and
he hadn't talked long before l knew that
he wanted to say something that he hated
to, so l finally asked him why he didn't
drive straight at the mark. l told him
that I knew he was simply beating around
the bush and suggested that we had been
good friends enough for him to speak
right out and let me know exactly what
he wanted.
"'Wel, Fisher, said he, you know
don't like to trouble anybody, but 1 do
want you TO do me a favor if you will
when you get up North
&" Now, you are talking said I, what
is 1t, old man?
"'You see, Fisher said he, "a fellow
corked up here like a mouse in a trap
hasn't much use for money and l have
saved little. 1t has been rafting around
in my trunk for several months doing no.
body any good, and l want to get it into
action. If 1 could get it to my father he
might invest it for me, and when l need
1t it may amount to something. l thought
that it might not be too much trouble for
you to take it to the old gentleman while
you are up in his neighborhood I'd mail
it, but you know that under the present
circumstances it would probably never
reach him
" Probably not 1 answered and if
can get It to him l shall be very glad to
do So
Dewey pulled a roll of money out of his
pocket and counted it. There's $500 dol
lars even said he; it isn't much. but will
come in handy if a fellow is ever laid up
HE handed me the money and / tucked
it away In an inside pocket Of my coat
along with some money of my own. The
next day I started for home.
Everything went along smoothly until
/. - ~. t..f..
der Creek, when 1t suddenly came to a
halt in the midst of a dense wood. The
passengers put their heads out at the win
dows 10 see what was up and found them
selves under the cover of TeVolVers in the
hands of q band of guerrillas under the
command of Harry Gilmore. The guerril-
las began to board the train and conclud
ing that discretion was the better part
OF valor, l bolted for the rear door at
which nobody had appeared. l got through
the door and was just leaving the plat
form with flying leap when fellow as
big as two of me caught my coat tails and
hauled me back.
Hold up bit, youngster said he, 4
want TO talk to you.
But [ had nothing to say, so I paid as
pecial attention TO getting out of the fel-
lows clutches. The coat that he had hold
of was a trifle loose for me, and as quick
as you could wink | slipped out of It, and
leaving it in the hands Of the guerrilla
jumped for the bushes and made my es-
cape. The fellow sent a bullet after me
but he was probably TOO astonished to take
good aim, and l heard the bullet rush
through the brush several feet away.
When / reached a point where l felt
that 1 was safe, / sat down and thought
the situation over. II occurred to me for
the first time then that Deweys money
had gone with the coat. i regretted It, OF
course, but 1 didn't feel like going back
and making an effort 70 get It. Ny own
money went along with 1t, and had some
trouble In raising the wind TO blow me
home. The money way never invested for
Dewey, but l guess he has managed to get
along pretty well without it."